Air France is to re-launch flights from Paris to Cape Town after an absence of more than a decade.
Three flights a week will operate from November 3, complete with Air France’s new business class cabin. They will depart Paris on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10.40, arriving in South Africa at 22.50. The return flight leaves at 01.15, arriving at 11.35.
The timing of the outbound flight allows for an early morning connection from the UK, although the day time flight will not be as popular as the overnight services offered in both directions by other carriers.
Air France will use a refurbished Boeing 777-200ER with 35 business class, 24 premium economy and 250 economy seats.
The Air France flights will complement KLM’s own separate daily services to Cape Town and Johannesburg from Amsterdam. However, the decision to serve Cape Town as a stand-alone route may have a bearing on Air France’s future use of the Airbus A380 on its Johannesburg service.