Paris-New York
A legendary route at the heart of
Air France’s move upmarket
Juin 2014
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Paris-New York, a showcase for innovation
Air France is changing and has chosen the Paris-New York route to inaugurate
its new cabins.
It is not a coincidence that Air France has chosen New York to present its
customers with its most innovative new products. Since 1946 and the birth of the
transatlantic service, Air France has made this leading destination a showcase
for all its innovations. With the launch of the route in the 1950s, Concorde taking
off in 1977, the introduction of the A380 in 2009 and the first flight equipped with
the new cabins in 2014, these are just a few of the many milestones that have
marked Air France’s history in New York.
A journey to the heart of Air France’s move upmarket
Today, Air France’s transatlantic service is more comfortable than ever. The
journey begins on arrival at the airport thanks to exclusive lounges welcoming
La Première, Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers. It continues in the
brand new Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins, which have been
upgraded for all customers. In December 2014, Air France will introduce its new
La Première suite.
Paris-New York is the leading route on the Air France network in terms of
capacity. This summer, Air France is offering more than 4,000 seats on this route,
with seven daily frequencies, two of which are on a codeshare basis with Delta.
Air France, France is in the air
From 26 to 28 June 2014, the Air France exhibition is in New York at the 548
Center, at the heart of the Chelsea district.
To present its new travel concept and all its new cabins, Air France has created
three international exhibitions. After Shanghai in May and before Paris in
September, the exhibition is being held in New York in June.
These exhibitions, open to the public free of charge, have been designed as
a journey. Real and virtual experiences are combined so that everyone can
experience the new Air France universe with animated presentations.
On the social networks, several events have been organized for the occasion.
You can follow the event on facebook.com/airfrance and twitter #AirFranceExpo.
expo.airfrance.com
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A fully renovated lounge at New York-JFK
Between New York and Paris,
an exceptional trip on arrival at the airport
At New York-JFK, in August 2014, Air France will offer its La Première, Business
and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers a fully renovated lounge located in Terminal 1.
This lounge will feature a host of services offering customers even greater comfort
and relaxation before their trip.
Relax before jetting off to Paris
The new light-filled lounge welcomes customers in a relaxing environment.
White and wood tones dominate the area, enhanced by touches of red, the
Company’s signature colour. A large mezzanine offers an impressive view of
the runways. The curved architectural lines are signed by design and branding
agency, Brandimage.
Services adapted to flight times
On arriving in the lounge, customers can obtain all the information they need
about their trip at the reception desk.
Two buffets featuring hot and cold snacks, as well as a wide selection of
beverages, revisit French cuisine with a selection of fresh produce and gourmet
dishes. The range of dishes on offer depends on the time of day. On night flights,
customers can choose to dine before boarding, and can make the most of the
trip to relax.
At the heart of the lounge, a relaxation area with subdued lighting offers
comfortable seats. Nearby, customers can relax on loungers. A Clarins wellbeing area offers beauty treatments free of charge. Customers also have access
to shower stalls complete with Clarins products.
It is also possible to work in quiet conditions thanks to free Hi-Fi access.
Moreover, a wide selection of local and international press is available in French
and English.
A VIP area for La Première customers
La Première customers receive a personalized welcome on their arrival at JFK
airport. They are accompanied to the lounge, where a VIP area is exclusively
reserved for them. In this private area, located on the mezzanine, they can enjoy
dishes signed by Joel Robuchon and served by a maitre d’hôtel.
Close to forty Air France lounges worldwide
In close to forty airports throughout the world, Air France offers its customers
access to lounges for fast and easy access through the airport. Whether you’re
looking to relax, eat or work far from the hustle and bustle of the airport, the
Company designs its lounges like real havens of peace. At the Paris-Charles
de Gaulle hub, Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers benefit from six
lounges on departure of their flight (Terminal 2E, 2F and 2G) and a lounge on their
arrival (Terminal 2C). La Première customers have access to a totally exclusive
lounge located in Terminal 2E.
