Ottawa, July 5, 2023 – On June 27, Air France inaugurated its new non-stop flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Ottawa welcoming the arrival of flight AF 328. This makes the airline the only company to operate direct flights between the Canadian capital and Europe.
This is Air France’s fifth Canadian destination, after Montreal (since 1950), Toronto (1976), Vancouver (2015) and Quebec City (2022). The new service will help support Ottawa’s economic and diplomatic activity, as well as tourism in the region, including that of Gatineau in Quebec, and conversely, connect Ottawa residents to Paris and France’s global network spanning almost 200 destinations across all continents.
“Ottawa Tourism is thrilled to welcome Air France to the capital of Canada”, commented Michael Crockatt, President and CEO Ottawa Tourism. “This route will connect the world to our globally desirable destination, with its mix of experiences that range from culturally inspiring national museum collections and exhibits to outdoor adventure in Canada’s world-renowned natural landscapes, and more. The new route links not only French nationals through the hub of Paris, but also a vast scope of travellers from across Europe, Asia, and Africa, who will fall in love with the Ottawa’s beauty, safety, and cleanliness. This is a great day for Ottawa, as Air France will play a significant role in the rebuilding and growth of our region’s international travel markets,” said Crockatt.
Five flights per week
Air France will operate five flights a week between Ottawa (YOW) and Paris (CDG), Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Flight times:
• AF327 Ottawa to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Departure 17h05 Arrival 06h15 next day.
• AF328 Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Ottawa. Departure 13h10 Arrival 15h05 same day.
The flights will be on Airbus A330-200s outfitted with recently-refurbished passenger cabins and flight-long wi-fi. Aircraft features include 224 seats:
- In Business class (36): a seat that converts into a fully flat, 2-metre bed.
- In Premium Economy class (21): a seat that reclines to 130°, is also one of the widest on the market, and provides lumbar support.
- In Economy class (167): a seat that reclines to 118° padded with ergonomic foam.
All seats are equipped with Air France’s latest-generation in-flight entertainment system, which packs 1,500 hours of movies, series and other shows that stream on large HD touch screens. Individual USB sockets are also available for passengers to recharge their electronic devices.
“I am delighted to be inaugurating our fifth non-stop route from Canada, and the second from the province of Ontario,” said Eric Caron, General Manager for North America, Air France-KLM. “This will serve to further strengthen the historical ties between France and Canada, and also help foster new bonds culturally, economically and on the tourism front. Canada is now the second leading long-haul market for our airline. Our summer offering here is up by 38% compared to 2019,” said Caron.
Business class passengers and Flying Blue Elite members will enjoy access to the Ottawa International Airport’s Aspire Lounge.
Rounding out the new non-stop service will be Air France’s shuttle bus service between Montreal’s Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Airport and the nation’s capital.
“We commend Air France for its non-stop YOW-CDG service, which reconnects Canada’s Capital Region to Europe”, added Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport (YOW). “As a renowned, award-winning global airline offering a wide range of seating options and an extensive network beyond Paris, this presents an incredible opportunity for both business and leisure travellers to reignite their love for travel. Air France’s presence in Ottawa opens a gateway to seamless and memorable journeys, fostering cultural exchange and economic growth between our cities and enabling passengers to embark on remarkable adventures with ease,” added Laroche.
Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to Canada was also on hand at the launch.
“The launch of this new direct route between Paris and Ottawa is both a promising and long-awaited development” said Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to Canada. “Travellers as well as political and business stakeholders from the National Capital will now have direct access to Charles de Gaulle international airport, along with its connections to destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Additionally, this new direct link, in conjunction with the presence in Ottawa of federal government bodies, the Canadian Parliament, and stakeholders from various sectors of the economy will strengthen the National Capital’s status as a destination for political and business leaders from both our countries. Ottawa’s geographic location and cultural attractions also make it an interesting waypoint for tourists who want to explore Canada’s eastern provinces and discover their natural wonders,” said Miraillet.
“Ottawa’s unique blend of cultural and outdoor attractions offers our guests from France and beyond the perfect gateway to Canada” stated Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada. “This new route is an invitation to enjoy enriching experiences – whether you are travelling for pleasure, business, or a major event. Tourism is a key ingredient of Canada’s economic vitality and social fabric. The positive impact of this new route will be felt in Ottawa and across our nation.”
Air France: Top European airline in terms of capacity between Europe and Canada
Active in Canada since 1950, this summer, Air France will offer 38% more seats than in summer 2019. It will therefore continue to be the leading European airline connecting Europe and Canada, with:
- up to 28 flights between Montreal and Paris-Charles de Gaulle,
- up to 14 weekly flights between Toronto and Paris-Charles de Gaulle,
- up to 7 weekly flights between Vancouver and Paris-Charles de Gaulle,
- 3 weekly flights between Quebec City and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
- 5 weekly flights between Ottawa and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Also, KLM flies out of 5 Canadian cities to Amsterdam-Schiphol: Toronto (up to 13 weekly flights), Calgary (7 weekly flights), Vancouver (7 weekly flights), Montreal (6 weekly flights) and Edmonton (4 weekly flights).
Signature chef from Canada
On June 1, Air France began serving meals prepared by Chef Olivier Perret on all flights leaving from Canada: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, and of today, Ottawa.
On every flight departing from Canada, two of the four dishes offered in Business class will be Chef Perret’s creations: a vegetarian option and a gourmet poultry dish. Chef Perret favours the use of local and seasonal products, so passengers can look forward to menus that are in line with the airline’s standards.
About Air France
Air France has been proudly representing France around the world since 1933. Operating in the passenger transport, cargo, and aviation maintenance & repair sectors, Air France is a major player in the air transportation industry. Its workforce of 40,000+ commits daily to ensuring every customer enjoys a unique travel experience.
Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Transavia make up the Air France-KLM Group. The Group’s hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol are major gateways to a vast international network. Its Flying Blue frequent flyer program has over 17 million members. Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam alliance, which groups together a total of 19 airlines.
Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca
