Air France – the flag-carrying airline of France – has revealed that it will start increasing the frequency of its flights between France and the US in the coming few months, aiming to restore up to 90% of its overall capacity. The news comes following the recent announcement that restrictions between the EU and the US are set to be eased, with the airline planning for what it expects will be a busy winter season for travel.
With France a popular holiday destination for American travelers – and vice versa – the decision is bound to be welcomed by travelers, and will add to what is already an extremely competitive market for flights across the Atlantic ocean. Here’s a look at Air France’s announcement, plus a reminder of how restrictions between the countries are set to change and a recap of the restrictions travelers will find in France.
Bolstering US Routes – Information For Travelers
The pandemic has been tough on airlines. Those fortunate enough to survive the pandemic without going out of business still had to contend with routes being cancelled, flight frequencies being cut and staffing shortages that alone could have brought the industry to its knees. However, with cases falling, vaccine uptake rising and restrictions easing around the world, air travel is all set for a period of resurgence.
Air France is amongst those airlines preparing to make the rest of 2022 count, and has started by announcing its intention to restore its capacity to 90% of what it was in 2019. To help it reach this goal, the airline has revealed details about its US operations over the coming months, both with an increase in flight frequencies and by using larger aircraft in order to be able to carry more passengers.
Air France currently serves 11 destinations in the US – New York JFK, Boston, Washington DC, Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The airline hopes to increase its capacity with 100 weekly flights, a feat it hopes to achieve by adding flight frequencies to top destinations such as New York, Miami or Los Angeles.
Ben Smith, the CEO of Air France-KLM revealed that the change of restrictions by the US-led to a significant spike in bookings for transatlantic flights, which explains the decision to increase flight frequencies. After several long months of closed borders through the duration of the pandemic, the US announced that it would be welcoming fully vaccinated travelers from several EU countries. Whilst full details have not yet been made public, it is expected that the easing of restrictions will take place from November.
For travelers hoping to go the other way, there are some key restrictions in France to be aware of. People must present a health pass to access leisure and culture venues and events bringing together more than 50 people, as well as bars, restaurants, malls and before long-distance travel. Passes can be digital on the TousAntiCovid app or in paper form, and must show vaccination, testing or recovery status. The EUDCC app is also accepted.
France is currently averaging just over 4000 daily cases, and 31 deaths per day. The country has made solid progress with its vaccination efforts, with 75% of people having received one shot of the virus and two-thirds of the population now fully vaccinated.