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In First Class on the Lockheed L.1049 Super Constellation
«Parisian Special» in the 1950s
The Air France ticket office on
5th Avenue in New York, named the best facade in 1970
The Paris-New York route, the Star of the Show
July 1st, 1946. The Air France Douglas DC-4 took off from Paris-Orly and landed
at New York’s La Guardia airport at noon local time. A historic flight of 23 hours
and 45 minutes - with two technical stop-overs, in Shannon, Ireland and Gander,
Newfoundland (Canada). The two cities were at last officially connected, in less
than 24 hours. The French airline achieved this feat with 33 passengers on board.
The “Star ribbon” route
The liberation and reconstruction effort brought together the United States and
France, the second country to be allocated aid from the Marshall plan (1947)
after the UK. The booming relations between the two countries led Air France
to increase the frequency of its services (two weekly flights in 1946; one daily
flight in 1954). And this “star ribbon” route paved the way for every possibility of
refinement and innovation. For over ten years, the Lockheed Constellation, with
their migratory bird profiles and equipped like palaces, ruled the Atlantic.
As from 1953, every Thursday evening on departure from Paris-Orly, a luxury
“Parisien special” service was operated every Friday evening by a L-1049 «
Super Constellation », with sleeper compartments, lounges and bar. Passengers
were offered Champagne on arrival and cigarettes in unlimited quantities…This
was the golden age of propeller aviation and glamorous French-style air travel.
Air France bridged the gap between Europe and the new world, creating a path
between the Eiffel Tower and the sky line, fuelling economic, political and cultural
exchange between two of the western world’s most influential cities. From
Broadway to the Champs-Elysées, the stars of the movie world – Orson Welles,
Audrey Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock – flew Air France and readily posed for the
“Company” photographers at the foot of the jetways.
A showcase for modernity
In 1960, Air France entered the jet era. The Paris-New York route was the first to
reap the rewards of technological prowess. From Orly, the Boeing 707 reactors
flew to Idlewild airport – rechristened John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963 – in
8 hours 15 min. More than ever before, the route embodied the Company’s
modern stance, opting to dress its air hostesses in Dior, and hiring the brilliant
decorator Pierre Gautier-Delaye, from the Raymond Loewy studio, to renovate
its two emblematic ticket offices, on the Champs-Elysées and in New York
(named the most beautiful building on the 5th Avenue in 1970). He also planned
the layout of the new Air France facilities at JFK, accommodating the Boeing 747
(1970) and subsequently the Concorde (1977).
New York was now just 3 hours and 45 minutes away from Paris! From boarding
to baggage delivery, the supersonic aircraft offered top of the range service.
Design by Raymond Loewy (from the lounge at Roissy to the cabins, via the
meal tray salt cellars), in-flight meals adapted to the flight duration and helicopter
on arrival for a swift transfer to Manhattan. Liz Taylor and Catherine Deneuve
were regular passengers. Rostropovitch too, whose Stradivarius (1711) was
always welcome. The cabin was upgraded three times – in 1985 and 1988 by
Gautier-Delaye and in 1993 by Andrée Putman.
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An Air France Boeing 747 in New York in 1972
The Concorde in flight, on the Paris-New York route as from 1977
From the Concorde to the A380, and soon with brand new cabins
The «great white bird» crossed the ocean for over 25 years. Then it left the stage,
paving the way for the jumbos that combine performance and comfort on an à
la carte basis. Wanting to «make the sky the best place on earth». Air France
redesigned its idea of travel. The key routes – especially Paris-New York - saw
a succession of increasingly comfortable premium cabins: l’Espace 180 (1995),
l’Espace La Première (2000) and the new l’Espace La Première (2003).
In 2009, the route inherited the first super jumbo, the A380, with its 516 seats
and comfort worthy of the «propeller palaces» of yesteryear, including spacious
cabins, bars, a gallery and more.
2014 has seen a new milestone in the history of the route. Air France has
chosen New York as the first destination to offer its customers the comfort of its
latest new cabins. A way of reminding us - 72 years after the first «landing» on
American soil – that it’s still the «Star of the Show» ... with seven daily flights in
each direction, two of which are on a codeshare basis with Delta.
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Travel by Air France, the new travel guide
A fully digital trip
24/7 online assistance
Air France and KLM offer their customers 24/7 assistance on the social networks,
in an aim to provide even better service. If you have a question about your trip,
a doubt about your flight time or wish to modify your reservation, Air France and
KLM answer you directly on Facebook and Twitter.
