On Monday, Air France announced five weekly flights to Monrovia, Liberia starting April 20, 2020. The airline also received the third of 28 Airbus A350s on order, which it has named ‘Saint-Denis de la Réunion.’
Air France announced today that they will reintroduce service to Monrovia, Liberia starting April 20, 2020. The route will be operated five times weekly with an Airbus A330-300. The aircraft is configured for 224 passengers with 36 Business, 21 Premium Economy and 167 Economy Class seats. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the flight from Paris-CDG to Monrovia will make an intermediate stop in Bamako, Mali, while flights on Tuesdays and Fridays will fly directly to Monrovia with continuing service to Bamako. The new service between Monrovia and Bamako will increase Air France flights to Mali by 63%, with 12 weekly flights.
Air France will serve 25 African destinations on 280 weekly flights for the summer 2020 season. Combined, the Air France-KLM Group will operate over 500 weekly flights to 49 African destinations. Air France offers a more generous baggage allowance than most long-haul carriers to Africa with La Première guests and Business Class customers permitted three and two bags respectively, weighing up to 32kgs. Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers are permitted two bags weighing up to 23kg each. Air France also employs multi-cultural teams and has experts on the African continent onboard all flights to and from Africa.
Saint-Denis de La Réunion
In a separate press release on Monday, Air France welcomed the third of 28 Airbus A350s on order which it has named ‘Saint-Denis de La Réunion after the capital of the Reunion Island. Air France has continued their tradition of naming aircraft after French cities, with previously delivered aircraft named Toulouse and Lyon. However, today’s announcement marks the first time the airline has named an aircraft after an overseas destination. In Monday’s announcement, Air France’s General Manager – Indian Ocean, Claire Tabakian said,
“Today, Air France is illustrating its commitment to the exceptional territory of Reunion Island, a melting pot of mixed cultures with breathtaking scenery. Wherever it goes, this aircraft will represent our leading overseas island destination, marking our contribution to promoting the destination around the world."
The new Air France A350 is configured for 324 passengers with 34 Business, 24 Premium Economy and 266 Economy Class seats. The airline's A350s are currently operating on routes to Abidjan, Bamako, Toronto, Cairo and Seoul and will be deployed on the Bangkok route beginning summer 2020. The Airbus A350 is 67% lighter, burns 25% less fuel and delivers a noise footprint reduction of 40%, when compared to previous generation aircraft. All 28 new A350s on order will join the Air France fleet by 2025.
Source: Air France