Cheap Airlines in Asia

 

Asian carriers have often offered lower fares than their European or American rivals. Now they are starting to catch the wave of discount airlines, pioneered in the US and Europe. In South-East Asia, an ASEAN-wide open skies agreement is in the works, but in the rest of the continent flights are still severely restricted by bilateral agreements. 

Asian carriers are generally much cheaper than their American or European rivals, and there are some great bargains to be had. The low-cost airline industry in Asia is sure to boom in the coming years. 

China

China’s first low-cost airline was launched in July 2005, and many seem set to follow. Internationally, you can already fly in to various points in southern China from cities in Southeast Asia (see section below). Hong Kong’s pioneering long-haul LCC Oasis shut down operations in April 2008. 

China United - China United flies out of Beijing’s Nanyuan Airport to various cities in Northern China. The Beijing article has details. 

Hong Kong Express - Hong Kong Express flies from Hong Kong to Hangzhou, and Ningbo with more destinations planned. 

Spring Airlines - Spring Airlines flies from its base in Shanghai to over 20 destinations in China, and is still expanding rapidly. 

Viva Macau - Viva Macau flies from Macau to Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh city and Sydney (from August 2007). 

India

India’s airline market is rapidly liberalizing. Half a dozen domestic low-cost carriers have started operations and more are on the horizon. 

Low-cost flights into India remain more limited, although Air India Express does operate some international flights and various Middle Eastern carriers fly to India. There are also limited connections from South-East Asia: as of November 2007, Tiger flies from Singapore to Chennai and Kochi. (Nok and Jetstar have terminated its services.) 

Air Deccan - Air Deccan operate a domestic network in India. Their fares start from INR 500 (US.50) – excluding taxes. 

For more information please follow the link – Cheap Airlines in Asia

 

Cruises in Phuket, Thailand Are Definitely Set to Be the Best Yacht Charters in Asia

When I landed in Singapore I went straight to my boat and fired up the laptop. I did a Google search for Phuket Yacht Charter and picked the first boat that came up.

Hey presto, there was a 70ft Catamaran which can sleep up to 16 guests, this was very similar to the boat I was currently on in Singapore however I wasn’t going to waste time and fuel sailing down to Phuket on my Cat.

This was great, I have my sister’s 40th birthday next week and she had only just been saying the other week that she did not know what to do for the celebration. This was the solution!

This looked like it was a fantastic boat for a larger group of guests that wanted absolute luxury on a cruise.

So I booked us all in as a surprise dream cruise for 3 days to the East Coast of Phuket. Im told that cruises to this part of the Island are unbelievable with the magical views of the world famous Phang Nga Bay.

Once this was done I needed to book flights, the best and cheapest I could find after looking around were Tiger Airway budget flights, which only cost around 0USD each return to Singapore so this was great, we were set!

We arrived at Phuket Airport all a little hung-over from the previous nights drinking, where the Shangani Captain, was waiting patiently with a banner. After getting everyone together, we jumped in the minibus and were all transferred to the Ao Po Marina, which is at the entrance to Phang Nga Bay.

WOW! We arrive and it is exactly as it was described! Fantastic! (A few people murmured). The limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay were ahead of us. This really is like something out of a film, I’m not joking!

We all boarded the boat, and set sail to this Xanadu called Phang Nga Bay, in Phuket where we popped open the first of many bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne, at this point I knew my sister was going to have a 40th birthday that we would all cherish! Until her 50th that is!

This was the first time that many of the party had embarked on a yacht of this kind and many had never been on cruises before, let alone in Thailand so there was a good all round feel onboard!

After the first days cruising around these spectacular islands we Arrive at Ko Hong Phang Nga, were we anchored up for the first Night. There are fantastic surroundings here, we explored all of the sea caves and hidden lagoons by Kayak, which were supplied by the Yacht, all the guys in the party loved these adventures, but many of the ladies stayed on board and enjoyed their champagne and strawberry’s.

The next day after a late evening singing, drinking and dancing (hung-over yet again) on board the yacht, we set sail to Koh Hong Krabi. The beaches are beautiful here. So we all went for a swim and chilled out from the night before.

Now I feel like I’m on holiday! Was one comment I heard from a member of the party, as we swam in the clear waters and viewed the picturesque rock formations. We decided to Anchor up here overnight.

We all enjoyed a lovely dinner cooked buy the Cordon Bleu Chef. Now we were in Paradise!

The next morning we took a memorable scenic cruise down to Ko Naka this has a great long stretch of sandy beach, and a very characteristic little Thai Reggae, Caribbean Beach Shack bar, where one of my brothers friends had a guitar, so we all had a sing song with our feet in the sand sipping cold beer on the beach until sunset.

A lot of the blokes were being absolute kids as usual playing hermit crab racing against each other this was great fun to watch actually!

We enjoyed our last night onboard this fabulous yacht in the Phang Nga Bay which I have to say was as recommended on the Hong Kong to Singapore flight a week earlier, definitely correctly as one of the most magical places in the world! And I will definitely be returning for my 50th!

Find More Thai Airways Articles

Delta Air Lines Plans to Grows in Asia, Also Revamps Services

Delta Air Lines is on an expansion spree in Asia. With Asia being a booming economy, Delta is eager to claim its share of the market pie in the segment of air travel, which is expected to grow steadily. The Senior Vice President for Delta Air Lines’ Asia Pacific, Mr Vinay Dube, commented that the airline has the ability to make investments in customer service and reach a major brand name position in Asia. Delta gained approximately 3 million in 2010 and at present, 17 Asia-Pacific cities are serviced by the airline. Delta would be operating new routes in Asia from this year. This includes the flight, which would be launched from this weekend. This flight will operate from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Los Angeles and Detroit. In addition, Delta would operate flights from Atlanta to Shanghai and Detroit to Beijing. Besides concentrating upon Asia, Delta is taking many other steps for boosting its business. This includes investments to the tune of billion for renovating airport lounges and improving seats and entertainment systems.

Revamped Section in Premium Economy

From next summer onwards, passengers booking cheap flights with the new Economy Comfort section of Delta will spend their air travel in comfort. Delta will be installing new seats on its long distance international flights. These seats would provide better recline and up to 4 inches of additional legroom and would be installed in the economy cabins’ first few rows of Delta’s 747, 757, 767, 777, and A330 airlines. Full fare ticket passengers as well as highest ranking frequent flyer travellers won’t have to pay extra on their tickets for these seats. In addition, whenever these international flights would be put on domestic routes, the new seats would be reserved for highest ranking frequent flyers and full fare ticket passengers.

Delta Air Lines Starts Codeshare Service with GOL

Delta Air Lines started a codeshare service with GOL, one of the largest Brazilian airlines. This adds 15 new destinations immediately to Delta’s network in South America and also increases passenger prospects for finding cheap flights. At present, Delta sells its services on 56 GOL flights between Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and 15 destinations in Brazil. These are Curitiba, Cuiaba, Belo Horizonte, Florianopolis, Belem, Fortaleza, Goiania, Iguassu Falls, Joao Pessoa, Vitoria, Teresina, Salvador, Recife, Porto Alegre, and Navegantes.

Eternal SkyMiles

A SkyMiles member can now book a ticket with Delta after long gaps without worrying about the previously accumulated miles. Delta no longer invalidates these miles for passengers who have not operated their accounts for over two years. Delta Air Lines has also announced more benefits for the year ‘including significant improvements to delta.com such as an upgraded award travel calendar, improved booking process and better flight information display’.

The Best Business Lounges Around Asia

Long flight. No sleep. You’ve spent almost 20 hours in the air and now you’ve got five hours to kill in this airport 5,000 miles away from home. You don’t know anyone for thousands of miles; everyone you see is a complete stranger. You’re alone. So very, very alone. What you need is a good drink.

It’s a fact that Asia has more business travelers per capita than any other continent on the planet. The business world has its pivotal hub in the Asia Pacific region, with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo only playing parts in the area’s distinct economic influence on the world. Therefore, the airports around Asia reflect the deep regard and respect each Asian country has for the men and women making their economies grow.

Having a good business lounge to reward today’s Business Warrior on their long travels is just another way of brightening a day fraught with temperamental children and rough turbulence. Walking through the doors of a lounge designed specifically with you in mind is like being hugged by mom.

There are lounges designed strictly for VIPs and business people, while others cater to all passengers. If you are a business traveler and you just got off a flight that included a family of five loud tourists, it would be wise to avoid going to the lounge they just stepped into. Try the one that specifically caters to you.

There are things that any lounge will have, regardless of whom gets in. They will usually have:

•    Drinks

•    Snacks

•    Television and internet

•    Comfortable seating

There are some, however, that fly just above the rainbow. Here are the select few lounges in Asia that offer exemplary class and service.

•    Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong)

Cathay Pacific’s Wing Lounge in the Hong Kong International Airport not only caters to any specific taste, they pride themselves on improving on even the most minute of details. They offer first-class travelers private cabanas, private showers, and chaise lounges.

•   Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok)

Thai Airway’s Royal Orchid Lounge not only offers the best in travel, but their layover accommodations go beyond the normal rules of class. You feel stressed? Get a Thai massage or take a hot shower. If you need to have a last second meeting, meeting rooms are right there. Also, should you need transportation anywhere, Royal Orchid has a fleet of Mercedes-Benzes at your beckon call should you need to go anywhere.

•    Chengi Airport (Singapore)

This airport features almost unanimously lauded lounges. Whether you need to nap, shower, or visit the spa, they have you covered. And if you have a lot of time to kill, you can go on a Singapore Tour. Yes. For a 5-hour or longer layover you can take one of four tours around the city and make it back well before you flight.
If you don’t want to leave the airport, you can walk around in one if it’s six gardens. That’s right. And airport with six gardens. What more could you want?

•  Dubai International Airport (Dubai)

Dubai is almost defined by the decadent hotels there that cater to the world’s nobility. Movie stars, world leaders, and rich heiresses have all stayed a night or two in the gold-plated, marble-floored castles for the elite. So why stop there?
The Dubai International Airport took the luxury of a 5-star hotel and transposed it into their lounges. With restaurants that feature a dining experience unparalleled in air travel, it is clear to see why people clamor to be stuck in Dubai. They offer spas, Jacuzzis, a full gym and swimming poor to all first-class passengers.

•    Incheon International Airport (Seoul)

Asian airports are known to pamper their travelers. Like the airport in Singapore, Incheon offers travelers with selected layovers tours of Seoul. They went one up on them, however. The VIP lounges are catered specifically to first-class flyers. Also, for the past two years straight the lounges in Incheon International Airport have been given the Global Traveler award for the best in the world.

In a time when simply being good was never so hard, these airports looked great, seemingly without effort. Naturally, you would be just as tired of flying in a VIP lounge as you would in the terminal. But there a lot to be said about hating to fly in style, as opposed to despising it on a plastic chair in front of Gate 24. If the adage, “you get what you pay for” is true, then these lounges are worth millions.

