The terrorist attacks that took the lives of 130 people in Paris on November 13 have resulted in huge losses for the country’s leading airline.
“The negative impact of the Paris attacks on total November revenues is estimated to be around €50 million. Current booking trends are in line with a progressive recovery including a very limited impact on volumes after the end of December 2015,” Air France-KLM said in the company’s November report.
Before the attacks, the airline’s performance was higher than the same period last year. But afterwards fell below that level.
According to company CFO Pierre-Francois Riolacci, the impact of the November attacks will not be enough to jeopardize the company’s 2015 targets.
Riolacci adds that the carrier was back for a gradual recovery. Judging by the trends following the terrorist attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005, it would take three to six months to recover lost bookings, he said.
Last week, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline Ryanair said it had cut prices in response to a fall in demand after the tragedy. The company added that lower fares are unlikely to have a material impact on its financial results.
Scandinavia’s SAS also reported a drop in demand on flights to Paris and Brussels, but now report their airline ticket sales are returning to normal.
France saw a slowdown in tourism in the aftermath of the November 13 terrorist attacks.
Tourism brought France €150 billion last year, accounting for about seven percent of the country’s economy.
Paris had 47 million tourists out of France’s 83.5 million visitors in 2014.
RT News
Air France to perform farewell flight for 747-428 on 14/01/2016
On 14 January 2016, Air France is offering its customers a unique experience on board an exceptional tribute flight over France and its legendary landmarks!
More than 45 years after the first flight from Paris to New York on 3 June 1970 by the aircraft affectionately known as the Jumbo Jet, the Company salutes with emotion the last flight of this legendary and easily-recognizable aircraft.
Flight AF747 will take off at 11:30am from Paris-Charles de Gaulle for a unique experience: Business class lunch and champagne for all, with an inflight commentary including a tour of France’s history and legendary landmarks.
On arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the passengers of flight AF747 will be invited to discover the Company’s aircraft maintenance workshops and share a tribute drink at the foot of the aircraft.
As from 7 December 2015, customers can book their ticket on board flight AF747 by calling 01 56 93 70 28 (+33 1 56 93 70 28 from outside France) from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. The fare is fixed at €220 for the entire cabin.
Air France’s 747: a showcase of modern innovations
Since the early seventies, the Boeing 747 has been a showcase of modern innovations and has revolutionized air transport. Air travel became more widespread and we entered an era of mass tourism. For cargo, the Boeing 747 had pressurized holds, which were ventilated and protected against fire. Four times larger than the previous generation of Boeing, the 707, they could carry 122 tons of cargo!
One of the first airlines to operate this aircraft, Air France made it the flagship of its long-haul fleet: New York, Montreal, the French West Indies, Reunion, Asia … most of the Company’s destinations have been served by the Jumbo.
In the cabin, Air France started innovating from the early seventies and changed its DNA to better serve its customers. The role of chief purser was created to coordinate the service and attention paid to customers in this aircraft which could carry up to 500 passengers. Inflight cuisine was of great importance, with menus designed by great French chefs: Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre and Pierre Troisgros, who forged exclusive partnerships with Air France. Finally, the cabin interior was designed by Pierre Gautier-Delaye, who paid particular attention to the comfort of the seat cushions and seatbacks.
Today, this adventure and the aircraft’s DNA is naturally being handed on to the 65 Boeing 777, equipped (or being equipped) with the Company’s new long-haul cabins: designer suites in the La Première cabin, a cocoon in the sky in the Business cabin and new redesigned seats in Premium Economy and Economy for optimal travel comfort.
Air France La Saga: the benchmark historical website
To celebrate this event and this chapter of Air France’s history, the Company is unveiling its new-look benchmark historical website: airfrancelasaga.com
To travel through the Company’s rich heritage, the website has had a complete makeover. With videos and photos, Air France is reliving its history, its professions, its fleet, its network and the attention it has always paid to its customers.
Air France
Air France 83 diverts to Montreal because of a threat
An Air France flight bound for Paris was diverted to Montreal last night after an anonymous threat was received, airport officials confirmed.
Flight 083 from San Francisco made an unscheduled stop in Montreal just after 11:20 p.m. ET, said Francois Asselin, a spokesman for Aéroports de Montreal.
Air France confirmed around 4:45 a.m. that the threat was a false alarm.
The plane left for Paris around 6 a.m.
“We were told we had to be diverted for operational reasons by the captain,” passenger Thomas Serval told CBC News. “We were anxious when we landed safely.”
The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 231 passengers and 15 staff members. The pilot decided to land in Montreal out of precaution, and the plane stayed on the tarmac for some time with passengers on board.
Police and firefighters were called to the scene at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, according to standard procedure.
Gilles Raymond told The Associated Press that he and his fellow passengers spent at least an hour on the plane during verifications after being originally told the diversion was for “technical reasons.”
“Everyone is pretty relaxed,” Raymond said while still inside. “There was no panic, no stress. Everyone is waiting in their seats. Some people are sleeping, and some are checking their phones or eating ice cream that the flight attendants gave them.”
It is not the first time the airline’s flights have been diverted since the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and left hundreds injured.
On Nov. 17, flights bound for France were diverted to Halifax and Salt Lake City, Utah due to anonymous threats later found to be baseless after a sweep of the planes.
CBC News
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