the press kit

Air France’s new
medium-haul offer
Comfort and flexibility
With quick and easy access through the airport, new leather seats on board the aircraft, new
gourmet attentions and a more flexible option for business customers, Air France aims to win
the medium-haul battle by offering the best product on the market.
Since unveiling its new long-haul offer, the Company is pursuing its move upmarket on its
medium-haul network departing from and arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, thanks to an
investment of 50 million euros.
A new more comfortable seat
In April 2015, Air France is going to introduce an entirely new-look seat, for all its passengers,
aboard 24 A319 Airbuses and 25 A320 Airbuses. The seats are upholstered in high-quality
leather in all the cabin classes and offer optimum travel comfort, ideal for working, resting or
enjoying a meal before arriving at destination.
Business travellers at the heart of Air France’s special attentions
Whether they’re travelling in Business or Economy class, business travelers enjoy a service
totally adapted to their requirements. Air France has listened to its customers, questioned
travel managers and collected feedback from close to 10,000 people in building its new offer.
In terms of fares, Air France has designed a new tailored offer dubbed “Economy Flex” for
these customers. Tickets will go on sale in January 2015 for flights starting in April 2015.
Efficiency, rapidity and total flexibility guaranteed.
With its vast network, a wide choice of flight times and innovative services such as in-flight
WiFi in partnership with Orange, Air France intends to now more than ever, make the best use
of its strengths to become the privileged partner of business travelers.
The new medium-haul seat
Elegance designed for absolute comfort
Air France will shortly be offering a new travel standard to its customers on its medium-haul
network.
The Company will soon be introducing a completely redesigned leather seat on board its
Airbus A319s and A320s. Designed by the manufacturer BEA, the importance given to
every detail of the seat is in line with the quality of the Company’s long-haul cabins. Special
attention has been paid to every detail of the new seat, including soft cushions in Business
class, elegant overstitching, and a headrest with an original design.
The seat back can now be reclined to 20°, and has been reinforced to absorb knocks from
people sitting in the row behind, allowing all customers to enjoy a comfortable position
throughout the trip. The central armrests can be fully raised and fit snugly into the seat back.
An adjustable headrest ensures passengers can easily find their most comfortable position.
An individual folding tray table, cup-holder and coat hook complete this fully-ergonomic and
spacious seat.
Once on board, customers can appreciate the warm tones of the cabin’s lighting system.
The colour scheme has also been elegantly reworked. The dark navy and pale grey have been
enhanced with touches of red, imparting a discreet, sober atmosphere to all the cabin classes.
A lighter and more environmentally-friendly seat
Two kilos lighter, the new seat reduces the aircraft’s carbon emissions by 1,400 tons on the
A319s and 2,300 tons on the A320s*.
New seat availability
The new seat will be progressively fitted out on 24 Airbus A319s in the first half of 2015,
and will subsequently be equipped on 25 Airbus A320s during the first half of 2016. The first
flights equipped with the new cabins will begin in April 2015. In total, nearly 7,800 seats will
be installed on the fleet.
*based on the 2013-2014 schedule
Business
Priority, space and exclusivity
In April 2015, customers flying in Business class will enjoy greater comfort
and refinement than ever. Everyone benefits from extra attentions.
Located at the front of the aircraft, Business class passengers are the first
to board and leave the plane. They also enjoy more personal space in a
cabin reconfigured to seat just four passengers per row. The middle seat
in the row is always left free, for guaranteed comfort and tranquility.
A soft cushion is placed on each seat, and the adjustable headrest
comes with a red leather antimacassar in an original Air France design.
A selection of newspapers and magazines, oshibori and a gourmet meal
among other offers complete the custom-designed service.
Customers can carry two items of baggage along with one accessory for
a total weight of 18kg. They are allowed two items of hold baggage up
to 32 kg each.
A curtain, closed during the journey, isolates the Business class cabin to
offer a calmer and more private environment.
Refined gourmet extras
Air France, ambassador of fine French cuisine around the world, now
offers more copious snacks and meals on its medium-haul flights,
depending on the time of day and the flight’s duration.
