Air France to launch A380 flights to New York

Air France will launch flights to New York from Paris this month using the Airbus A380.

The airline took delivery of its first A380 on October 30th and will receive three of the 12 planes that it has on order from Airbus before spring next year.

From November 23rd, the Air France A380 will operate daily flights from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to JFK Airport in New York, which will be followed by a service to Johannesburg from the French capital during the winter 2009-10 season.

The airline is the first European carrier to use the superjumbo and will be the first to offer flights between Europe and the US on the aircraft.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, chief executive of Air France, said: "Each A380 will enable Air France to save €12 million to €15 million a year, which, in today's depressed economic climate, provides the company with the means to withstand the crisis.

"Air France will therefore be able to offer its customers even greater comfort, while keeping its costs under control."

The carrier's A380 will offer a total of 538 seats - 449 in economy, 80 in business class and nine in first class.

• Busy weekend in store at Stansted Airport
• London City Airport voted best in UK
• Report highlights growth in online travel sector
• Singapore Airlines unveils new cabin products
• Improved river terminal to open in Vienna
• Boeing reveals first Dreamliner interior
• Etihad to operate more flights to Japan
• Singapore Airlines completes green flight
• Emirates increases flights to Kuala Lumpur
• Aer Arann marks anniversary of Isle of Man flights