• Air France, Airbus, A220-500
    Air France
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    AF/AFR
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport
    Year Founded:
    1933
    Alliance:
    SkyTeam
    Airline Group:
    Air France-KLM
    CEO:
    Anne Rigail
    Country:
    France

As summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere enter full swing, passengers are traveling further and in more comfort. Air France has revealed that customers are booking more long-haul flights than short-haul this year so far, with August being the most popular month to fly.

Travelers are also choosing to fly in premium cabins for both leisure and work, as business travel progressively returns. The choice of destinations is also shifting upward. Air France notes an increase of 204% in demand for luxury destinations further afield compared to previous summer schedules.

image005
The most popular luxury destination for Air France customers this year is Mauritius. Photo: Air France 

The leading destinations of 2022... so far

Mauritius is the most popular luxury destination for Air France customers to visit this year. The island is located in the Indian Ocean near Réunion and Madagascar and is known for its stunning beaches, scenery, and resorts. Passenger demand to the island's Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) has seen a 337% increase in passengers compared to pre-pandemic travel.

Primarily sunny beach destinations round out the top five luxury destinations. In second place is Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea, followed by Dubai, Bangkok, and Cancun. All five destinations have seen a rise in demand compared to pre-covid travel.

This year's top destination across its network is Air France's home city, Paris. The airline currently serves over 150 destinations from Paris at Charles de Gaulle and Orly, which serves as a secondary hub for flights to French overseas territories. Several other long-haul destinations are also on the rise, with Punta Cana, Havana, and Johannesburg seeing a sharp uptick in visitors.

An Air France Boeing 777 flying in the sky.
Photo: Air France

Business travel rebounds dramatically.

Premium travel is rising across the industry, with customers opting for a more comfortable journey as travel returns. The SkyTeam carrier has seen a marked rise in business travel since the beginning of the year. Air France, which recently previewed a new first class cabin, has seen a 318% increase in business travel year over year as workplaces shift toward a combination of remote work and in-person events.

There has also been a shift toward premium economy products. Carriers such as Finnair, Emirates, and KLM are among those making an upscale push. The tickets in premium economy classes frequently offer additional benefits, including extra legroom and priority boarding,

Air France has seen a 74% increase in demand for its premium economy cabin since January. The product is offered onboard the Air France Boeing 787s and offers additional space compared to economy class, alongside new seats and a business class-inspired menu. Fahmi Mahjoub, General Manager United Kingdom & Ireland at Air France-KLM, expects the trend to continue:

“We couldn’t be more excited to see passengers returning to air travel – for both business and leisure. It’s encouraging to see just how much people want to explore both close and far-flung destinations around the world, and in more comfort than ever before thanks to our services on Air France.

"People’s interest of travelling in comfort did not go unnoticed, and because of that, Air France is committed to offering a service that caters to that.”

AirFrance Economy Premium B787 (7)
Why sit alone not talking to anyone when you can engage others in a friendly chat. Photo: Air France

The carrier also resumed flying its first class cabin, La Première, on flights to Brazil's São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport onboard its Boeing 777-300 fleet.