More Thai Airways Articles

THE SMART BACKPACKER – Student Backpack Travelling Tips to Southeast Asia

The Southeast Asia is a backpacker’s paradise. Backpacking was invented for Asia particularly because it simply rectifies the essence of backpacking culture ofa low-cost, independent, international travel. Southeast Asia could be the ideal place to spend a holiday from university for more reasons than one, and if you bother to ask, money-wise, yes. Except for the Banana Pancake Trail, the traveller will find in almost any place off-the-beaten paths and hundreds of options to personalize and customize the travel experience. And if you’ve picked Southeast Asia as your gap-packer destination right now, you are in the right state of mind, because if it’s raw and authentic backpacking you want, this is where you need to be. You may not need your Lonely Planet Guide, you’ll see.

1. VISA-vis: visa reminders

Very important! Southeast Asia is definitely one of the most backpacker-friendly destinations for the inexperienced traveller mainly because of cost, proximity of the countries, and, hey, entry is not such a complex thing either. For U.S. citizens, countries in SEA can and will be traversed without the necessity for visas for a certain period of time like Malaysia -90 days, Singapore-30 days, Thailand – 30 days, and Philippines – 21 days. For Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia, visas-on-arrival are issued in the airport without hassle for fees no more than US depending, of course, on your planned length of stay.

Most backpackers commence their SEA journey in BANGKOK, which, along with MANILA, are strategic places where the traveller can apply for visas to anywhere in the Southeast Asia. Some prefer a business visa that does make travel easier because of its stretched validity and multiple entry access, which is good for a year’s worth of stay in SEA. But leave this for the seasoned backpacker. For a two month stint, a tourist visa will work super fine.

Visa regulations are recurrently updated depending on foreign and political situations, so watch out for extra requirements like exchanging at least US0 to MMK in Burma. But don’t be intimidated. Check the State Department website for up-to-date information on visa and travel, or, when all else fails, seek advice from a credible travel agency such as Liberty Travel.

2. SURE TRAVEL: Insurance policy coverage

The SEA region remains entirely unpredictable when it comes to health and property theft incidences. Hence, as a student, you may want to organize and purchase a comprehensive travel insurance and screen what circumstances are covered and not covered by the policy, like medical evacuation. Save for Thailand and Manila, a big bulk of hospitals in the SEA is not equipped for anything beyond First Aid remedies. It may get quite ugly, say, when an accident happens while tubing in Vang Vieng, and even uglier when your medical coverage, you find, cannot accommodate evacuation to Bangkok or does not extend to accidents from “extreme sports”.

These are decisions that matter, decisions that can save your life. So talk with your insurance provider, know the limits, keep receipts of your valuables, and make copies of your insurance policy to leave at home. When the inevitable does happen, don’t forget to file and acquire a copy of the police reports, and always make accessible your insurance provider’s 24-hour emergency number accordingly before paying for whatever medical services.

3. FARE WELL: Airfare deals 

When that’s set, plan for your air transport. You’d want to get the best deal without compromising comfort. Not to be too patronizing, but a 12-hour flight to a faraway land and the entertainment system breaks down on you is outright injustice. Go for an airline with a “decent” track record. But before finalizing your booking, check your agent or airline representative for special offers when booking before purchasing your ticket

Some airlines have an “ALL ASIA PASS” like CX or “ASEAN PASS” like Thai Airways and Malaysian Airlines. Cathay’s All Asia Pass is a roundtrip promo available for U.S. residents flying from L.A., San Francisco, or New York to Hong Kong then to at least 2 basic cities of your choice. Prices are subject to change, but the figures for 2010 travel begin at US$ 1599, inclusive of the roundtrip USA fare. Even better, is Thai Air’s ASEAN PASS which I heard go by a coupon per flight which have incredible cut-rate prices which go as low as US for each coupon (minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 coupons). MAS’ ASEAN PASS is good for 4 flights to Southeast Asian major cities for a charming price of US2.

For these, you will need them issued at the same time as your international flight ticket, so planning is of the essence. Check www.cathayusa.com or www.thaiar.com for details and updates.

4. BOOK your NOOK: Lodging reservations

You know, after hours on end of air and road travel, to be able to check in and shower in your selected hotel accommodation is perfect bliss. But for other parts of the trip, booking hotels or hostels is less than necessary. Tourism is a huge economy generator, lest you didn’t know. That Southeast Asia is improving on backpack travel infrastructures is only to the traveller’s advantage just because s/he will almost never run out of hotels. Also, it is a great advocacy to help independent or family-owned hotels to make sure you’re helping sustainable tourism in the country and directly benefit local economic development.

While you’re at it, you can also research and book tours that contribute to preservation of culture and endangered wildlife in the area, such as the elephant camps in Chiang Mai. Animal rights activists fight for elephants which are made to wear painful wood in their backs to carry tourists for hours in the jungle. These cuts through the pachyderms and is a truly distressing truth. By a small act of choosing tours, like elephant camps that offer elephant-back safari, you are ensuring that cultures and wildlife will subsist until your next time here.

5. PICK your PACK: The right pack

 

Backpacks are essential, need I say? Having taken care of the more important things, it’s high time to freak about your pack, and I say that in a good way. There are many good choices for packs these days but the operative word is comfort, as it has been throughout the article. Right size, zip-around, compartments, chimney, and straps – these are what you want in your pack. Zip-around versus top loading is self-explanatory (no more digging everything out). Internal and external compartments offer great organization. Chimneys will create ventilation between man and pack, so definitely no flat backs, please. Straps for securing the pack in place as lug this around. Finally, the right size also means making sure the pack and its would-be contents stays within the carry-on limit.

(Pick a sturdy and reliable set of shoes for trekking as well!)

6. HAPPY PACKING

 

Never shall I more happily stress this… pack light, pack well. This is the code of the backpacker. No matter how big your bag, there will always be a way to fill it with crap. (Yeah, take that laptop out.)So, understand your destination – SEA. The basics would cover a first aid kit, travel size toiletries, a sweater or a sarong, trekking shoes, passport (photocopies and photos for visa apps), USD currency and yourself.

Laptops and other expensive e-gadgets are quite risky due to theft and damage concerns, rather bulky too. Keep your techie luggage to cameras and mobile phones. Anyway, the region teems with internet shops, while hotels are mostly Wi-Fi ready. Make sure your backpack is half empty when you come here to save space for your shopping. Keep that first aid kit. With the poor medical facilities in some rural areas, this might just save your life.

Save for…

The amazing thing is that all your modern comfort needs are here, authentic and cheaper. Toiletries are manufactured in Thailand and Philippines like J&J and Colgate. The sarong, whichyou can also choose to buy here, is handy as a makeshift blanket for the cold nights or as a shoulder/leg cover-up for those solemn temple visits. Thongs or flip flops which come cheap in SEA (less than US) are also necessary for that city trek and for bathroom use when things aren’t looking that nice and clean. Don’t forget that dear Southeast Asia is a shopper’s discount haven for counterfeit, original, and all brands. In fact, you can also buy a cheap tri- or quad-band mobile here with a local SIM for less to stay connected.

***

The real deal in backpacking is freedom and the ability to choose. The ultimate advice to date is to be highly adaptable and flexible to situations. Seriously, Southeast Asia is the place for “Tenner-A-Day” student travellers. Daily budget: -, not including shopping.

Weigh your options when a risky but fun opportunity comes along, and simply SIMPLY (I mean really) avoid messing with drug policies, not just in Southeast Asia. Tourist or local, drug violations render unmerciful sanctions for being caught dabbling whilst in Southeast Asia. In some countries, it could be a choice between jail time, deportation, life sentence, or the best of all, death penalty.

Delays and cancellations can be an amazing thing too, so keep cool and go with it. Should you get lost, what can I say? That’s the whole point! This will be an exciting trip!

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpackers. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Travel eGuides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.

Related Thai Airways Articles

The Most Prestigious Airlines In Asia

We’ve covered low-cost airlines and their no-frills approach to air travel. But, more often than not, when stuck in the same seated position for more than an hour, you tend to “stiffen” a bit. And then there’s the baby girl who’s wailing as her 2 year-old brother laughs maniacally kicking your seat with both feet. There’s no room. Too much noise; there’s no way out!

Sorry, but sometimes leg room is more than just a perk; it’s a necessity. Besides that, for long flights of four or more hours, your throat gets parched, or you get a little tired and need some coffee. Liquor is nice, too. Some things become a luxury only when they’re not available. There are times when cash is tight, and discomfort is worth the price of the ticket. But a serious traveler demands a comfortable trip.

Standard coach seats in just about any major airline will be relatively cramped, and the typical problems of the crying baby behind you, and the fat, bald man drooling on your shirt will persist. But even there you’ll find a level of service excellence that is absent from coach in many other airlines. Everything from the way the flight attendant sees that everyone is comfortable to the on-flight entertainment is simply better with the most prestigious airlines.

* Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is based in the country of Singapore, not the ghost town in the Michigan. There are certain amenities that come to all passengers as part of the flight. Their amenities include meals, complimentary drinks and in-flight entertainment. They also have an on-flight “radio” service. By plugging in the ear phones and picking a channel, you can listen to anything from classical music, to R&B.

* Qantas Airlines

Australia gave us Forster’s Beer and Crocodile Dundee, but they didn’t stop there. After dominating the leisure and entertainment worlds, they tackled air travel. Qantas is the national airline of Australia and rivals every airline on the planet in terms of the service you receive from the flight attendants and pilots. But the food they serve, even to coach customers, is cuisine. They are rated in the top 10 airports in the world in arriving and departing on time. The Aussie’s have made air travel a pleasure again.

* Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific has the pretense of being refined and cultured, one of the finest ways to travel; and it is! But the online customer ratings in comfort were higher in economy class than in both business and first class! The widest praise was on the friendliness and hospitality of the flight staff, as well as incredibly high marks for on-flight entertainment.

* Qatar Airlines

From now on when you think of the Middle East and Airplanes you’ll immediately remember the exquisitely comfortable accommodations, world-renowned service, and cuisine-quality meals that have made Qatar Airlines the best in the region. In fact, they have set the standard of excellence airlines around the world must judge themselves against.

A standby joke for any lame comic is to lament airplane food. Online reviews for long-haul trips gave Qatar 5-star ratings on both the meal and on the plane’s cleanliness and comfort. Quite simply, they know how to make you happy.

* Thai Airways

There is a legend that out there in the East there is a place where you can sip a cocktail and get a massage; all while flying 30,000 feet above Mongolia. If that’s never happened to you, then you’ve never flown Thai Airways. They are an official 4-star airline, and has a first-class that features a spa, massage service, and on-demand dining.

No, you don’t need a massage to have a good trip. Nor does the food have to literally sing to you from the plate. But if you know you’ll be taking a long flight, and you understand that at some point you’re going to need to sleep—because that baby will not stop screaming—then spend a little more to get the most out of your trip.

