At MRO Europe back in September, I tweeted news of several new routes an Air France speaker said the carrier was considering for its Airbus A380s -- Washington, Beijing, and a point in Mexico. Yesterday, Air France announced news that Washington will indeed become its second U.S. destination for its A380s next June, just in time for the Paris Air Show.
[Photo credit: Air France]
The press release doesn't specify an airport code (technically, "Washington" could mean BWI or Dulles, since both are considered Washington-area airports), but it says two flights will leave the U.S. capital daily for its French counterpart. Tickets became available today.
The addition of Washington means the superjumbos will serve five cities in total from Paris CDG: New York-JFK, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Montreal, and Washington.
Here's my original story from the DAILY.
Air France Considers New Americas Routes For A380
Aviation Daily Sep 30 , 2010 , p. 11
Elyse Moody
Air France is considering two North American destinations among those it will serve with the Airbus A380 in the coming year.
Speaking at AVIATION WEEK's MRO Europe conference in London, Herve Page, VP-line maintenance and airframe engineering for Air France Industries, says the carrier is considering Washington, Beijing and locations in Mexico as additions to the A380's current routes as additions to the A380's current routes.
It currently uses the A380 on flights to Tokyo, New York and Johannesburg. As of now, Air France's four A380s have accumulated 8,913 flight hours and 1,606 flight cycles.