Air France has announced an expansion of its transatlantic network with a new non-stop flight from Paris to Denver starting on 2 July.
While the French flag carrier will have to eliminate numerous domestic flights due to a controversial legislation approved by the Parliament last week, its international network is going to include a welcome addition to the range of destinations. The new service will connect Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Denver International Airport (DEN) three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and will be operated with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft with a capacity of 279 seats (30 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 228 in Economy)
The flight is now scheduled only until the end of the IATA Summer season on 29 October, but it is likely it will be extended also for the winter considering how Denver is the main international gateway airport to some of the most famous ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains, from Aspen to Vail.
Denver is the 13th gateway in the United States for Air France, which subject to the easing of travel restriction is planning to serve also Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C.
This also represents the first time a SkyTeam airline is providing direct connection between Europe and Denver. Other European carriers have been serving Denver for quite some time, with Lufthansa connecting the Star-Alliance-partner United hub at the “mile-high city” airport with both Frankfurt and Munich and Oneworld British Airways that flies from London Heathrow.
“These new flights directly reflect the work we have done to position Denver as a global city,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock in a release, The Denver Gazette reports. “With nonstop service to Paris, Air France is supporting our economic recovery with jobs and an investment in our region’s tourism and hospitality industry. It is tremendous news.”
The new connection is expected to generate 150 new jobs at the airport and inject into Denver’s local economy between $12 million and $20 million (£8.6m to $14.5m) a year.
“We know people everywhere are eager to travel safely, and Air France is just as eager to provide them the opportunity to travel the world,” said Stéphanie Ormand, vice president and general manager, USA for Air France KLM.
“We look forward to connecting Denver to our global network and providing passengers the opportunity to benefit from our commitment to exceptional service and the health and safety of everyone on board.”