If it were only possible to live in the air, then we’d all be birds…

Flight Thai Airways Bangkok Dubai Buiness Class, Codeshare flight Emirates EK 6201 flight attendant stewardess inflight service menue meals

Air France – China 3D/4D Driving Flight Simulator – 3D Cinema System Manufacturer

History

Formation and early years

Air France was formed on 7 October 1933, from a merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Compagnie Gnrale Aropostale, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Arienne (CIDNA), and Socit Gnrale de Transport Arien (SGTA). Of these airlines, SGTA was the first commercial airline company in France, having been founded as Lignes Ariennes Farman in 1919. The constituent members of Air France had already built extensive networks across Europe, to French colonies in North Africa and farther afield. During World War II, Air France moved its operations to Casablanca (Morocco). On 26 June 1945, all of France’s air transport companies were nationalised. On 29 December 1945, a decree[citation needed] of the French government granted Air France the management of the entire French air transport network. Air France appointed its first flight attendants in 1946. The same year the airline opened its first air terminal at Les Invalides in central Paris. It was linked to Paris Le Bourget Airport, Air France’s first operations and engineering base, by coach. At that time the network covered 160,000 km, claimed to be the longest in the world. Socit Nationale Air France was set up on 1 January 1946.

Air France SE-161 Carreidas in Tunisia in 1952.

On 1 July 1946, Air France inaugurated direct scheduled service between Paris and New York via refuelling stops at Shannon and Gander. Douglas DC-4 piston-engined airliners covered the route in just under 20 hours. By 1948 Air France operated one of the largest fleets in the world, numbering 130 aircraft. In 1946 and 1948, respectively, the French government further authorised the creation of two private airlines: Transports Ariens Internationaux – later Transports Ariens Intercontinentaux – (TAI) and SATI. In 1949 the latter became part of Union Aromaritime de Transport (UAT), a private French international airline.

Compagnie Nationale Air France was created by act of parliament on 16 June 1948. Initially, the government held 70%. In subsequent years the French state’s direct and indirect shareholdings reached almost 100%. In mid-2002 the state held 54%. On 4 August 1948 Max Hymans was appointed president. During his 13-year tenure he would implement modernisation practices centred on the introduction of jet aircraft. In 1949, the company became a co-founder of Socit Internationale de Tlcommunications Aronautiques (SITA), an airline telecommunications services company.

Jet age reorganisation

Passengers disembarking from a Sud-Est SE-161 Carreidas.

In 1952, Air France moved its operations and engineering base to the new Paris Orly Airport South terminal. By that time, the network had further expanded, covering 250,000 km. Air France entered the jet age in 1953 with the original, short-lived de Havilland Comet series 1, the world’s first jetliner. At the time, it was also a major operator of the Vickers Viscount turboprop. On 26 September 1953, the government instructed Air France to share long-distance routes with new private airlines. This was followed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s imposition of an accord on Air France, Aigle Azur, TAI and UAT, under which some routes to Africa, Asia and the Pacific region were transferred to private carriers.

On 23 February 1960, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport transferred Air France’s domestic monopoly to Air Inter. To compensate for the loss of its domestic network, Air France was given a stake in Air Inter. The following day, Air France was further instructed to share African routes with Air Afrique and UAT. The airline started uninterrupted pure jet operations in 1960 with the Sud Aviation Caravelle and the Boeing 707. The incorporation of jet airliners into Air France’s route network cut travel times in half and improved passenger comfort. Air France later became an early Boeing 747 operator, and eventually operated one of the world’s largest 747 fleets.

Air France Caravelle jetliner in Algiers in 1963.

On 1 February 1963, the government formalised division of routes between Air France and its private sector rivals. Air France was to withdraw services to West Africa (with the exception of Senegal), Central Africa (except Burundi and Rwanda), Southern Africa (including South Africa), Libya in North Africa, Bahrain and Oman in the Middle East, Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) in South Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand as well as New Caledonia and Tahiti. These routes were allocated to the new Union des Transports Ariens (UTA), a new private airline that was the result of a merger between TAI and UAT. UTA also obtained exclusive rights between Japan, New Caledonia and New Zealand, South Africa and Runion island in the Indian Ocean, as well as Los Angeles and Tahiti.

From 1974, Air France began shifting the bulk of operations to the new Charles de Gaulle Airport north of Paris. By the early 1980s, only Corsica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, most services to French Guyana, Runion, the Maghreb region, Eastern Europe (except the USSR), Southern Europe (except Greece and Italy), and one daily service to New York (JFK) remained at Orly. In 1974, Air France also became the world’s first operator of the Airbus A300 twin-engined widebodied plane, Airbus Industrie’s first commercial airliner for which it was a launch customer.

In 1975, Air France was headquartered in central Paris.

Concorde service and rivalry

Air France Concorde on a U.S. stopover in 1977.

On 21 January 1976, Air France operated its inaugural supersonic transport (SST) service on the Paris (Charles de Gaulle) to Rio (via Dakar) route with the Anglo-French BAC-Arospatiale Concorde. Supersonic services from Paris (CDG) to New York (JFK) – the only remaining Concorde service until its end – as well as from Paris CDG to Washington D.C. commenced the following year. Paris to New York was covered in three hours and 23 minutes, about twice the speed of sound. Approval for flights to the United States was initially withheld due to noise protests. Eventually, services to Mexico City via Washington, D.C. were started. Air France became one of only two airlines – British Airways being the other – to regularly operate supersonic services, and continued daily transatlantic Concorde service for nearly two decades.

By 1983, Air France’s golden jubilee, the workforce numbered more than 34,000, its fleet about 100 jet aircraft (including 33 Boeing 747s) and its 634,400 km network served 150 destinations in 73 countries. This made Air France the fourth-largest scheduled passenger airline in the world, as well as the second-largest scheduled freight carrier. Air France also codeshared with regional French airlines, TAT being the most prominent. TAT applied Air France livery to several of its aircraft on Air France’s regional international routes.

In 1985 Air France was still headquartered in central Paris.

Air France operated 33 Boeing 747s by 1983.

In 1986 the government relaxed its policy of dividing traffic rights for scheduled services between Air France, Air Inter and UTA, without route overlaps between them. The decision opened some of Air France’s most lucrative routes on which it had enjoyed a government-sanctioned monopoly since 1963 and which were within its exclusive sphere of influence, to rival airlines, notably UTA. The changes enabled UTA to launch scheduled services to new destinations within Air France’s sphere, in competition with that airline.

Paris-San Francisco became the first route UTA served in competition with Air France non-stop from Paris. Air France responded by extending some non-stop Paris-Los Angeles services to Papeete, Tahiti, which competed with UTA on Los Angeles-Papeete. UTA’s ability to secure traffic rights outside its traditional sphere in competition with Air France was the result of a campaign to lobby the government to enable it to grow faster, becoming more dynamic and more profitable. This infuriated Air France.

In 1988, Air France was a launch customer for the fly-by-wire (FBW) A320 narrowbody twin, along with Air Inter and British Caledonian. It became the first airline to take delivery of the A320 in March 1988, and along with Air Inter became the first airlines to introduce Airbus A320 service on short-haul routes.

Acquisitions and privatisation

Dassault Mercure of Air Inter which became part of Air France in 1990.

On 12 January 1990, the operations of government-owned Air France, semi-public Air Inter and wholly private UTA were merged into an enlarged Air France. Air France’s acquisition of UTA and Air Inter was part of an early 1990s government plan to create a unified, national air carrier with the economies of scale and global reach to counter potential threats from the liberalisation of the EU’s internal air transport market.

On 25 July 1994, a new holding company, Groupe Air France, was set up by decree. Groupe Air France became operational on 1 September 1994. It acquired the Air France group’s majority shareholdings in Air France and Air Inter (subsequently renamed Air France Europe). On 31 August 1994, Stephen Wolf, a former United Airlines CEO, was appointed adviser to the Air France group’s chairman Christian Blanc. Wolf was credited with the introduction of Air France’s hub and spoke operation at Paris Charles de Gaulle. (Wolf resigned in 1996 to take over as CEO at US Airways.)

In 1997, Air France Europe was absorbed into Air France.

On 19 February 1999, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin’s Plural Left government approved the Air France’s partial privatisation. Its shares were listed on the Paris stock exchange on 22 February 1999. In June 1999, Air France and Delta Air Lines formed a bilateral transatlantic partnership. On 22 June 2000, this expanded into the SkyTeam global airline alliance.

Air France-KLM merger

The merger of Air France and KLM occurred in 2004.

On 30 September 2003, Air France and Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced the merger of the two airlines, the new company to be known as Air France-KLM. The merger became reality on 5 May 2004. At that point former Air France shareholders owned 81% of the new firm (44% owned by the French state, 37% by private shareholders), former KLM shareholders the rest. The decision of the Jean-Pierre Raffarin government to reduce the French state’s shareholding in the former Air France group from 54.4% to 44% of the newly created Air France-KLM Group effectively privatised the new airline. In December 2004 the state sold 18.4% of its equity in Air France-KLM. The state’s shareholding in Air France-KLM subsequently fell to just under 20%.

Air France operations at Charles de Gaulle airport in 2006.

Air France-KLM became the largest airline in the world in terms of operating revenues, and third-largest (largest in Europe) in passenger kilometres. Although owned by a single company, Air France and KLM continued to fly under their own brand names. Air France-KLM remained part of the SkyTeam alliance, which then included Aeroflot, Delta Air Lines, Aeromxico, Korean Air, Czech Airlines, Alitalia, Northwest Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air Europa and Continental Airlines. As of March 2004, Air France employed 71,654 people. As of March 2007, the airline employed 102,422 personnel.

According to Air France-KLM, the company’s principal activities became:

Passenger transport: first European airline with 25.5% of market share (November 2004) and largest airline in the world in terms of operating revenue.

Freight transport: largest company for international freight transportation without integration. With integration, Air France-KLM is third worldwide behind FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Airplane maintenance and repair: largest multi-services operator.

Open skies venture

Air France added the first Boeing 777-300ER to its fleet in 2004.

On 17 October 2007, the creation of a profit and revenue-sharing transatlantic joint venture between Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines was announced during a press conference at Air France-KLM’s Roissy-CDG headquarters. The venture became effective on 29 March 2008. It aimed to exploit transatlantic opportunities to capture a major share of long-haul business traffic from London Heathrow Airport, which opened to unrestricted competition on that day as a result of the “Open Skies” pact between the EU and USA. It was envisaged that Air France and Delta, as well as fellow SkyTeam members Continental and Northwest, would begin nine daily round trips between London-Heathrow and destinations in the USA, including a daily London (Heathrow) to Los Angeles service by Air France. Once the new Air France-Delta venture received antitrust immunity, it was to be extended to the other two transatlantic SkyTeam partners, enabling all four partners to codeshare flights as well as to share revenue and profit.

The new transatlantic joint venture marks the Air France-KLM Group’s second major expansion in the London market, following the launch of CityJet-operated short-haul services from London City Airport that have been aimed at business travellers in the City’s financial services industry. However, the daily London (Heathrow) to Los Angeles service was not as successful as hoped, and was discontinued in November 2008.

Recent developments

On 13 January, Air France agreed to enter into recently privatised Alitalia’s capital share with a 25% stake. This capital investment is coupled with a co-operation agreement on an industrial basis. It is expected that Air France’s participation will increase in the years and that may likely lead to a merger with Alitalia, although nothing has been agreed so far on this.

Corporate identity

Liveries and logo

Air France title logo from 1970s-2008

The hippocampe ail logo.

Boeing 777-200ER with Air France’s Eurowhite 1970s-2008 livery.

