Air France today operated its first flight equipped with its new medium-haul cabins between Toulouse and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. This flight, by Airbus A319 just out of the workshops at Air France Industries in Toulouse, is an important step in Air France’s move upmarket on this network, and is in line with its global strategy to upgrade all its services.
50 million euros have been invested to redesign this cabin and ensure it is among the best in the world: leather seats for Business and Economy customers as well as a fare offer adapted to their expectations of flexibility, speed and reliability on the medium-haul network.
24 Airbus A319 aircraft will be equipped in the first half of 2015, and 25 Airbus A320 in the first half of 2016. In total, 7,800 seats will be installed. They are the result of a survey carried out with a panel of travellers, Air France customers or not, and travel influencers. In all, Air France surveyed 10,000 travellers.
On-board services are also being enhanced. A hot meal will now be served in the Economy and Business cabins on medium-haul flights lasting more than 2 hours.
“To continue to be one of the global giants of the air transport industry, it is essential for us to have a strong base in Europe. After investing 1 billion euros in the upgrading of our long-haul products and services at both Air France and KLM, we are continuing our offensive with a completely redesigned medium-haul offer. Our aim is clear: to convince our customers! Show them that today we can make a difference and be their preferred partner in Europe, our natural market”, said Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of the Air France-KLM group.
“It’s now time to make sure we win the battle on medium-haul. With these new cabins, we aim to once again be among the best in the world. Win the preference of each customer on departure from Europe is now a strategic priority of the 2020 Perform plan” said Frédéric Gagey, Chairman and CEO of Air France.
Wednesday 18 March 2015
While other airlines are reducing service …..