The Air France and KLM Facebook pages currently have close to 12 million
fans, and offer product and service information in addition to competitions and
special offers. Both companies are also active on Twitter and have over 1.5
million followers.
AF Connect and KLM Connect, an exclusive, free service
When booking their flight, customers benefit from AF Connect and KLM Connect,
an exclusive, free service, with no registration or subscription, which proactively
informs customers (by phone, SMS or e-mail) of any changes and irregularities
during their trip.
Plus de journaux et magazines grâce à Air France Press
Air France Press, the Air France mobile app, gives all customers free and
easy access to a wide selection of French and international newspapers and
magazines, directly on their tablets. This exclusive service developed by the
Company completes the paper press offering available worldwide, in its lounges,
boarding areas and on board its aircraft.
Already available in France on iOS, Android, Windows 8 or RT, the app can also
be downloaded on global Stores. Everyone can now access newspapers and
magazines from a selection of over forty French and international publications.
Customers can download their selection up to 24 hours before their flight until
the time of departure. Once downloaded, the publications are stored on the
customer’s tablet, giving the customer the choice to read them before, during
and after the flight, including in offline mode.
Travel by Air France, the new travel guide
There are so many different places to discover during the summer holidays.
To help customers choose their ideal destination, Air France has launched its
brand new travel guide. It highlights more than 60 destinations served by Air
France worldwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco
in the USA. Depending on the cities on offer, Air France has chosen unique
destinations, hidden-away places and events not to be missed. Travel By Air
France also uses interviews with numerous local and international personalities
to illustrate each city.
Accessible from the airfrance.fr website, discover Travel By Air France in the
“prepare your trip” section.
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Minneapolis 7
Boston 14
Detroit 7
Chicago 7 7
San Francisco 12 7
Washington 14 7
New York-JFK
35 21
Atlanta 14 7
Los Angeles 17 11
Dallas 5
Houston 7 9
Miami 7
Weekly frequencies
Air France
KLM
Air France-KLM in the United States, a powerful network
Beyond New York, Air France-KLM and the United States have always had a
special relationship. This summer, the Group is offering twelve U.S. destinations*
and more than 200 weekly flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and AmsterdamSchiphol.
In addition, the partnership between Air France-KLM and American airline Delta
enables passengers to benefit from a greater number of destinations in the United
States. In summer 2014, Air France customers can benefit from codeshare
flights to twelve U.S. airports: Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis,
New York-JFK, New York-Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake
City and Seattle.
New on the network
This summer, Air France is flying to San Francisco by Airbus A380, in addition to
the three other destinations in the U.S. already served by the superjumbo: Los
Angeles, New-York-JFK and Washington. Air France is also increasing its offer
to Atlanta with flights operated all summer by Boeing 747.
*Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
Minneapolis, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Washington.
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More than 250 daily transatlantic flights
operated by Air France, KLM, Delta and Alitalia
The transatlantic joint venture, a strategic alliance
On all transatlantic flights, the Air France-KLM group is involved in a major
joint venture with Alitalia and Delta. KLM and Northwest Airlines signed a joint
venture agreement in 1997 as did Air France and Delta in 2007. It is now the
most advanced airline cooperation model, and involved the joint operation and
the sharing of revenues and costs of more than 250 daily transatlantic flights
operated by Air France, KLM, Delta and Alitalia.
A major asset for the Air France-KLM Group and immediate benefits for
customers
The joint venture represents approximately 25% of total capacity between
Europe and North America and generated turnover of $ 13 billion in 2013.
The four airlines offer many benefits to customers:
• a greater variety of destinations with more frequencies and flight departure
times;
• an extensive network with over 250 daily flights operated by 129 aircraft;
• close to 300 destinations served beyond the 25 entry points in North America;
• close to 250 destinations served beyond the 28 entry points in Europe, Asia
and Latin America;
• competitive fares;
• harmonized ground and in-flight services;
• the largest network of lounges on both sides of the Atlantic;
• dedicated call centers in Europe and North America.
• a joint venture structured around seven main hubs: Amsterdam-Schiphol,
Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, Paris-CDG and Rome Fiumicino.
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Air France Press Office - June 2014
http://corporate.airfrance.com/en
21/03/14 09:40