[ Routes] By Winston ShekAir France Increases Leisure Focus for the upcoming WinterAir France revealed its preliminary plans for the winter 2021-2022 service on Thursday. It includes three new destinations around the world that are geared towards leisure travel. Air France, based in Paris, plans to increase frequency to other leisure destinations in North America, French Polynesia, and the Middle East.New flights to Africa, Asia and the Middle EastAir France will launch a flight between Paris and Zanzibar (Tanzania) starting October 18. It will stop in Nairobi, Kenya. Zanzibar, an archipelago, has two main islands. Unguja Island is the capital of the region, Zanzibar City. This area, off the coast of Tanzania is known for its history and beaches, is a tourist attraction. The route will be flown twice a week by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: Mondays and Fridays.RoutesOnline data shows that in 2019, 54,000 O&D passengers flew from Paris to Zanzibar. In 2015, the flight was last operated by XL Airways France, a low-cost carrier.These services are an addition to Air France partner airlines KLM triangular route Amsterdam to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Tanzania to Amsterdam. They were launched in 2020. Condor and Eurowings Discover, the newest airline from Lufthansa Group, will also be operating services during winter holidays to Zanzibar.Air France also plans to resume its October 31 flight from Paris to Muscat (Oman). According to theaeronetwork, the route was last operated by Airbus A310 in 1994. Three times a week, the flight will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.Oman Air will be competing with the French airline on its nonstop flight from Paris to Oman Air, which is tentatively scheduled for daily service in winter. KLM, Air France's partner airline, also operates winter flights from Abu Dhabi to Muscat via Air France.Air France plans to resume a flight between Paris and Colombo in Sri Lanka using a triangle route that connects Paris to Male, Maldives, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Paris. According to theaeronetwork, the airline Airbus A310 was used for the last time on the route in 1994. The flight will be operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner three times per week.The route was previously operated by SriLankan Airlines, using Airbus A330 aircraft. Air France will be the only nonstop Western European connection to Sri Lanka. Its main competitors are Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.Air France will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 276 seats. This includes 30 business class seats, and 21 premium economy seats. There are also 225 economy seats.Select Destinations: Additional ServiceAir France also plans to increase its offerings to leisure destinations, adding frequencies to places like Papeete and Dubai. Air France will increase frequency on its Boeing 777-220 route between Paris and Los Angeles to Papeete to five times per week. Air France's Miami flights will see a frequency rise to twelve times per week. There is a daily Boeing 777 300 and an Airbus A350 900 that operate five times per week. Air France's Boeing 777-200 flies 14 times per week to Dubai.Air France has announced that it will soon release the full schedule for winter 2021-2022. Air France notes, however, that it is subject to changes due to restrictions in each country.Rebound and Leisure TravelAir France has decided to concentrate on leisure travel. This is a decision made by many other airlines around the world amid a decrease in business travel. The airlines announcement of their route shows increased optimism about lifting restrictions and increasing travel for winter, despite higher vaccination rates. Scoot Airlines, for example, is anticipating a boom in leisure travel as a result of the imminent lifting of Singaporean restrictions. Moreover, American airlines, such as Allegiant Air, recently announced extensive route expansions aimed at leisure travelers.
