At the end of November 2009, Air France filed a complaint with the European Commission against Ryanair with respect to the financial aid it receives from French regional and local airports.

Ryanair's agreement to serve these airports is conditional on the airport authorities' granting aid to it. Such measures, taking the form of reduced airport taxes, preferential ground handling rates at certain airports or marketing aid, have been implemented by at least 25 French regional airports.

In addition to the fact that they were never officially announced before they were implemented, these measures are contrary to European regulations. They are neither temporary or decrease over time. On the contrary, they are considered to be permanent.

Moreover, the subsidies granted Ryanair are often financed by the airport taxes paid by other airlines at these airports.

Air France press release, Thursday 11 March 2010

The new hold baggage rules on Air France and KLM flights: 1, 2, 3 or 4 bags carried free of charge on the entire network

Starting on 28 March 2010, Air France and KLM will be extending their hold baggage transport rules that already apply for passengers travelling between Europe and the United States and Canada to the rest of the network. The policy is in line with industry standards.

Before, two different rules existed depending on the destination (piece concept or weight concept). From now on, only the piece concept will be used for all tickets issued as from 28 March 2010.

These new measures, more beneficial for customers than before, will enable Air France and KLM passengers to check in up to 3 bags free of charge weighing up to 23kg each depending on the cabin class.

Flying Blue members as from Silver status will be able to check in an additional bag of up to 23kg, whatever their travel class. Up to now, they benefited from an additional baggage allowance only on routes on which the weight concept applied (Silver 5kg, Gold 10kg and Platinum 20kg).

Air France and KLM are thus confirming their intent to maintain the essential free services and to simplify travel procedures with services which are easier to use and understand for everyone.

• One basic rule which is easier to understand and more beneficial to the customers

Weight of each bag maximum 23kg – size: 158 cm (sum of the three 3 dimensions)

Click to view details

Air France press release, Wednesday 10 March 2010

In the wake of 2009, an extremely difficult year for the world economy and air transport in particular, tentative signs of recovery - depending on the country - have been perceived.

Against this background, the Air France KLM Group’s schedule for summer 2010 remains practically unchanged (ASK down 0.3%) compared with 2009 showing slight growth for the long-haul network (up 0.8%) with a reduction for the medium haul network (down 4.0%).

New destinations will be enhancing the Group’s network: Denpasar (Bali) and once again Aruba for KLM, Abu Dhabi and Bata for Air France as well as Bari in code-share with Alitalia.

The Air France schedule

In terms of Available Seat Kilometres, the Air France service offer for the summer season 2010 will be slightly lower compared with summer 2009: down 0.9%.

At the end of the season, the whole of the long-haul fleet (with the exception of Boeing 777s operating on the Caribbean-Indian Ocean network and the A380s in service) will be fitted with the new Premium Voyageur cabin class. An intermediary cabin between economy and business, Premium Voyageur is intended for customers looking for more comfort at a more affordable fare than business. This cabin is fitted with new seats offering 40% additional space compared with the Voyageur cabin (economy).

On the long-haul network available capacity remains stable (up 0.1%). It is worth noting that without the introduction of Premium Voyageur, capacity would have increased by 3.2%.

Available capacity has been reduced by 3.7% on the medium-haul network. This sector’s results have been in constant decline for several years and have been made worse by the economic crisis. Air France’s economic model has had to evolve in order to meet customer expectations better while at the same time reducing unit costs. In this context the adjustment plan launched in winter 2009 has resulted in a better balance between the number of frequencies and the average size of aircraft.

Fleet

Since 2009, Air France is the sole European airline to operate the A380. Initially introduced on services to New York, then Johannesburg in February, four aircraft of this type will eventually operate on the Air France network between now and the close of the summer season. Tokyo will be the next destination to operate the A380 at the end of the summer.

On medium-haul, these adjustments to the schedule have resulted in 16 aircraft being retired from service in the fleet of Air France and its subsidiaries. At the same time, Air France is gradually introducing a brand new, lighter seat offering more legroom on its short-haul flights (A319, A320 and A321).

Long-haul network (up 0.1%)

North America, Air France is adding three additional frequencies to San Francisco during the summer peak period (22 June – 4 September), totalling ten flights a week.

Delta is suspending its third daily flight to Atlanta, our partner’s main hub, which now has three flights a day flying from Paris including one operated by Air France in B747-400.

In Latin America, Air France will introduce an additional frequency to Santiago starting in September, bringing the total number of flights to the Chilean capital to six flights a week.

In Brazil, there will be 12 flights a week to Sao Paulo by B777, a thirteenth flight is scheduled for September.
Due to the crisis that has hit Venezuela and the devaluation of the Bolivar, flights to Caracas will be operated in a smaller capacity aircraft (A330-200).

