Air France looks set to launch a new route linking Paris CDG with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April 2013.
The move was reported by The Jakarta Post earlier this week, although the article has since been removed from the site pending official confirmation from the carrier.
Interestingly at Kuala Lumpur the Air France flight from Paris will dovetail into the existing KLM service from Amsterdam which continues on to Jakarta.
According to Air France/KLM's country manager in Indonesia, Dirk Buitelaar, it means that passengers arriving into Kuala Lumpur from Paris will be able to continue on to Jakarta using KLM.
Details of schedules are not yet available but Air France/KLM passengers travelling further afield may be offered onward connecting possibilities with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) at Kuala Lumpur.
Although MAS is expected by then to have become a member of the rival Oneworld alliance, there is nothing to stop airlines of different alliances striking their own codeshare deals. For example, Air France (Skyteam) with JAL (Oneworld) or Qantas (Oneworld) with Emirates (non-alligned).
It also means that UK passengers will have another option for reaching Kuala Lumpur. This is especially relevant for regional passengers who will be able to bypass London and fly directly from, say Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Newcastle or Manchester to Paris CDG for the Kuala Lumpur connection.
Currently the London to Kuala Lumpur route is monopolised by Malaysia Airways, and there are no direct flights from the regions.
For more information visit airfrance.co.uk.
Report by Alex McWhirter