In Business class, even on the shortest flights, passengers are offered a
full breakfast in the morning (coffee, tea, fruit juice, bread and pastries),
a snack or cold meal at other times of the day. On longer flights, the
service will ressemble that of a long-haul flight. Welcome drink, choice
of hot dishes, wine served from the bottle, gourmet coffee and liqueur
are offered.On all flights, warm pastries and crusty bread are served
directly from the oven.
Throughout the flight, customers can choose from a wide selection of
hot or cold drinks, with or without alcohol. They also benefit from a
choice selection of wines and Champagnes, thanks to the exceptional
wines selected by Paulo Basso, world’s best sommelier in 2013.
New tableware
Customers will enjoy use of new tableware created by Jean-Marie
Massaud, an internationally-renowned French designer who also
designs the tableware for La Première and Business cabins on long-haul
flights.
Trays, Christofle cutlery, a real glass and porcelain tableware are all
part of the offer. Jean-Marie Massaud is creating 15 exclusive pieces for
Air France, specially designed for medium-haul business class.
Jean-Marie
Massaud
Exclusive advantages
on arrival at the airport
SkyPriority: here I am!
SkyPriority provides exclusive SkyTeam benefits at airports for the 20 alliance members ensuring a
seamless travel experience for passengers travelling in Business class on medium-haul flights, as well
as Flying Blue Gold and Platinum or SkyTeam Elite Plus members. SkyTeam is the first airline alliance
to offer its Premium passengers a set of priority ground services. Today, this service is available at
more than 1,064 airports worldwide.
SkyPriority is available at all airports served by Air France medium-haul flights, to and from ParisCharles de Gaulle.
Easily recognizable, the red «SkyPriority» logo appears on boarding passes and on all signage at
airports. The service offers eligible passengers priority check-in, dedicated lines at sales counters
and transfer desks, priority boarding and priority baggage delivery at the destination airport, free
of charge.
With fast-track security controls and customs clearance in some sixty airports worldwide served by
Air France, including over forty in Europe, SkyPriority saves precious time, especially for customers
travelling for business.
The Air France lounges, peace of mind before the flight
Prior to departure or during their connections, Business, Flying Blue Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus customers can access the
lounges, offering a real haven of peace. Customers can relax, work or dine in a peaceful environment. Customers can access
a lounge at all the airports served by Air France’s medium-haul flights.
Air France lounge at Munich
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, customers have access to seven lounges, depending on their flight time and departure terminal
(Terminal 2F – 2G – 2E – halls K, L and M). La Première customers connecting to a long-haul flight have access to their own
exclusively dedicated lounge. In Europe, Air France welcomes them at Frankfurt, Geneva, Munich, Stuttgart and Berlin. At
the other airports on the medium-haul network, they have access to SkyTeam, partner airlines or airport lounges.
Economy
On board, Air France quality for all
The Economy class cabin, with its leather seats and exclusively designed headrest, has also been
revamped. With a selection of newspapers and magazines, a more copious meal offer and assistance in
the case of unforeseen irregularities, all customers enjoy Air France quality at the best price.
All customers can bring one carry-on bag (55cm x 35cm x 25cm) and an accessory for a total weight
of 12 kilos, free of charge. They can also check in one item of hold baggage up to 23kg at no additional
charge*.
A revised dining offer
As from April 2015, in Economy class, Air France will be responding to its customers’ request for a
more gourmet dining offer, irrespective of the flight’s duration.
On short flights, more generous croissants, savoury or sweet items, or larger sandwiches will be
offered to all passengers depending on the time of day. On longer flights, passengers will be able to
enjoy a hot meal. Throughout the flight, a wide selection of beverages (with or without alcohol) will
be available.
*except for the “Economy Mini” fare, which does not include checked hold baggage.
Economy Flex, a new customdesigned option for business
travellers
Rapidity and flexibility
As Air France knows, customers travelling on business are seeking efficiency, rapidity and
total flexibility when they travel. On the Company’s medium-haul network, on departure
from and to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, these customers with specific needs represent close
to 30% of all passengers.
Air France has listened to these customers over several months and in numerous countries,
and has designed a new tailored offer in Economy class dubbed “Economy Flex”, in addition
to the “Mini” and “Classic” fares. Tickets will go on sale in January 2015 for flights starting
in April 2015.