Air France Boeing 777-300ER in the new livery landing at Montreal-Trudeau.

Air France’s present livery is a Eurowhite scheme, comprising a white fuselage with the blue Air France title and design. The tail is white with a series of parallel red and blue lines across the it at an angle, and a small European flag at the top. This livery has been in use since the late 1970s. In 2008, to coincide with Air France’s new logo, a change in livery is expected soon with the new logo replacing the old one at the forward fuselage. The tail will have little change; there will now be 3 blue bars running down instead of 4 previously. The bars will also now curve at the bottom reflecting the design of the logo. Previously, Air France aircraft had a bare-metal underside, extending up to a blue cheat-line that ran across the cabin windows. Above the cheat-line the fuselage was again white, with Air France titles and a French flag. The tail was white with two thick blue lines, which tapered from the rear of the tail and met at point towards the front bottom. This basic livery, with minor variations, would appear on all post-war Air France aircraft until the late 1970s.

Upon its formation, Air France adopted the seahorse logo of its predecessor Air Orient, known as the hippocampe ail, as its insignia. Prior to the Air France-KLM merger, the hippocampe ail was used on the nose section of aircraft next to the Groupe Air France title; after the merger, the Air France-KLM logo was substituted at the nose area, and the hippocampe ail was relocated to engine nacelles. The acroynm “AF” has also featured prominently on the airline’s flag and its signage. On 7 January 2008, Air France officially changed its logo to a red stripe.

Marketing

The song played before and after Air France flights (during boarding and after landing) is ‘Setting Fire to Sleepy Towns.’ by The Sleeping Years. The song featured in the Air France commercials is ‘Between Us’ by the band Aswefall.

Uniforms

Air France uniforms denote the ranks for the flight attendants. Two silver sleeve stripes denote a Chief Purser. One silver sleeve stripe denote a Purser. Flight attendants do not have any sleeve stripes. Air France’s current uniforms were created by French fashion designer Christian Lacroix.

Destinations

Main article: Air France destinations

Air France is a full service global airline and flies to 20 domestic destinations and 150 international destinations in 83 countries (including Overseas departments and territories of France) across all 6 major continents. This includes Air France Cargo services and those destinations served by franchisees Airlinair, Brit Air, CityJet, CCM Airlines and Rgional.

Most of Air France’s international flights operate from Paris-Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France also has a strong presence at Paris-Orly and Lyon-Saint-Exupry airports. As Air France becomes more a strategic partner with Delta Air Lines through the SkyTeam alliance and through a substantial joint venture, new routes and code-share agreements are developing rapidly.

Fleet

Active Fleet

The Air France fleet consists of the following passenger aircraft (as of 10 February 2010):

Air France Passenger Fleet

Aircraft

Total

Orders

Passengers

(First/Business/Premium Economy/Economy)

Airbus A318-100

18

0

123 (0/0/0/123)

Airbus A319-100

39

0

142 (0/0/0/142)

Airbus A319-100LR

5

0

79 (0/28/51/0)

Airbus A320-100

4

0

172 (0/0/0/172)

Airbus A320-200

56

10

165 (0/0/0/165)

Airbus A321-100

5

0

206 (0/0/0/206)

Airbus A321-200

18

4

200 (0/0/0/200)

Airbus A330-200

15

0

208 (0/40/21/147)

219 (0/40/0/179)

Airbus A340-300

18

0

261 (0/36/21/204)

272 (0/36/0/236)

275 (0/30/21/224)

291 (0/30/0/261)

Airbus A380-800

2

10

538 (9/80/0/449)

Boeing 747-400

15

0

436 (0/40/0/396)

Boeing 777-200ER

25

0

247 (4/49/24/170)

264 (4/49/0/211)

Boeing 777-300ER

30

12

303 (8/67/28/200)

325 (8/67/0/250)

472 (0/14/36/422)

The average fleet age of Air France is 7.9 years (as of 1 November 2009).

Orders

Airbus A380.

Airbus A318.

Airbus A319.

Airbus A320-200.

Airbus A321-200.

Air France Boeing 747-400 at Paris-CDG leaving for Montral-Trudeau.

On 24 May 2007, Air France announced it was planning to phase out its 747-400 aircraft by 2010, and placed an order for an additional 13 Boeing 777-300ERs and five Boeing 777F units. The airline also converted options for two more A380-800s into firm orders. This will bring the total of these aircraft for Air France to 33 Boeing 777-300ERs, 10 Boeing 777Fs, and 12 A380-800.

On 22 February 2005 Air France ordered a further four Boeing 777-300ERs, adding to 10 previously ordered (four delivered). The airline had previously ordered 18 Boeing 777-200ERs.

Air France signed as a launch customer for the Airbus A380-800 “superjumbo” in 2001. Air France had ordered 12 Airbus A380-800 aircraft, with options on a further two. The A380-800 will be used from Paris to New York and Johannesburg and as additional aircraft arrive, to Beijing and Tokyo. The first A380 was delivered on 30 October 2009, and is used on the Paris to New York route. Following delivery of the second A380, Air France started using it on the Paris to Johannesburg route from the 17 February 2010.

On 20 May 2005 Air France signed an agreement with Boeing to have three of its former Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft – currently operated in all-passenger configuration – converted to the Boeing 747-400SF Special Freighter model. The modified aircraft will accelerate the phasing-out of the remaining, aging Boeing 747-200F freighters..

Air France has begun the process of removing the Boeing 747-400s from its fleet, in favour of the Boeing 777-300ER. A letter of intent has been signed for 6 747s to be purchased and converted to freighters and it hopes to have completely phased out all 747s by 2013.

On 23 May 2005 Air France agreed to buy five 777 Freighters (with three further options), making it the launch customer of the 777 Freighter. Air France took delivery of its first two 777 Freighters during February 2009. Two of the five were later sold to FedEx Express before being delivered.

Anniversary jet

On 14 November 2008, Air France released the first picture of an Airbus A320 with registration F-GFKJ that has been repainted in the full 1946 paint scheme to celebrate the airline’s 75 years anniversary. This heritage aircraft is planned to fly under the special colours until Spring 2010.

Fleet history

Over the years, Air France operated the following aircraft types:

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Air France Past Fleet

Aircraft

Introduced

Retired

Notes

Airbus A300

1974

1998

Airbus A310

1984

2002

Airbus A318

2003

Airbus A319

1997

Airbus A320

1988

Airbus A321

1997

Airbus A330-200

2001

Airbus A340-200

1993

1999

Airbus A340-300

1993

Airbus A380

2009

Boeing 737-200

1982

2002

Boeing 737-300

1991

2004

Boeing 737-500

1990

2007

Boeing 747-100

1970

1995

Boeing 747-200

1974

2008

Boeing 747-300

1991

2007

Boeing 747-400

1991

Boeing 767-300

1991

2003

Boeing 777-200

1998

Boeing 777-300

2004

Concorde

1976

2003

Fokker 100

1997

1999

sold to Brit Air

Lockheed TriStar

1989

1991

McDonnell Douglas DC-10

1992

2004

Concorde

The five Air France Concordes were grounded on 31 May 2003, as a result of insufficient demand following the 2000 accident, as well as higher fuel and maintenance costs. However, it is widely believed that Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta’s fear of personal criminal liability in the event of another Concorde accident was the real reason. Airbus’s subsequent decision to stop supporting the in-service Concorde fleet forced British Airways to retire its own fleet. The Airbus decision to end Concorde support came at an inopportune time for British Airways as it had just completed a refurbishment of the aircraft’s interiors and invested in post-2000 crash modifications. British Airways flew its last Concorde service on 24 October 2003. Concorde F-BVFA was transferred to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an annexe of the National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly area of Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, near Washington Dulles Airport. F-BVFB was given to Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum in Germany, F-BTSD to the Muse de l’Air et de l’Espace in Paris, while F-BVFC returned to its place of manufacture in Toulouse at the Airbus factory. F-BVFF is the only example to remain at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Cabin classes

Air France has three primary classes of international service: La Premire (First), Affaires (Business), Premium Voyageur (Premium Economy) and Voyageur. European short-haul flights feature Voyageur and Premium Voyageyr class service. For flights to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean, a premium economy class, Aliz, is also offered, and a Premium Tempo class has been announced for select international routes. Inflight entertainment via AVOD (Audio Video on Demand) is available in select cabins.

La Premire (First) suites on a Boeing 777.

Affaires (Business) lie-flat seats.

Voyageur (Economy) cabin.

La Premire

La Premire (former L’Espace Premire), Air France’s long-haul first class product, is available on Airbus A380, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The La Premire cabin features four to nine (A380) wood and leather seats which recline 180, forming two-metre long beds. Each seat features a 10.4″ touchscreen TV monitor with interactive gaming and AVOD, a privacy divider, automassage feature, reading light, storage drawer, noise-cancelling headphones, personal telephone, and laptop power ports. la carte on-demand meal services feature entres created by Chef Guy Martin. Turndown service includes a mattress, duvet and pillow. Private lounge access is offered worldwide.

Affaires

Affaires (former L’Espace Affaires), Air France’s long-haul business class product, is available on Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A380, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200ER, and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Affaires features lie-flat seats which recline to two metres in length. Each seat includes a 10.4″ touchscreen TV monitor with interactive gaming and AVOD, reading light, personal telephone, and laptop power ports. Meal service features three-course meals and a cheese service, or an express menu served shortly after takeoff.

Aliz

Aliz is Air France’s regional premium economy product for flights to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean (such as the Antilles, French Guiana, and Mauritius). On the Boeing 777-300ER, the Aliz cabin is located in front of the Voyageur cabin and features 36 seats. Aliz seats recline up to 123 and feature massaging foot rests. A pre-departure drink, enhanced meal service, and feather pillows and blankets are offered.

Premium Voyageur

This new class will be available on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting Autumn/Winter 2009/2010. Based on the concept of a premium economy cabin, it is said that it will incorporate all the amenities of standard Voyageur class but with a more spacious cabin, in a 2-4-2 configuration and a 38″ pitch. It is expected for there to be about 32 of these new seats on the Boeing 777-300ER. The Boeing 777-300ER flies to New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Beirut, Beijing, Hong Kong and Osaka. Premium Voyageur will be gradually rolled out onto all of Air France’s long-haul fleet.

Voyageur

Voyageur (former Tempo), Air France’s economy class product, features seats that recline up to 118. The latest long-haul Voyageur seat, which debuted on the Boeing 777-300ER, includes winged headrests, a personal telephone, and a touchscreen TV monitor with AVOD Interactive Entertainment System which are gradually being installed on all of Air France’s longhaul aircraft except Boeing 747-400s. Short-haul Tempo services are operated by Airbus A320 family aircraft with different seating arrangements. Air France is one of the few airlines who features winged headrests on short-haul aircraft in both classes. On short haul flights a snack is served. On medium haul flights a three course cold meal is served. On long haul flights there is a choice between two main courses when available. Limited free alcoholic beverages are available on all flights. Tempo has been renamed as Voyageur with Air France’s new image rebranding.

