Air France – KLM strengthens South American network with new operations in Brazil and Panama

Air France has announced a significant increase in services to Central and South America.  On 31 March the airline launched a new three weekly service to Brasilia, its third destination in Brazil after Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and this summer Air France is increasing flight capacity to Panama from three to four weekly flights and to five weekly from 27 October 2014. 

Brasilia: The new route results directly from the exclusive code share agreement between Air France – KLM and Brazilian airline, GOL. Brasilia is now serv
ed by the airline from Paris-Charles de Gaulle flying on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights are operated by Boeing 777-200 equipped with 309 seats, with 35 in the Business cabin, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.  

Since 2009, Air France-KLM and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes have been involved in a partnership that enables Air France and KLM to offer their customers 28 destinations in Brazil* via Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In February 2014, Air France-KLM and GOL strengthened their partnership with a new more inclusive agreement. This latest arrangement will progressively enrich the destinations on offer under code-share agreements with GOL via Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasilia.    

Brasilia flight schedules in local times:

    ·AF 0520:  leaves Paris – Charles de Gaulle at 13:30, arrives in Brasilia at 19:15

   ·AF 0515 : leaves Brasilia at 22 :40, arrives at Paris Charles- de Gaulle at 14 :20 the following day  

Panama:  Air France has also announced that it is gradually increasing its flight capacity to Panama. The airline will start operating a fourth weekly flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Panama City in the summer 2014 before increasing its capacity to five weekly flights from 27 October 2014 and for the entire 2014 winter season - adding two weekly flights to its current schedule.

“Air France has been offering non-stop flights between Paris and Panama City since 25 November 2013, in addition to the daily KLM flight. After several months of successful operations on this route, we are proud to be strengthening our presence by increasing our flight frequencies, therefore meeting the demand of our customers in Europe, Panama and throughout Central America. This will enable us to consolidate our leadership position in the Central and South American region and the Caribbean” declared Patrick Alexandre, EVP Commercial, Sales and Marketing at Air France-KLM.

In addition to the daily KLM service from Amsterdam-Schiphol, there will now be 12 weekly flights to Panama City with Air France-KLM. Moreover, thanks to Copa Airlines’ hub at Panama City-Tocumen Airport, the group's customers benefit from an even wider choice of connections to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua among others. Flights are operated by Boeing 777-200 equipped with 309 seats, with 35 in Business, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.

Panama flight schedules in local time:

Starting 27 October 2014, flights to and from Panama City will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays:

      ·AF 474: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:30; arrives in Panama City at 17:30 the same day

     ·AF 475: leaves Panama City at 20:45, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 14:25 the following day