In order to meet their expectations as closely as possible, this offer includes many exclusive
benefits:
The
One
opportunity
piece of
to take a flight
luggage, weighing
earlier than initially
a maximum of 23 kg,
Tickets are
planned**, on the same
transported in the cargo
modifiable and
day, at no extra cost.
hold free of charge.
refundable at no
One bag and one
extra charge*.
accessory (handbag,
SkyPriority
route
access to
ensure swift
service at the
airport.
A running
total of Miles for
Flying Blue loyalty
programme members.
laptop, camera, etc.)
allowed on board for
a total of 12 kg.
Systematic
positioning at
the front of the
Economya class cabin
to enable priority
boarding and
disembarking.
*tickets can be modified at no extra charge in the same booking class.
**depending on seat availability.
A
new offer
that can be fully
combined with the other
available fares. For example,
a customer can reserve an
“Economy Flex” fare on the
outward flight, and make
the return flight with a
“Mini” fare
Print out your baggage tags at home
Innovative
services
for
all
customers
Log on to airfrance.com before your trip
On the Air France website and its mobile version, customers can check
in and choose their seat up to 30 hours before their departure time and
up to the latest check-in time. They can also print out their boarding
pass or receive it directly by mail or SMS on their smartphone, and
check all the essential information they need to know about their trip,
notably their baggage allowance and airport formalities.
Save extra time by printing out your baggage
tags at home
To certain medium-haul destinations*, Air France customers can print
out their baggage tags along with their boarding pass at home on a
standard A4 sheet of paper. They then attach the baggage tag to their
bag using a reusable plastic baggage tag holder, available at the airport.
Customers simply insert the sheet printed at home after folding it in
four. Customers can then go directly to the baggage drop-off counter.
All that remains is for them to go through the security checkpoint to
get to their boarding gate, ensuring smooth access through the airport.
Additional space and comfort on board
Air France offers customers the « Seat Plus » option on board aircraft
in its medium-haul fleet. This service offers passengers the guarantee
of travelling on a seat providing more legroom. With the “Seat Plus”
option, customers can choose to travel on seats located next to the
emergency exits and enjoy more legroom** (a minimum additional
10cm compared with a standard seat). Customers can purchase this
option when checking in online, using a self-service kiosk or at an Air
France counter at the airport.
* Geneva, Istanbul, Ljubljana, Oslo, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Saint-Petersburg, Zagreb, Zurich.
** Subject to their eligibility to occupy seats located at the emergency exits.
Air France, in partnership with Orange, will shortly be offering customers the possibility to surf the internet, read emails,
watch live TV or a series, with an inflight WiFi service.
As from summer 2015 and during a three-month trial phase, Orange and Air France will offer a fee-paying Wi-Fi access on
board two Airbus A320s on the short and medium-haul networks.
Stay connected on board
During this test, customers will be able to use their laptops, tablets or smartphones to connect to the internet and a portal
offering a wide choice of entertainment (live television, movies, series, music, etc.) as well as practical information aimed at
making their journey even more enjoyable.
.
At a glance
The new medium-haul seat
. Close to 7,800 seats progressively installed on 24 Airbus A319 and 25 Airbus A320s between 2015
and 2016;
. Designed by the manufacturer BEA;
. A global investment of 50 million euros;
. A reinforced seatback, that reclines to 20°;
. An adjustable headrest;
. Completely retractable central armrests;
. Ergonomic design: individual meal tray, coat hook and cup holder;
. High-quality leather finish in all cabin classes;
. Overstitching, warm colour scheme, exclusively designed headrest, quality finish;
. A soft cushion in Business class;
. 2 kilos lighter, more environmentally-friendly.
Economy Flex, a new custom-designed option for Business
travellers in Economy cabin
. Tickets will go on sale in January 2015 for flights starting from April 2015;
. Tickets modifiable and refundable at no extra charge * ;
. The possibility to take a flight earlier than initially scheduled, the same day, at no additional charge;
. Skypriority services for a quick and easy airport experience;
. Seats systematically allocated at the front of the Economy cabin;
. Free baggage allowance for an item of checked baggage weighing no more than 23 kilos;
. Air France quality – offer of newspapers, free dining, assistance in case of unexpected changes.
* tickets can be modified at no extra charge in the same booking class.
Air France - November 2014
http://corporate.airfrance.com/en - @AFnewsroom