Services

In-flight catering

In-flight AVOD and dessert course in Affaires (Business)

For its Premire cabin, Air France’s first class menu is designed by Guy Martin, chef of Le Grand Vefour, a Michelin three-star restaurant in Paris. Menu items include hors deuvres, entres, bread basket, and cheeses, along with a dessert cart including pastries, petit fours, and tartlets. Air France also serves complimentary champagne to passengers in all classes.

In-flight entertainment

Air France offers Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) in all classes on service on its A330, A340, A380 and 777 aircraft. The AVOD system features multiple channels of video, audio, music, and games. Premire and Affaires passengers can start and stop programs, plus rewind and fast-forward as desired; in Voyageur class, the system may cycle between programs at a regular interval on all aircraft except Boeing 777-300ER. Some aircraft in Air France’s 747 fleet do not have individual video screens in Voyageur class. Air France Magazine, the airline’s in-flight publication, is included at each seat, and Air France Madame, a fashion luxury magazine with a feminine perspective, is included in Premire and Affaires cabins and lounges.

Lounges

Air France Business Lounge at CDG Terminal 2E.

Air France lounges are open to Premire and Affaires passengers, as well as Flying Blue Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, SkyTeam Elite Plus, or Club 2000 frequent flier program cardholders. Many airports feature SkyTeam lounges that are used by Air France and member airline partners.

Flying Blue

Main article: Flying Blue

Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France-KLM, awards members points based on miles travelled and class of service. Membership into the program is free. The program is divided into standard (Ivory) and Elite (Silver, Gold and Platinum) statuses. Ivory is the basic level which is attained upon entry into the program. Elite status is attained by accruing a certain number of miles within one calendar year. Elite Silver, Elite Gold, and Elite Platinum cards have added benefits. Flying Blue succeeded Air France’s previous frequent flyer program, Frquence Plus, which operated until the Air France-KLM merger in 2003.

Ivory – Permanent status; accrues mileage on AF, KLM, and qualifying flights.

Silver (Elite) – 25,000 or more miles on 15 or more segments.

Gold (Elite) – 40,000 or more miles travelled on 30 or more level segments.

Platinum (Elite) – 70,000 or more miles travelled on 60 or more level segments.

For French and Monegasque residents, Elite thresholds are higher, at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles respectively.

Codeshare agreements

In addition to its Brit Air, CityJet and Rgional subsidiaries, and its SkyTeam alliance partnership, Air France offers frequent flyer partnerships with approximately two-dozen airlines (as of February 2010):

Air France e-check kiosks

Air Mauritius

Air Seychelles

Aircalin

Alaska Airlines

Armavia

Austrian Airlines (Star Alliance)

Avianca

Baboo

CCM Airlines

Chalair

China Eastern Airlines

Finnair (Oneworld)

Gol Transportes Areos

Japan Airlines (Oneworld)

Jat Airways

Luxair

Malv Hungarian Airlines (Oneworld)

Middle East Airlines

Qantas (Oneworld)

Swiss International Air Lines (Star Alliance)

TAAG Angola Airlines

TAROM (SkyTeam from 2010)

Ukraine International Airlines

WestJet (from early 2010)

Subsidiaries and franchises

Air France regional jet operated by Brit Air

In partnership with Dutch affiliate Transavia, Air France has launched Transavia.com France, a new low-cost subsidiary based at Orly airport. Operations began in May 2007 with flights to leisure destinations in the Mediterranean region and North Africa. It is operating four “Next Generation” Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Transavia has a 40% stake, with Air France holding the rest.

Airlinair, Brit Air, CityJet, CCM Airlines and Rgional all operate flights on behalf of Air France, either as subsidiaries or as franchisees.

Rail ventures

Air France and Veolia are looking into jointly operating high-speed rail services in Europe. Routes will become available to operators in accordance with European rail liberalisation on 1 January 2010.

Head office

Head office of Air France in Roissyple, Tremblay-en-France

The former Air France head office in Montparnasse, Paris

Air France’s head office is located in the Roissyple complex on the grounds of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and in the commune of Tremblay-en-France, Seine-Saint-Denis, near the city of Paris. The 130,000 square metres (1,400,000 sq ft) complex was completed in December 1995. The French firm Groupement d’Etudes et de Mthodes d’Ordonnancement (GEMO) managed the project. The architect was Valode et Pistre and the design consultants were and Sechaud-Boyssut and Trouvin. The project costed 137,000,000 euros(less than 700 million francs).

For about 30 years prior to December 1995, Air France’s headquarters were located in a tower adjacent to the Gare Montparnasse rail station in the Montparnasse area and the 15th arrondissement of Paris. By 1991 two bids for the purchase of the Square Max Hymans building had been made. By 1992 the complex was sold to MGEN for 1.6 million francs. By that year Air France had planned to move its head office to Roissyple, taking 50,000 square metres (540,000 sq ft) of space inside the hotel, office, and shopping complex on the grounds of Charles de Gaulle Airport. After Air France moved to Tremblay-en-France, the ownership of the former head office complex was transferred.

In popular culture

Air France is the official airline of the Cannes Film Festival.

Air France has featured in Hollywood films. In the 1942 classic Casablanca, an Air France airliner, identifiable via its seahorse logo, featured prominently in the film’s climactic last scene. The Air France aircraft was used to take Ingrid Bergman’s character to freedom, as her former lover, played by Humphrey Bogart, watches. Additionally, the first in-flight movie was screened on board an Air France Lockheed Constellation in 1951 flying the New York to Paris route.

Incidents and accidents

Air France accidents and incidents

References

Notes

^ a b c d e “Directory: World Airlines”. Flight International: pp. 5657. 2007-03-27. 

^ Salpukas, Agis (1992-12-27). “Air France’s Big Challenge”. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/27/business/air-france-s-big-challenge.html. Retrieved 2009-05-31. 

^ “Air France – Company Overview”. Hoover’s. 2009. http://www.hoovers.com/air-france/–ID__43290–/free-co-factsheet.xhtml. Retrieved 2009-05-31. 

^ Rgional (Compagnie Arienne Europenne), Company Profile

^ Ordonnance n45-1403 du 26 juin 1945 portant nationalisation des transports ariens

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Air France (Airline, France)

^ a b c M.R. Golder, The Changing Nature of French Dirigisme – A Case Study of Air France. Thesis submitted at Trinity College, Oxford, 1997, p.28

^ World Airline Directory. Flight International. March 20, 1975. “466.

^ Airliners.net

^ “World Airline Directory.” Flight International. 30 March 1985. 42.” Retrieved on 17 June 2009.

^ Answers.com (Business and Finance) – Chargeurs International

^ FT.com/Business Life, The Monday Interview, 30 September 2007 – Pilot who found the right trajectory

^ The New York Times, 31 August 1994, Air France’s New Adviser

^ Business Wire, 16 January 1996 – Statement from Air France Group Chairman regarding Stephen M. Wolf

^ AIR FRANCE – KLM Company Profile Yahoo! Finance

^ a b Financial Times, 17 October 2007 – Air France and Delta target London

^ Airwise, 17 October 2007 – Air France And Delta Set Transatlantic Venture

^ Engle, Jane. “Air France will refund or reroute LAX-Heathrow fliers”. The Los Angeles Times. http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/air-france-will-refu-2984/. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 

^ “Air France’s new livery retains much of current scheme”. Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/11/322387/picture-air-frances-new-livery-retains-much-of-current-scheme.html. Retrieved 2009-02-11. 

^ Pegasus a la Francaise

^ Air France’s Hippocampe and BOAC’s Speedbird: the semiotic status of logos

^ http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Air France.htm

^ Air France Fleet Age

^ Air France To Retire Boeing 747 Fleet (Flight Global: 24 May 2007)

^ ASIATravelTips.com, 18 June 2001 – Air France confirms major A380 order

^ Air International (July 2005)

^ DVB to acquire six Air France Boeing 747-400s Flight Global, 5 February 2008

^ Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 20 February 2009

^ http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100129-708885.html

^ Airliners.net F-GFKJ retrojet

^ Air France historic fleet at airfleets.ner. Retrieved 2009-11-20.

^ The Betrayal Of Concorde By Donald L. Pevsner

^ Air France – On Board

^ Air France reoit son 50e Boeing 777 et lance une Tempo premium

^ “Baggage fees for major airlines”. budgettravel.about.com. http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 

^ Forbes – First-Class Chefs Take Flight

^ There is such thing as a good airline meal

^ Air France Airline Information

^ Echo Media – Air France Madame

^ Air France Flying Blue

^ a b Air France Flying Blue membership thresholds

^ “About Air France Code-share agreements”. Air France. http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/local/toutsurairfrance/partenaires/partenaires_partage_code.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-31. 

^ Airliner World (January 2007)

^ Air France, Veolia plan high-speed rail venture (Reuters, 2008-09-08)

^ “Head Office,Air France. Retrieved on 9 February 2010.

^ “Plan interactif.” Tremblay-en-France. Retrieved on 20 September 2009.

^ a b “AIR FRANCE HEAD QUARTERS – ROISSYPOLE.” Groupement d’Etudes et de Mthodes d’Ordonnancement (GEMO). Retrieved on 20 September 2009.

^ “Air France.” Tremblay-en-France. Retrieved on 20 September 2009.

^ “Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle.” Tremblay-en-France. Retrieved on 20 September 2009. “Roissyple runit dans un cadre architectural moderne des infrastructures indispensables aux entreprises pour lesquelles le contact avec l’international est une necessit quotidienne. La cit d’affaires desservie par le RER accueille le sige social d’Air-France, le Hilton aisni que les bureaux du Continental square et du dme.”

^ “Le futur sige d’Air France devrait coter prs de 700 millions.” Les Echos. 27 March 1992. Page 12. Retrieved on 23 February 2010.

^ Mlekuz, Nathalie. “Air France vole vers ses avions, destination Roissy.” Le Monde. 2 April 1997. Retrieved on 22 September 2009. “Situ pendant plus de trente ans dans une des tours au-dessus de la gare Montparnasse, le sige d’Air France se trouve dsormais prs de l’aroport de Roissy.”

^ “Deux offres pour l’achat du sige d’Air France.” Les chos (France). 25 September 1991. Page 12. Retrieved on 26 November 2009.

^ “Air France toujours la recherche de capitaux frais.” Les Echos. 20 January 1992. Page 12. Retrieved on 23 December 2009. “Air France a pu boucler son exercice 1991 en incorporant la dotation en capital de 2 milliards de francs consentie par l’Etat-actionnaire, 1,25 milliard apports par la BNP contre des obligations remboursables en actions (ORA), ainsi que le produit de la vente de son sige la MGEN (1,6 milliard).”

^ Chenay, Christophe de. “Une ville pousse entre les pistes de Roissy Il ne manquera que des logements pour faire de Roissyple une vritable cit Mais le projet inquite les communes environnantes.” Le Monde. 13 September 1992. Retrieved on 20 January 2010. “Le transfert du sige d’Air France qui quittera le quartier Montparnasse en 1995 pour Roissyple devrait donner une lgitimit aux ambitions immobilires.”

^ “Roissyple ouvre ses portes.” Les Echos. 1 October 1992. Page 23. Retrieved on 20 January 2010. “Et le goupe Air France va y installer son nouveau sige social sur 50.000 mtres carrs en 1995.”

