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Flybe and Air France announce landmark partnership

13th July 2010 Print

Flybe and Air France, have today announced plans to implement this autumn, an extensive commercial relationship in a move that will benefit the interests of their customers and the communities they serve.

This new relationship takes the form of an extensive codeshare agreement that will add value to millions of regional air travellers in the UK, France and beyond, giving Flybe passengers access to five additional routes between the UK and France as well as seven new domestic French routes and 11 international routes.

A further benefit is that all Flybe services into Paris Charles de Gaulle airport will now conveniently connect to the Air France hub allowing seamless and easy access to all of Air France’s extensive international services.

Air France codeshare customers will gain access to 45 new routes from France to the UK, as well as seamless connections through Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton on a further 17 UK domestic routes.

Jim French, Flybe’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said: “This deal is a further milestone in Flybe’s growth. Having cemented our position as the UK’s N°1 Domestic airline, we have sought to grow our position in our next most important market, which is the European business city market.

“The deal announced today with one of the world’s pre-eminent aviation groups allows us to extend our brand reach across Continental Europe within the framework of this strategic partnership. The codeshare brings benefits for passengers and the two airlines alike; it’s a real win-win agreement. For Flybe, it allows us to offer an even wider range of flights to our passengers, as well as provide superb levels of inter-connectivity that only an airline as big as Air France can offer.”

Bruno Matheu, Air France Chief Commercial Officer, added: “Air France is glad to announce a partnership with the UK's Number One domestic airline. Over the past few years we have watched with great interest Flybe’s growth and development and been impressed by its performance in becoming a respected leader within the sector.

“The future co-operation with Flybe is a major opportunity for Air France to strengthen its position in the UK, Europe’s biggest market. Thanks to our reciprocal codeshares, Flybe and Air France customers will now be offered an extensive choice of new destinations in France and the UK. The combination of Flybe’s far-reaching coverage across the UK and Air France’s intercontinental network through Charles De Gaulle, will offer travellers from many more UK cities easy access to an even greater choice of the world’s leading business and leisure destinations."

Adds Mr. French: “We are delighted that Flybe’s successful business model has been recognised with such prestigious and positive endorsement from one of the world’s most respected carriers. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Air France in the years to come.”

Under the codeshare agreement which should be effective by the end of October 2010, Flybe will market and add its BE code to the following Air France flights to and from:

• Aberdeen - Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• Birmingham - Paris CDG; Lyons
• Edinburgh - Paris CDG;
• Manchester - Paris Charles De Gaulle;
• Newcastle - Paris CDG
• Orly - Bordeaux; Limoges; Nice; Perpignan; Toulouse
• Paris CDG - Brest; Budapest; Geneva; Istanbul; Lyons; Madrid; Munich; Nice; Nuremberg; Prague; Sofia; Vienna; Warsaw; Zagreb

Under this same codeshare arrangement, Air France will market and add its AF code to the following Flybe flights to and from:

• Birmingham - Avignon; Bergerac; Bordeaux; Brest; Chambery; La Rochelle; Limoges; Paris CDG; Perpignan; Rennes; Toulouse; Belfast; Glasgow; Guernsey; Inverness; Isle Of Man; Jersey
• Exeter - Avignon; Bergerac; Chambery; Rennes
• Edinburgh - Bergerac; Limoges; Rennes
• Glasgow - La Rochelle
• Jersey - Nice
• London Gatwick - Bergerac; Limoges
• Manchester - Avignon; Bergerac; Brest; La Rochelle; Limoges; Paris CDG; Rennes; Belfast; Glasgow; Inverness; Isle of Man
• Newcastle - Limoges
• Paris CDG - Belfast, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Jersey
• Southampton - Avignon; Bergerac; Bordeaux; Brest; Chambery ; Limoges; La Rochelle; Nice; Orly; Perpignan; Rennes; Belfast; Glasgow; Guernsey; Jersey; Isle of Man; Inverness; Leeds Bradford