Air France was initially formed in 1933 by the merger of five France-based airlines. Following a 2004 merger with Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France became a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group. An essentially private airline with state ownership at just under 20%, Air France continued to fly under its own brand name after the merger. Operating a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Air France-KLM is the largest airline in the world based on operating revenues and the largest in Europe based on passenger miles flown.
Headquarters
Air France is currently headquartered at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, just north of Paris, France. In 2008, Roissy was the fifth busiest airport in the world based on number of passengers served, with over 60 million. It was also Europe’s busiest airport based on aircraft movements.
Airline Codes
For identification purposes, the Air France IATA code (International Air Transport Association) is AF, the ICAO code (International Civil Aviation Organization) is AFR and Air France is its Callsign.
Service Areas
Within France, Air France flies to 20 destinations. Internationally, the airline flies to 150 destinations in 83 countries on all six major continents.
Largest Hubs
While its global hub is at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, it has secondary hubs at Paris Orly, Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Nice Côte d'Azur airports.
Popular Routes
Top Air France routes include Paris, Barcelona, Toulouse, Berlin and Tokyo.
Frequent Flyer Program
The Flying Blue program offers free membership and the ability to earn miles every time you fly on eligible Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, SkyTeam airlines or partner airlines. Ivory membership is assigned when the first miles are credited to the account. Members can then move to Silver, Gold or Platinum membership based on the number of miles flown. Members can also accrue miles by using the services of Flying Blue non-airline partners. Miles are awarded according to the distance flown and the class of service. One-way award tickets within Europe on Air France, KLM or Air Europa begin at just 10,000 miles.
Cabin Amenities and Classes
Cinema, news and tv, games and music are available on certain long-haul flights. In La Premiere Class, seats are designed for space and privacy. The cabin consists of four to eight seats with 50% more personal space. The seat transforms into a comfortable bed, while several compartments are made available for personal belongings. Meals and wine are considered “fine dining.” In Affaires class, a reserved area at the front of the plane is limited to two roomy seats per row. Seats also recline into beds for maximum comfort. Meals and wine are served with a touch of excellence. Premium Voyager Class, which provides a new class geared for professional and private travelers, begins to most destinations in 2009. A separated cabin, it offers three seats per row, cocktails and meal. Alize class, available on certain aircraft with destinations in the Caribbean or Indian Ocean, offers a comfortable seat and meal. Voyager class offers comfortable seats with new seats that allow more room for more comfort.
Baggage Policy
The Air France checked baggage allowance is based on destination and flight class. However, baggage size for all customers must not exceed 62" in height + length + width. To calculate your checked baggage allowance, visit their website www.airfrance.com. From the home page, click on the tab "Information and Services" and then choose "Practical Information." The baggage policy is explained in detail.