^ “Air France Roissy: le dcollage du sige social.” Les Echos. 1 June 1995. Page 32. Retrieved on 22 September 2009. “au terme d’un transfert rigoureusement planifi par la vente de l’ancien sige de Montparnasse.”

^ a b c Air France Reaching for the Stars

Bibliography

Air France corporate history

Air France fatal accident list – in English and French

Financial Times, 17 October 2007 – Air France and Delta target London

Airwise, 17 October 2007 – Air France And Delta Set Transatlantic Venture

FT.com/Business Life, The Monday Interview, 30 September 2007 – Pilot who found the right trajectory

The Seattle Times, Business & Technology, 25 May 2007 – Air France-KLM splits order for jets

Air France corporate history

ASIATravelTips.com, 18 June 2001 – Air France confirms major A380 order

M.R. Golder, The Changing Nature of French Dirigisme – A Case Study of Air France, St. Edmunds Hall, Oxford. Thesis submitted at Trinity College, 1997

Business Wire, 16 January 1996 – Statement from Air France Group Chairman regarding Stephen M. Wolf

The New York Times, 31 August 1994, Air France’s New Adviser

Record of Air France accidents/incidents at the ASN Aviation Safety Database

External links

Paris portal

France portal

Companies portal

Aviation portal

Find more about Air France on Wikipedia’s sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary

Source texts from Wikisource

Images and media from Commons

News stories from Wikinews

Current links in English

Air France

Air France Consulting

Air France Experience

Air France: La Saga Publicitare

Air France: 75th Anniversary

Air France and Cinema

Air France Paris-New York 60 Year Celebration

Air France Paris-New Delhi 50 Year Celebration

Archived links in English

Air France history

Current links not in English

Air France Aeropostale Episodes (French)

AirFranceCorporate at YouTube

Archived links not in English

Air France, la vie bord

 

Links to related articles

v  d  e

Airlines of France

Current

Aigle Azur  Air Austral  Air Caldonie  Air Caldonie International  Air Carabes  Air Carabes Atlantique  Air France  Air Guyane  Air Loyaut  Air Mditerrane  Air Moorea  Air Saint-Pierre  Air Tahiti  Air Tahiti Nui  Air Tourisme Instruction Service  Airbus Transport International  Airlinair  Atlantique Air Assistance  Atlantique Air Lines  Blue Line  Brit Air  CCM Airlines  Chalair  Corsairfly  Europe Airpost  Hex’Air  JDP France  L’Avion (OpenSkies)  New Axis Airways  Pan Europenne  PEAS  Rectimo Air Transports  Rgional  St Barth Commuter  Transavia France  Tropic Airlines  Twinair  Twin Jet  XL Airways France  Aero Charter DARTA  Aero Services Executive  Air Antilles Express  Eagle Aviation France  Finist’air  Flandre Air  Octavia Airlines  Sud Airlines  Take Air  Wan Air

Defunct

AOM French Airlines  Aeris (airline)  Aerolinair  Aropostale (aviation)  Air Alpes  Air Alsace  Air Atlantique (France)  Air Charter International  Air Horizons  Air Inter  Air Libert  Air Littoral  Air Martinique  Air Orient  Air Turquoise  Air Union  AlsaceExcel  Aria (French airline)  CIDNA  Champagne Airlines  Compagnie des Messageries Ariennes  EAS Europe Airlines  Euralair  Euroberlin  Euroberlin France  Eurojet Airlines  Flywest  Grands Express Ariens  L’Avion  Minerve (airline)  New Axis Airways  Point Air  Socit Gnrale de Transport Ariens  TAT European Airlines  Transports Ariens Intercontinentaux  Union des Transports Ariens  Virgin Express France  Air Bourbon  Air Guadeloupe

v  d  e

Members of the International Air Transport Association

 

Africa regional office

Air Austral  Air Madagascar  Air Mauritius  Air Namibia  Air Seychelles  Air Zimbabwe  Airlink  Bellview Airlines  Comair  Ethiopian Airlines  Interair South Africa  Kenya Airways  LAM Mozambique Airlines  Nigerian Eagle Airlines  Precision Air  Safair  South African Airways  Sudan Airways  TAAG Angola Airlines 

 

Asia-Pacific regional office

Air India  Air New Zealand  Air Niugini  Air Pacific  Air Tahiti  Air Tahiti Nui  Air Vanuatu  Aircalin  All Nippon Airways  Asiana Airlines  Bangkok Airways  Biman Bangladesh Airlines  Continental Micronesia  Garuda Indonesia  JALways  Japan Airlines  Jet Airways  Jet Lite  Kingfisher Airlines  Korean Air  MIAT Mongolian Airlines  Malaysia Airlines  Nippon Cargo Airlines  Philippine Airlines  Qantas  Royal Brunei Airlines  SilkAir  Singapore Airlines  Singapore Airlines Cargo  SriLankan Airlines  Thai Airways International  Vietnam Airlines

 

China and North Asia regional office

Air China  Air Koryo  Air Macau  Cathay Pacific  China Airlines  China Cargo Airlines  China Eastern Airlines  China Southern Airlines  Dragonair  EVA Air  Hainan Airlines  Hong Kong Express Airways  Shandong Airlines  Shanghai Airlines  Shenzhen Airlines  Sichuan Airlines  TransAsia Airways  Xiamen Airlines

 

Europe regional office

Adria Airways  Aegean Airlines  Aer Lingus  Aigle Azur  Air Berlin  Air Contractors  Air Europa  Air France  Air Malta  Air Nostrum  Air One  AirBaltic  Alitalia  Atlasjet  Austrian Airlines  B&H Airlines  Binter Canarias  Blue Panorama Airlines  Blue Wings  Blue1  bmi  British Airways  Brussels Airlines  Bulgaria Air  Cargolux  Carpatair  CCM Airlines  Cimber Air  Cirrus Airlines  CityJet  Corsairfly  Croatia Airlines  Cyprus Airways  Czech Airlines  Denim Air  DHL Air  Estonian Air  European Air Transport  Eurowings  Finnair  FlyLal  Flybe  Hahn Air  Hapag-Lloyd Flug  Hellas Jet  Hemus Air  Iberia Airlines  Icelandair  Jat Airways  KLM  LOT Polish Airlines  LTU International  Lauda Air  Lufthansa  Lufthansa Cargo  Lufthansa CityLine  Luxair  MAT Macedonian Airlines  Malm Aviation  Malv Hungarian Airlines  Meridiana  Montenegro Airlines  Olympic Airlines  Onur Air  Pegasus Airlines  Portuglia  SAS  SAS Norge  SATA Air Aores  Skyways Express  Spanair  Swiss International Air Lines  TAP Portugal  TAROM  TNT Airways  Turkish Airlines  UTair Aviation  Virgin Atlantic Airways  Widere

 

Latin America and the Caribbean regional office

AeroRepblica  Aerolneas Argentinas  Aeromxico  Air Jamaica  Austral Lneas Areas  Avianca  Caribbean Airlines  Copa Airlines  Cubana de Aviacin  Grupo TACA  Lacsa  LAN Airlines  LAN Argentina  LAN Cargo  LAN Ecuador  LAN Per  Mexicana de Aviacin  PLUNA  Surinam Airways  TACA Per  TAM Airlines  TAM Airlines (Paraguay)  TAME  Volaris

 

Middle East and North Africa regional office

Afriqiyah Airways  Air Algrie  Air Sngal International  Arkia Israel Airlines  CAL Cargo Air Lines  Caspian Airlines  DHL International Aviation ME  EgyptAir  El Al  Emirates Airline  Etihad Airways  Gulf Air  Iran Air  Iran Aseman Airlines  Israir Airlines  Jordan Aviation  Kish Air  Kuwait Airways  Libyan Airlines  Mahan Air  Middle East Airlines  Oman Air  Pakistan International Airlines  Qatar Airways  Royal Air Maroc  Royal Jordanian  Saudi Arabian Airlines  Sudan Airways  Syrian Arab Airlines  Tassili Airlines  Tunisair  Yemenia

 

North America regional office

Air Canada  Air Transat  Alaska Airlines  American Airlines  Atlas Air  Cargojet Airways  Continental Airlines  Delta Air Lines  FedEx Express  United Airlines  UPS Airlines  US Airways

 

Russia and the CIS regional office

Aeroflot  Aerosvit Airlines  Air Astana  Air Moldova  Armavia  Azerbaijan Airlines  Belavia  Donavia  Rossiya  S7 Airlines  Transaero  Ukraine International Airlines  UTair Aviation  Vladivostok Air  Volga-Dnepr

v  d  e

Members of the Association of European Airlines

Adria Airways  Aegean Airlines  Aer Lingus  Aerosvit  airBaltic  Air France  Air Malta  Alitalia  Austrian Airlines  BMI  British Airways  Brussels Airlines  Cargolux  Croatia Airlines  Cyprus Airways  Czech Airlines  European Air Transport  Finnair  Iberia Airlines  Icelandair  Jat Airways  KLM  LOT Polish Airlines  Lufthansa  Luxair  Malv Hungarian Airlines  Montenegro Airlines  Olympic Air  Scandinavian Airlines System  Swiss  TAP Portugal  TAROM  TNT Airways  Turkish Airlines  Ukraine International Airlines  Virgin Atlantic Airways

Categories: Companies of France | Airlines of France | IATA members | Airlines established in 1933 | Association of European Airlines members | Air France-KLM | SkyTeam | Companies based in Paris | Wikipedia requested photographs in FranceHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2009 | Incomplete transport lists

Ethiopian Airlines sets to expand its central Africa route

Ethiopian Airlines,  joined the Star Alliance this week, to collaborate in providing better connectivity on the continent.

Ethiopian Airlines has been around for over 60 years and through the passage of time has grown to become Africa’s biggest airline and undeniable emerging force on the international scene. Its sustained growth has fueled the development of the most comprehensive pan-African route network.

Along with Ethiopian Airline’s sister carrier Asky Airlines, which was launched last year and is based inLome, Togo, the alliance members will cover all four points of the continent.  Asky is yet to get airborne but is expected to serve the West African region with Ethiopian servicing longer routes from the region. However, central Africa remains underserved and a new airline would be an ideal platform to feed the three main alliance members .

Mr Zulu, SAA manager said that there was a need for a regional airline in central Africa . “While SAA, Ethiopian Airlines and Egypt Air will provide the truck routes, there is a need to get a regional airline to feed the larger carriers. Therefore we are supportive of a new airline in the central region and will assist where we can,” said Mr Zulu.

“However, there is no discussion of taking an equity stake in a new venture.”

Mr Zulu confirmed discussions were being held to establish an airline but could not supply details.

Lufthansa’s CEO Christoph Franz welcomed the efforts by Ethiopian Airlines and SAA to found a new airline as it saw a need for a quality airline in West Africa and central Africa to support its African route network.

“Depending on how this airline is structured, there is a possibility that Lufthansa would support this new airline with a limited financial engagement,” the company said.

SAA CEO Siza Mzimela said in August there was a huge demand for flights between East Africa and West Africa and the airline was exploring opportunities and alliances . “Sure, there is increased competition on many routes, but Africa is still full of opportunity,” she said at the time.

