Air France will begin flying to Kuala Lumpur from April 22, 2013, as well as launching a Minneapolis-St Paul route and a new codeshared service between East Midlands and Paris Charles de Gaulle with Flybe.
Business Traveller reported on rumours of the Kuala Lumpur route last week (see online news October 16) and the carrier has since confirmed that it will begin a three-times weekly service for its 2013 summer schedule.
The flights will be served by a Boeing 777-200 with a total capacity of 247, including four La Première first class seats, 49 seats in business class, 24 in premium economy and 170 in economy (to see a seat plan, click here).
Flight AF246 will depart from Paris Charles de Gaulle at 1940 for a 1350 arrival in Kuala Lumpur. Return flight AF241 will depart from Kuala Lumpur at 2315 for a 0610 next day arrival in Paris CDG. Bookings open on November 9.
Air France will also operate a seasonal service to Minneapolis-St Paul in Minnesota, US from May 21 to September 1, 2013, served by A340 aircraft. Customers will be able to connect on to transatlantic partner and fellow Skyteam carrier Delta Air Lines’ network of 118 destinations in Canada and the US from Minneapolis.
The route will be served five-times weekly from May 21 to June 16, and will become a daily service from June 17 to September 1. Flight AF694 will depart from Paris Charles de Gaulle at 1350 for a 1605 arrival in Minneapolis-St Paul. Return flight AF697 will depart Minneapolis at 2000 for an 1125 next day arrival back in Paris.
Alexandre de Juniac, chairman and CEO of Air France, said: “With these two new routes, Air France is offering its customers greater choice and additional flight opportunities alongside existing services operated by KLM and Delta.”
In a separate announcement, Air France will create a new link between East Midlands airport and its Paris Charles de Gaulle hub on October 28 as part of its codeshare partnership with Flybe (see online news July, 2010). The flights will be operated by Flybe Bombardier Q400 aircraft, seating 78, and can be booked through Air France.
From Monday to Saturday, flights will depart East Midlands at 0650, arriving into Paris CDG at 0925. On weekdays and Sundays there will also be an 1820 flight arriving in Paris at 2050. The return flights on Monday to Saturday will depart Paris at 1010 for a 1035 arrival time at East Midlands, and on weekdays and Sundays there will be a 2135 departure, returning at 2200.
For more information visit airfrance.co.uk.
Report by Scott Carey
