Air France continues to pamper its Japanese clients. The carrier will offer new flights to Tokyo Haneda from 2014 and just launched a new Japan dedicated range of services.
PARIS/TOKYO – Air France intends to increase services to Tokyo by introducing a new daily flight operated with its own aircraft and crew to the downtown airport of Tokyo-Haneda as from summer 2014. Since 2010, Air France has been selling seats on a code-share basis on flights operated by Japan Airlines between Paris-CDG and Tokyo-Haneda.
This announcement follows the visit of Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of Air France, to Tokyo on 28 November to celebrate 60 years of Air France presence in Japan.“I am very pleased to be celebrating 60 years of uninterrupted Air France service to Japan. Today, we want to strengthen our services on this strategic market by providing excellent service to Tokyo and Osaka as well as the Japanese domestic network together with our partner Japan Airlines. In addition, we are striving to develop totally customer oriented Japanese routes,” said Alexandre de Juniac.
Air France-KLM is a European leader for the number of flights offered out of Europe. The airline has up to 51 weekly flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, including some on a codeshare basis with Japan Airlines.This offer will be expanded as from 3 April 2013 with the new service to Fukuoka operated by KLM with three weekly frequencies by Boeing 777-200. KLM will be the first European airline to serve Japan’s southern city.
On departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France operates the following flights to Tokyo: 4 daily flights (2 Air France flights to Tokyo-Narita; 1 Air France flight operated by Japan Airlines to Tokyo-Narita; 1 Air France flight operated by Japan Airlines to Tokyo-Haneda) and 1 daily flight to Osaka.
On departure from Amsterdam-Schiphol, KLM operates the following flights to Tokyo: between 7 and 9 weekly flights, Osaka: 1 daily flight and Fukuoka: 3 weekly flights as from 3 April 2013.
Air France pays particular attention to its Japanese customers. More than 200 Japanese cabin crew members provide exclusive service on flights to and from Japan. Air France is developing fine international cuisine, and offers the choice of a Japanese meal in all cabin classes. In Première and Business class, “otsumamis” Japanese biscuits are served with the appetizer. Flight attendants also offer passengers a choice of Japanese green tea O-Cha, cold saké, Misoshiru Japanese soup, soy sauce and chopsticks.
In addition, passengers can read local Japanese newspapers as well as a Japanese version of Air France/KLM inflight magazines. There is a selection of movies in their original Japanese version or with subtitles.
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle CDG airport, Japanese-speaking staff are available to assist customers with their departure, arrival, and transit formalities..
On flights from Japan to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France offers La Première and Business customers “Onigiri”, rice balls with a prune and salmon filling, wrapped in seaweed, available in the self-service buffet. Cold, smoked Oolong tea is available for all passengers throughout the flight.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