Ethiopian flies to a growing number of destinations throughout Ethiopia, across Africa & on to Europe, the U.S., Asia and the Middle East. The Airline’s policy of route expansion is mirrored by advances in fleet development. Today, Ethiopian operates a modern fleet that includes Boeing 767, 757, and 737 jets. An on-going fleet enhancement policy also ensures that Ethiopian’s fleet will continue to reflect the latest developments in passenger and cargo aircraft technology. Inline with this policy, Ethiopian has placed a firm order for 10 of the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in 2011.

The addition of Ethiopian Airlines to the Star Alliance will open new markets to SAA in East Africa. Ethiopian Airlines will add five new countries — Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Mali and Niger — and 24 African destinations to the network.

You can book cheap flights with Ethiopian Airlines to all major destinations by calling 0207 101 9682.

 

Flights News On Airlines Fleet & Route Expansion ,Europe,Kenya ,South Africa & Africa

In November article we have air news on airlines fleet & route expansion as follows,

Airlines Announce Major Orders

Two of the world’s major airlines, Germanys Lufthansa and Hong Kong-based Cathy Pacific, are among the several airlines which have announced significant aircraft orders in recent weeks for their respective fleet modernization programmes.

The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved the order of 48 new aircraft for the Group at its recent meeting. Of these new aircraft, eight Airbus A330-300s, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, will be deployed on long-haul routes and the remaining 40 aircraft will be deployed on continental traffic.

The planned order includes three Airbus A330-300s and 20 of the A320-family for Lufthansa Passenger Airlines, as well as eight new Embraer 195 aircraft for Lufthansa Regional. In addition, the order includes five Airbus A330-300s, two Airbus A321s and two Airbus A320s for SWISS, as well as eight new Airbus A319s for German wings.

The new aircraft will be delivered to the Group successively from 2012.The order has a list value of approximately 3, 5-bilion euro’s.

Cathy Pacific has firmed up a previously-announced commitment for 30 Airbus A350XWBV long-range aircraft. The purchase agreement was signed in Hong Kong recently. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. They will be operated across Cathy Pacific’s route network, mainly on its long-range services to Europe.

Cathy Pacific Airways has also exercised existing purchase rights for six additional B777-300ERs (extended range).The six new airplanes ,with an estimated value of us,6-billion ,will increase Cathy Pacific’s B777-300ER future fleet from 30 to 36 .The carrier, one of the worlds largest operators of the jetliner, also operates 12 Boeing 777-300s and five 777-200s.

Cathy Pacific first announced its selection of the 777-300ER in 2005.This announcement is Cathy Pacifics fourth increase in its acquisition plans for the long-range jetliner.

Malaysia Airline has placed a firm order with airbus for two more A330-200F freighters, following the conversion of two existing options. The latest contract increases the airlines firm orders for the type to four, all of which will be operated by the carrier’s subsidiary MASkargo.The aircraft will be powered by PW4000 engines.

The A330-200F is the latest addition to the A330 Family. Offering the lowest operating costs in its size category, it is the only modern mid-size, long haul, all-cargo aircraft capable of carrying 65 tonnes over 4000 nautical miles or 70 tones over 3200 nautical miles.

Libyan Airlines has taken delivery of the first of seven Airbus A320 airliners it has ordered for its domestic and regional services based on the carrier’s hub in Tripoli .The aircraft is powered by CVFM engines.

With Lufthansa’s third Airbus A380 recently entering the airlines route network just one week after delivery, the airline announced the arrival of the flagship to Johannesburg six weeks ahead of the original launch schedule.

The giant aircraft now operates to Johannesburg twice weekly, and the remaining services will continue to be operated with its Boeing 747-400s.

“The demand for capacity to and from South Africa is growing and by adding almost 400 additional seats per week we are able to meet this need,” explained Axel Simon, Director Southern Africa for Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Airlines.

Airlink Adjusts Its Fleet

South African regional carrier, Airlink, is to acquire four AVRO RJ85 four-engine jet airliners from BAE Systems and has also extended the leases on two Jet stream 41turboprop aircraft.

Airlink currently operates a fleet of four RJ85s alongside four BAe 146-200s and these latest RJ85s are being planned as replacements for the BAe 146s. The resulting fleet commonality is expected to generate operational and cost benefits for Airlink.

The RJ85s are scheduled to have all been delivered by January 2011. Each BAe 146-200 will be returned to BAe Systems upon delivery of each RJ85.

The Airlink fleet of eight BAe 146/AVRO RJ aircraft has been successfully supported by the BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Jet Spares support program me since entering into service in 2007. The newly delivered RJ85s will also be fully enrolled on to Jets pares, which provides extensive on-site and pool stock rotable spares coverage.

Air links lease extension of the two Jet stream 41s, which had been scheduled to return to BAE Systems later this year, means that these aircraft will now continue to remain in service alongside the airlines additional fleet of 12 Jet stream 41s.

Johannesburg-based Airlink is along standing customer of BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, currently operating 14 Jet stream 41s alongside its BAe 146/AVRO RJ fleet and eight Embraer ERJ135s.

Airlink is a South African Airways alliance partner and currently operates more than 3500 flights, carrying about 65000 passengers per month of which 70 percent are business travelers.

It provides vital feeder services connecting smaller South African centres with the major hubs at Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Airlink also serves more than 20 South African destinations, together with a number of regional international cities in neighbouring countries.

 

Kenya Airways Weighs Its Options

Kenya Airways is under pressure on the back of its ambitious plans with the notice from Boeing  that the first delivery of the Boeing 787 Dream liners has been delayed yet again.

“The delivery date revisions follow an assessment of the availability of the engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall,” said Boeing in a statement which revealed that first deliveries of the Dream liners would be delayed until the first quarter of 2011.

This means that Kenya Airways which originally expected delivery of its first two 787s in September 2010 has now had the delivery date rescheduled to “sometime in 2013.” This has greatly delayed its plans as the carrier had initially placed an order for six 787s with the option for a further six, but later converted three of the options to firm orders bringing the total confirmed orders to nine 787s.

Kenya Airways ‘ managing director and CEO, Titus Naikuni,said that, due to this delay, the airline was already in discussions  with Airbus regarding an order for the Airbus 330 as a replacement for the delayed 787s.

“Yes I would dare to cancel the order if (Boeing) can’t deliver,” said Naikuni, when he addressed the press at the company’s annual meeting held recently.

Naikuni noted that Boeing had not offered any compensation for the delays and had not offered to participate in the 767 retrofits which involved interiors and IFE upgrades which would be done at a major cost to maintain the 767 fleet for an extended period.

Kenya Airways’ has an ambitious plan to launch a new route every month for the next three years. Currently the carrier has a route network of 50 destinations with nine new destinations planned in the current financial year, most of them in Africa.Naikuni added that the plan was to fly to every capital in Africa, more destinations in Europe, begin operations in Latin America with Sao Paulo earmarked as the first destination in hat region and Kuala Lumpur as a possible destination in Asia.

Bram Stella, the carrier’s chief operating officer added that Kenya Airways would need additional aircraft if the 787s were not delivered in a reasonable timeframe.

Naikuni said that a decision on whether to cancel the 787 order and switch to Airbus as an alternative would be made before the end of the year.

 

Phuket flights

The biggest island of Thailand is Phuket. Phuket city is in the South East of the Thailand. Phuket is Asia’s most popular tourist spot because of its blue sea, golden beaches and white soft and silky palms. It is full of amazing landscapes, attractive sunsets and very famous for best quality dining in the world. The main city of Thailand is connected through a bridge with Phuket which is used for the transportation of good to the local markets. The money earned by this transport service is used for the purpose of the development of the Phuket Island.

Phuket Island is near to the equator which makes it’s whether very hot and dry from November to April and from May to October it’s raining.  Due to its beautiful beaches it has become the best site for tourist attractions. The famous and traditional “Tuk-Tuks “auto rickshaw’s also amuse the tourists.

Phuket Island is very famous for its ten hot spot tourist places. Those are Phuket Fantasea show at Kamala beach, Simon cabaret show at Patong beach, Phuket viewpoints at Kata – Nai Harn, Old Phuket town, Bangla road at Patong beach, Wat Chalong and Phuket Temples at Chalong, Phuket waterfalls at Thalang, Thai boxing at Patong beach, Big Buddha at Chalong and Phuket vegetarian festival and other events at Phuket town.

Phuket flights can be taken to and from the Phuket international airport which is located at the north area of the Island. This airport is the second busiest airport in Thailand. It has the facility of international, overseas and domestic Phuket flights. Along with Phuket international airport it has 3 other airports called Krabi airport, Surat Thani airport and Trang airport.

There are 26 airlines which provide Phuket flights. Some of them are Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, airberlin, Thai Airways International, V Australia, SkyStar Airways, Dragonair, Korean Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Phuket flights are available for 10 countries those are China, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, Germany and Vietnam.

The airports that are connected through Phuket flights are Suvarnabhumi international, Changi airport, Kuala Lumpur international airport, Hong Kong international airport, Koh Samui airport, Kingsford Smith airport, Incheon international airport and Domodedovo airport etc.

The Phuket international airport is fully equipped and maintained with the services like car hire booths, currency exchange counters, ATMs, baggage lost and found information, post office, Muslim prayer room, elevators, toilets and telephones etc. It also consist shopping outlets, coffee and snacks outlets. Airport transfers are available to Phuket town. The airport also provides the facility for the disabled people like wheel chairs, special toilets, lifts etc.

The booking of Phuket flights for visiting Phuket can be done through online website www.flightsphuket.com . The flight provides the facilities of international standard like cabin like seats for business class passengers, backseat TV screens, clean washrooms, newspapers and magazines, air sickness bags, quality food etc. The ladies travelling with small kids are being specially attended by the staff. With all such comforts travelling to Phuket becomes enjoyable experience.

Related Thai Airways Articles

Cathay Pacific Airlines – One of The Best Airlines You’ll Love to Fly

Cathay Pacific Airlines – you may possibly have heard or flown by this Hong Kong-based airline. It finds mention in the ‘preferred airline’ lists, such as Skytrax’s ‘World’s 5-star Airlines’ award and CNN Money’s ‘Ideal Airlines’ checklist. Cathay Pacific Airlines covers more than 114 destinations in 36 countries worldwide, including code shares and multiparty ventures. With Cathay Pacific Airlines tickets, you may ensue to fly by any of its fleet of 126 wide-body aircrafts, encompassing Airbus A330s and A340s, Boeing 747s and 777s. Unsurpassed customer service – this is what you can expect with Cathay Pacific Airlines. Their planes are latest, their staff is welcoming, they don’t charge hefty luggage charges and their meals are really appetizing.

StudioCX, Cathay Pacific’s in-flight entertainment system, equipped with personal TVs (PTVs) in every seat, offers the most up-to-date Hollywood blockbuster movies, well-liked Asian and Western TV programs, music, games and more. Additionally, the airline provides a choice of special newspapers and journals from all over the globe, including the Cathay Pacific Airlines brand playing cards and the airlines’ award-winning in-flight magazine ‘Discovery’. The in-flight catering of Cathay Pacific Airlines is provided by Vietnam Air Caterers, and by and large, offers a choice of basic meals and unsurpassed dining for passengers of all class levels. First class is known for its award winning fruit and cheese course.

