Air France KLM maintains African commitment

Air France KLM intends to maintain its strong position in Africa and a strategy of continuous growth despite the economic downturn and increased competition, Senior VP-Africa & Middle East Etienne Rachou told ATWOnline.

"In terms of the number of destinations, frequencies and product, we are the number one to Africa. We will do everything we can to keep our leadership position," he said yesterday in Brussels.

AF KLM claims a 30% share of the passenger market between Europe and Africa. It operates some 380 weekly flights from its Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam hubs to 43 destinations on the continent, of which 29 are unique to AF, 10 are served only by KLM and four by both. Rachou refrained from detailing the position of its closest competitor, but in January Lufthansa Group stated that its airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and bmi) operated to 31 destinations in 27 African countries. During the summer schedule AF will launch A319 all-premium flights to Bata and increase ASKs to the continent by 2.9%. KLM will grow capacity 0.9%.

"Competition to Africa is not new, and we're not particularly afraid. We cannot deny that the competition is getting more challenging," Rachou admitted, noting the growing competition is coming "not only" from European rivals but from airlines across Africa and the Middle East as well as US carriers, "which have rediscovered Africa. It's up to Air France KLM to show and sell our assets and keep our passengers happy," he said. "This is one of the reasons behind the product upgrades."

AF was the first airline to introduce the A380 to Africa with a thrice-weekly CDG-Johannesburg service launched Feb. 7. When its third A380 arrives next month it will operate the jumbo daily on the route. Other upgrades include introduction of its new premium economy cabin on its widebody fleet. It currently is available to four African destinations.

"Passenger feedback on our new intermediary cabin is very positive," Rachou said, adding that it is too early to release any figures on demand, "but it is going in the right direction. The fact that the product is being expanded throughout the fleet [777s, A340s and A330s operating from CDG] by the end of the year gives an indication." AF introduced the new cabin last October on flights to New York JFK. It now operates retrofitted widebodies to 10 destinations, increasing to around 30 by June.