In Asia, Tokyo will be welcoming the A380 at the end of the season when there will be a twice weekly service (an A380 and a B777-300). Until then, Air France will still operate 27 flights a week including 7 operated by JAL under a code-share agreement.

In India, services to Bangalore fall from 7 to 6 frequencies a week.

In Africa, capacity has grown by 2.9% thanks to additional frequencies to several destinations, namely Bangui in the Central African Republic (2 flights a week), Lomé in Togo (4 flights a week), Pointe Noire in Congo Brazzaville (4 flights a week), and Libreville on condition that traffic rights are obtained from the authorities in Gabon (5 flights a week).

Air France is opening a new destination in Bata, Equatorial Guinea (on condition that traffic rights are obtained). There will be a twice-weekly service to Bata via Malabo that will have a daily service from now on.
During the summer peak periods, flights to Ouagadougou (a daily flight) and Niamey (3 flights a week) will be disconnected.

Services to Johannesburg will be operated daily in A380 instead of 12 weekly frequencies in B777. During the five weeks the Football World Cup lasts, Air France will operate an additional 3 daily flights to this destination.

There is a strong growth in capacity on the Medium-Haul network (up 5.0%) thanks to an increase in the number of frequencies to Beirut (14 flights a week operated by Air France in addition to a further 14 operated by MEA on a code-share basis). Starting on 3 May, Air France reopens the Paris-Abu Dhabi service with five flights a week, however flights to Dubai are reduced from 12 (in summer 2009) to 7 a week.

Last but not least, the Caribbean, Havana has a daily service operated in B747-400 (an additional frequency) and the seating available on Cayenne services will be increased due to larger capacity aircraft brought into service (B777-300). In the Indian Ocean Air France has reduced services to the Reunion by one frequency (9 flights a week).

The international medium-haul schedule (down 4.7%)

Implemented this winter, the medium-haul adjustment plan for capacity on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle will continue this summer with an adjustment to the balance between the number of frequencies and the size of the aircraft. While maintaining the quality of connections, flights outside the connecting banks to destinations that have a large number of frequencies such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Geneva, and Madrid will be suspended.

Three services will be halted: Paris-CDG-Munster (in effect since December 2009) and Paris-CDG-Trieste as well as Paris- CDG-Shannon since last winter. In summer, Paris-CDG-Dublin will be increased from 6 to 7 daily flights while Athens drops from 5 to 4 flights daily.

On departure from Lyon, there will be an additional frequency to Barcelona (3 daily). Copenhagen now has a non-stop daily service without a stopover in Strasbourg. Frequencies to Amsterdam (3 a day) and Hamburg (2 a day) are being reduced.

Between France and the Netherlands, there are still 12 flights a day between Paris-CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol (6 Air France flights and 6 KLM flights) and an additional frequency has been added between Strasbourg and Amsterdam (3 daily) and between Nice and Amsterdam (4 daily).

Through our partnership with Alitalia, the flight schedule between France and Italy is being developed. Between Paris and Milan, for the same number of frequencies, Paris-CDG-Malpensa has 4 flights operated by Air France, Paris-CDG -Linate has 3 flights operated by Air France and 4 by Alitalia and Paris-Orly-Linate has two flights operated by Alitalia. There are twelve flights a day to Rome, 6 by Air France and 6 by Alitalia.
A new destination, Paris-CDG-Bari, will be operated once daily by Alitalia.

On departure from London City, after flights were halted to Strasbourg, Nice and Paris-CDG, a new service is opened to Paris-Orly (6 flights a day).

A commercial agreement was signed with Alitalia for service to Milan and with Baboo for services to Geneva.

A commercial agreement was also signed with Tarom for the Bucarest-Lyon and Bucarest-Nice.

Domestic Flight Schedule (down 2.2%)

Beyond the adjustments implemented this winter there are few changes on the domestic network. On departure from Paris-CDG, a frequency to Pau (3 daily) has been suspended and on departure from Paris-Orly, services to Lannion (since January 2010) and Limoges have been halted.

On departure from Lyon, services to Rouen have been halted together with a frequency to Le Havre (3 daily). Flights to Strasbourg have been reduced from 5 to 3 in the context of the suspension of services to Copenhagen.

Air France press release 3/03/2010

The Haitian authorities have announced the partial reopening of Port-au-Prince airport to commercial traffic on 19 February.

On that date, Air France will resume flights to and from Haiti.

Initially, Air France will operate two flights daily, five times a week: one between Port-au-Prince and Miami, and the other between Port-au-Prince and Pointe-à-Pitre, with an onward connection for Paris-Orly.