Visiting the Cathay Pacific Airlines official website will let you come across numerous options of Cathay Pacific Airlines Tickets to a destination of your choice. Regardless of what the destination that you plan to fly to, you can come across affordable deals. You may also opt buying Cathay Pacific Airlines at a travel site. Cathay Pacific Airlines Airfares are pocket friendly.

Cathay Pacific Airlines Airfares exhibited at its corporate website include special monthly offers to various destinations. Visit the Cathay Pacific Airlines official website, search for the best Cathay Pacific Airlines Airfares offers to your desired destinations. Grab the best deal and book your Cathay Pacific Airlines Tickets right away; the payment gateway is safe!

Related Airline Articles

Book Online Cheap Flights to Bangkok

Bangkok- the capital city of Thailand is a modern city with a population of over 11 million. The beauty of the city lies in its natural sceneries, trees, gardens etc. the culture of Bangkok is a perfect blend of the East and the West. It gives a soothing experience when you are in Bangkok. The Buddhist temples and monks add purity to the city and attract travelers from far off places to book cheap flights to Bangkok. It is easy to book a cheap flight to Bangkok as many online travel services companies provide cheap flights to Bangkok.
The place is famous for its temples. It would definitely be a great experience to go around and find beautiful temples in Bangkok. . The three most visited temples of this district are Wat Arun, or The Temple of Dawn, Wat Phra Kaew or The Temple of Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho where the largest reclining Buddha of the world is located. Throngs of tourists book cheap flights to Bangkok and flock every year to visit these temples.
Rattanakosin Island is one of Bangkok’s most visited places. If you visit Bangkok, you should a cheap flight Bangkok and should not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful island. Moreover the city is full of beautiful museums that possess the country’s rich culture, history and arts. If you want to visit for free, you can visit the Museum of Thai Pharmacy and the Dolls Museum which children will definitely love it.
Apart from museums and temples you will also find many marketing complexes, shopping malls where travelers can shop to their heart’s content as the prices are very less compared to the western market. If you are a shopping freak you will be able to purchase beautiful handbags, clothes, handicrafts, souvenirs and sandals for unbeatable prices. This is also one of the reasons why tourists get attracted to this place and book flights to Bangkok.
The people in Bangkok are very helpful and welcome tourists with warmth. The speak Thai and Thai script is inscribed in many places. Language should not be a barrier to a passionate traveler as there is always an option to hire a guide who can take to important places and also explain the significance of that place in English. If you are also a passionate traveler you have to just book cheap flight to Bangkok to explore the Magic of the land.
The growing popularity of the place has led many airlines to offer cheap flights to Bangkok. You can conduct a research in the internet and find many online travel services companies that offer cheap flights to Bangkok. You have to compare prices and choose to travel in a cheap flight to Bangkok.

Getting to Koh Samui

Koh Samui lies 700 kilometers south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and 50 kilometers from the Gulf’s western shore city of Surat Thani. Daily flights are the most convenient way to arrive on the island. For the more budget conscious, trains, buses and boats are available. Independent car or motorcycle drivers can use one of several car ferries.

By Air

Koh Samui’s small open airport welcomes both domestic travelers and international arrivals from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic Flights

Hourly flights depart Bangkok’s Suvunarbhumi International Airport for Koh Samui between 6am and 9pm daily. Bangkok Airways offers flights almost hourly and Thai airways offers two to three flights a day. Prices range between 2200 and 3500 baht on Bangkok Airways and can rise as high as 7400 baht on Thai Airways. Flight time is approximately 1.15 hours.

Bangkok Airways also serves Koh Samui with daily flights from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. Twice weekly flights are available between Krabi and Koh Samui

For travelers with both time and price constraints, Air Asia’s inexpensive flights (600 baht to 900 baht) from Bangkok (Suvunarbhumi) Airport to Surat Thani make an attractive choice. From Surat Thani, travelers take local shuttles or taxies to Donsak Pier or Samui Ferry Pier and jump aboard for the remainder of their trip to the island.

International Flights

Bangkok Airways flies direct flights from Hong Kong (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), Kuala Lumpur (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and Singapore (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).

Berjaya Air offers two flights a week (Thursday and Sunday) from Kuala Lumpur.

By Train and Ferry

Train and ferry tickets can be purchased separately. This option requires travelers to find local transport from the train station to the pier and then purchase ferry tickets. To avoid long delays, check ferry schedules ahead of time. Booking trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani online can be tricky with credit card and handling fees tacked on to ticket costs. Do-it-yourself travelers also run the risk of having to wait for a boat to Koh Samui or overpaying for local transport to the pier.

Purchasing a combination train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the hundreds of travel agencies scattered around Bangkok is far easier and more convenient than arranging each stage of the travel separately. Two trains leave Bangkok’s Hualamphong station daily taking approximately 8 hours to reach Surat Thani. With combination tickets, ticket holders are met and shuttled to the ferry then which takes 1.5 hours to reach Koh Samui. Prices range from just over 1000 baht to around 1700 depending on the class of train seat chosen for the trip.

By Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For budget-minded travelers, bus and ferry travel are the way to go. Air-conditioned overnight buses leave Bangkok’s southern bus terminal daily. Scheduled departures are late afternoon and early evening. Upon arrival in Surat Thani Province, buses are ferried to Koh Samui. Bus fares are between 300 and 400 baht depending on the class of service you opt for and travel time is approximately 14 hours. Ferry fares are less than 50 baht.

Private companies run coaches with pick-up in several locations around Bangkok. These generally allow travelers to purchase a combined coach/express boat tickets from local travel agents. Travel by bus and high speed boat or catamaran to Samui is approximately 13 hours. Prices range from 350 to 650 baht depending on class of service and include express boat tickets. At the high end are the VIP coaches which comfortably seat only 24 people.

All air-conditioned overnight buses and coaches stop along the way for food and toilet breaks. Daily buses also run from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi.

Only the hardiest travelers opt for the least expensive choice. Unscheduled local buses stops along the way for every person that puts out a hand. Travel can take hours longer than the overnight buses and coaches. These buses are not air-conditioned.

By boat

High-speed catamaran service to Koh Samui runs from nearby Koh Tao and mainland ports in Chumphon and Surat Thani. Regular ferry service and smaller boat services are also available. Long-tail boat service runs scheduled trips to and from Koh Phangan.

By car or motorcycle

Ferry service runs every hour from 06:00 to 18:00 from both Donsak Pier about 1.5 hours east of Surat Thani and Samui Ferry Pier. Ferry time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Flights To Chiang Mai With Asia’s Largest Low Cost Airline

Thailand is focusing hard on making more than one destination accessible, with convenience for tourists arriving from far off countries. The country has recently see increase in number of flights to Puce, that arrive without stopping over in Bangkok (only connection flights to Bangkok) while flights from and to other cities and Islands in Thailand are gaining more popularity. Trends are changing globally and tourists are preferring to go off the beaten path, take on new destinations where there is more originality and less commercialism resulted by tourist arrivals.

 

The recent move of Thai Air Asia, has turned Chiang Mai into its newest hub as the airline officially inaugurated its third hub in Thailand earlier this week. Thai Air Asia already offers flight to Phuket, where it has its second hub and the first in capital City Bangkok.

 

Thai Air Asia is the continent’s largest low-cost airline and uses Airbus A320 to serve three destinations within the continent that includes Flights to Bangkok, Hat Yai and Flights to Singapore. At this occasion, Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia (TAA) stated:

 

“We see Chiang Mai emerging as an attractive destination for tourists, and we want to contribute to make Thailand’s northern capital even more attractive thanks to our low-fare structure,”

 

In very recent past, some internationally reputed and notable airline have stopped their flights to Chain Mai, the names include Thai Airways, Tiger Airways and Malaysia Airlines. These airlines have hardly any success in offering flights to Chiang Mai. However, considering the changing trends that can be seen and counted in terms of number and collected as facts and figures, as more people are reserving flights directly to beach destinations, without stopping over in the capital cities and away from commercialism, there are very bright chances for Thai Air Asia to make its place as the only flights to Northern Thailand.

More Thai Airways Articles

Experience the Asian Cuisines with cheap flights to Asia

Do you want to add more taste and gratify your greed for sumptuous food then Asian cuisines will be the right choice for you. Originating from wide cultures and ethnicity the variety of food in Asia are simply matchless to any other cousins of the world. Bifurcated into several regional styles, Asian cuisines are the amalgamation of several different flavours representing the roots of respective regions. Book a cheap flight to Asia and relish the best cuisines of the mysterious continent.

Thailand is world famous for its Thai food. Mouth watering cuisines served in business class airlines as well as low-cost or cheap airline flights will add great excitement to your journey. Thai seafood curry, Kaeng phet pet yang- roast duck in red curry shall definitely revive your Thai appetite. You can book cheap flights, and relish the best Thai cuisines in Bangkok. Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia also offer exceptional regional variety of food that are served in several air business class to Asia.

Chinese cuisines are world famous and offer many mouth watering dishes. Plenty of airlines whether cheap business class flight or flights with cheap tickets to Asia usually take a halt at Shanghai for few hours. Sometimes passengers are allowed to visit the near areas for few hours where they can enjoy the exotic food items that are served in different restaurants. Saute Mandarin fish grains in crab shell and Meatballs stuffed with crab ovum are the best know food items you can relish in Shanghai.

India is a land of diverse cultures.  Treating every guest who visit the country like God, Indians serve absolutely amazing variety of dishes, which include the entire South, North as well as West Indian spices. Rich with nutrients and high fibre Indian Cuisines with exotic spices will tamper your taste buds to the core. Varied varieties of Indian cousins are offered by ample of airlines to their flights with cheap tickets to Asia. A number of inexpensive or cheap domestic airlines of US also offer regional variety of Indian food dishes.

Search out for cheap airfares to the land of rising sun Tokyo where traditional and western style mixed Japanese food called ‘Yoshoku’ is served in a very traditional way. Kaki furai-breaded oyster; Ebi Furai-bread shrimp; Nikujaga-soy flavoured meat and potato stew, etc., are some for the famous dishes of Japan. Several airlines over their discounted or cheap air flight tickets and business flights serve amazing Japanese dishes. Fly with Continental Airways to Tokyo and you can delight yourself with the amazing food dishes served onboard.

Singapore also offers choices of food available that are an eye opener for first timers to the charismatic city. With the fusion of Chinese, Malaya and Indian cuisines, Singapore offers countless variety of Snacks and dishes. American Airlines serve variety of snacks, which are prepared by the best specialised chefs from the world on their business class to Asia. Many airlines even offer food vouchers for few restaurants on the selected airlines tickets to Asia.

Give your kitchen some rest and enjoy the wide-range of food presented by the largest continent of the world. While searching for the travel companies you can enquire about the cuisines that are served in those airlines. FareBuzz, the pioneer travel service provider of reasonable business class/ cheap flight offers airlines that serve absolutely amazing cuisines.