African Tourism Board instructed Air France, we love you!
- Air France is optimistic about expanding its reach to Africa when France’s national airline launched its winter flight schedule for 2021/2022
- Air France is expanding its global network to Zanzibar, Seychelles, Maputo and Banjul
- The chairman of the African Tourism Board welcomes this step
Air France, stylized as AIRFRANCE, is the French airline based in Tremblay-en-France. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group and a founding member of the global airline alliance SkyTeam.
With the COVID-19, travel and tourism to Africa remain a challenge. Showing the trust Air France is showing for Africa will build trust in the industry and hopefully with potential visitors.
Paris-Banjul with Air France
Air France will commence flights to Banjul, the capital of Gambia in West Africa.
Paris-Banjul is used on an Airbus A330 with 224 seats. It has 36 seats in Business Class, 21 Premium Economy and 167 Economy seats.
The Gambia is a small West African country bordered by Senegal and has a narrow Atlantic coast. It is known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. The abundant wildlife in Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas and rare birds. The capital Banjul and nearby Serrekunda provide access to beaches. The service is scheduled to begin on October 31.
Paris-Maputo with Air France
Also from October 31st, Air Frances will start a new service to Maputo, Mozambique.
This new route to Maputo is served by a large Boeing 777-300ER that offers First Class, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
Mozambique is a South African nation whose long coastline of the Indian Ocean is littered with popular beaches such as Tofo and offshore marine parks. On the mangrove-covered island of Ibo in the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250 km stretch of coral islands, there are ruins from the colonial era that have survived from the time of Portuguese rule. The Bazaruto Archipelago further south has reefs that protect rare marine life including dugongs.
Paris-Abidjan with Air France
AF704 will run between Paris Charles de Gaulle via Banjul to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast.
The Ivory Coast recently hosted the Chairman of the African Tourism Board, Cuthbert Ncube, and is expanding to develop tourism in this West African nation.
Côte d’Ivoire is a West African country with seaside resorts, rainforests and a French colonial heritage. Abidjan on the Atlantic coast is the country’s main urban center. Modern landmarks include the ziggurat-like, concrete La Pyramide and St. Paul’s Cathedral, a curved structure tied to a massive cross. North of the central business district is Banco National Park, a rainforest reserve with a hiking trail.
Paris – Zanzibar with Air France
On October 18, Air France will be connecting Paris with the holiday island in Tanzania, Zanzibar.
This service is operated with a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya, on a Boeing 787-9
Tourism in Zanzibar encompasses the tourism industry and its impact on the islands of Unguja and Pemba in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region in the United Republic of Tanzania
Paris – Seychelles with Air France
Seychelles Tourism has already announced and is pleased to welcome an A330-2200 service from Paris to this French and English speaking tourist paradise in the Indian Ocean. The service originally started in 2019 and has been suspended due to COVID-19.
This service starts on October 23rd.
African Tourism Board chairman Cuthbert Ncube told eTurboNews that he is excited about this expansion of Air France’s network into Africa. Ncube thinks this is a very positive development that African tourism has been waiting for.