From 1 March, the schedule will become daily.

In parallel, Air France has put a special fares structure in place to facilitate travel to and from Haiti. These fares allow passengers a free baggage allowance of up to 40kg per passenger.

Air France has had an operational presence in Haiti since 1947 and has served the country without a break for 42 years. Its flights had to be suspended on 12 January this year following the severe earthquake which struck the country.

Air France press release Tuesday 16 February 2010

Air France, first airline to operate the A380 to Africa with its Paris-Johannesburg flight on 17 February

On 18 February 2010, Air France's Airbus A380 landed for the first time in Johannesburg after departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 23.30 the night before. This makes Air France the first airline to operate the world's largest passenger aircraft to the African continent.

As from today, the Airbus A380, equipped with 538 seats in three cabin classes – La Première (First), Affaires (Business) and Voyageur (Economy) – will operate three of the ten weekly Air France services between Paris and Johannesburg up to 28 March 2010.

As from 28 March, Air France will operate seven weekly frequencies between Paris and Johannesburg including 3 by A380 until the third A380 is put into service, scheduled for the end of April. The route will then be entirely operated by A380.

“The entry into service of the A380 between Paris and Johannesburg, just after New York in November 2009, illustrates the importance Air France attaches to its services to Africa and in particular South Africa, where Air France has been present since 1953. It is also a sign of long-term commitment on the part of the Air France-KLM group in this part of the world and of its confidence in the development of exchange between Africa and Europe”, declared Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France-KLM.

The A380 is the most environment-friendly aircraft ever – with less than 75 grammes of CO2 emitted per passenger per kilometre – and the quietest of its generation. Its wide cabin offers passengers additional comfort and space. On board, Air France has innovated by offering different light intensities adapted to the various flight phases, relaxation areas for passengers to get together and a completely new in-flight entertainment system with wider screens.

The A380’s main deck represents the equivalent of a Boeing 777-200 and the upper deck represents that of an Airbus A340-300. Air France can therefore rationalize its frequencies on its most popular routes such as Paris-Johannesburg and replace two flights leaving within a short time of each other by just one flight, while at the same time offering the same number of seats with a 20% cost reduction.

“This inaugural flight symbolizes the strong historical links between Africa and Air France. It also illustrates a spirit of solidarity, an essential value to which our airline is highly committed. The Air France Foundation will be giving part of the proceeds of the auction of seats on board the Paris - New York inaugural flights last November to the François-Xavier Bagnoud association which provides help with education for children with AIDS in Cape Town. This represents close to 70,000 euros”, added Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

Air France ordered twelve A380s, two of which have already been delivered. Following New York in November 2009 and Johannesburg in February 2010, Air France will also start operating the A380 to Tokyo in 2010.

Schedules of Paris-Johannesburg flights:

The flight schedules between Paris and Johannesburg provide passengers with rapid connections to the rest of the world from the Paris-Charles De Gaulle hub and to Southern Africa from Johannesburg:

Up to 28 March 2010:

- Paris-Johannesburg: one daily flight (AF990) leaving from CDG 2E at 23:20 and arriving at 10:55 the following day

and three weekly flights (AF994) leaving from CDG 2E at 19:10 and arriving at 06:45 the following day

- Johannesburg-Paris: one daily flight (AF995) leaving at 20:30 and arriving at 06:00 the following day

and three weekly flights (AF997) leaving at 22:55 and arriving at 08:25 the following day

The three flights operated by A380 are flights AF990 on departure from Paris on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and the return flight AF995 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

As from 28 March:

à Paris-Johannesburg: one daily flight (AF990), leaving from CDG 2E at 23:20, arriving at 09:45 the following day

à Johannesburg-Paris: one daily flight (AF 995), leaving at 19:30, arriving at 06:05 the following day.

3 flights are operated by A380 (see above) until the next A380 is delivered at the end of April.

Together, up to 28 March, Air France and KLM offer 24 weekly services between Paris, Amsterdam and South Africa, including 7 to Cape Town operated by KLM and 19 as from 28 March (1 daily Paris-Johannesburg flight, 1 daily Amsterdam-Johannesburg flight and 5 weekly Amsterdam-Cape Town services).

To meet demand during the 2010 Football World Cup, Air France will be operating 3 additional weekly frequencies by Boeing 777 in June and July:

Paris-Johannesburg (AF994) leaving CDG 2E at 19:10 and arriving at 05:40 the following day

Johannesburg-Paris (AF997) leaving at 21:20 and arriving at 07:55 the following day.

Air Franced press release, Thursday 18 February 2010