HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Posted (7 years 1 month 3 weeks ago) and read 2032 times:
A late addition to the summer schedule, apparently, and to the best of my knowledge not yet announced here, Air France will, effective June 2006, increase its frequency to Hong Kong by three weekly units for a grand total of ten weekly flights. The additional flights are scheduled as follows:
AF184 CDG HKG 1335 0740 Mo We Sa A332
AF183 HKG CDG 1015 1730 Tu Th Su A332
These additional flights follow the westbound daylight operational pattern, which is also applied by AF partner KLM on its HKG route. Note that the A332 will be deployed on the extra flights and that the return flight, with a scheduled block time of 13 hours and 15 minutes, must feature one of the longest scheduled A332 flights, even trumping AF own NRT CDG A332 flight, which has a block time of 12 hours 40 minutes.
The additional HKG frequency is supposed to operate year round and is scheduled to be upgraded to a B772ER service at the beginning of the 2006-2007 summer schedule.
Air France will continue to operate a daily B773ER double overnight service with the following schedule:
I am not surprised about the HKG additions. It is and remains one of the highest yielding destinations in Asia, and has grown significantly in the recent past. Note that HKG is by far outperforming a traditional hotspot like BKK by now, which received a daily Air France A343, which it shares with SGN and HAN. I would not be surprised it this additional HKG frequency will, over time, gets beefed up to daily or if partner KLM adds its own additional HKG frequencies.
See a big advantage European airlines have flying between Asia and Europe, departure times all begin at around midnight. For Asian airlines, with once daily routes, in order to turn around in time, most leave Europe between noon and early PM.
CPH757 From Denmark, joined Sep 2005, 684 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1823 times:
Yeah, I booked a HKG flight recently, and was also surprised by the A332 morning flight. Unfortunately it didn't fit in my schedule, so I went for the 77W.
Quoting HB-IWC (Thread starter): The additional HKG frequency is supposed to operate year round and is scheduled to be upgraded to a B772ER service at the beginning of the 2006-2007 summer schedule.
Sure about that? When i looked for a return ticket in the winter, it only showed the 77W as an option all week?
Pretty amazed by this, as the loads I have experienced on the winter flights is quite bad..but hey, way to go
Last flight: SAW-CPH on H9 on 02/11/09 - Next Flights: 23/12/09 CPH-AAL on QI, 30/12/09 CPH-LHR on SK, 19/01/10 CPH-CDG-
Trex8 From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 3970 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1771 times:
CDG-NRT is by GC 5265nm and to HKG 5187nm so what routing would make the HK flight have almost 1/2 hr longer route??
TGV From France, joined Dec 2004, 868 posts, RR: 23 Reply 10, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1771 times:
Quoting Vincewy (Reply 2): See a big advantage European airlines have flying between Asia and Europe, departure times all begin at around midnight. For Asian airlines, with once daily routes, in order to turn around in time, most leave Europe between noon and early PM.
Whih can be very convenient for a passenger starting from Europe. You leave home in the morning, and arrive the next morning in Asia, with a full day to go (or time to connect to anywhere and arrive with daylight).
Note that precisely the new AF CDG-HKG fligh is using this timing.
But this mid day timing for the Europe-Asia flight translates in a daylight flight for the return, which is not the best option from a passenger point of view !
Avoid 777 with 3-4-3 config in Y ! They are real sardine cans. (AF/KL for example)
Vincewy From Taiwan, joined Oct 2005, 767 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
Quoting TGV (Reply 10): But this mid day timing for the Europe-Asia flight translates in a daylight flight for the return, which is not the best option from a passenger point of view !
Precisely why currently, VERY few or none, European airlines fly to Asia with noon departure from Europe (except shorter flights to Northern China and Japan [due to curfew]). For Asian carriers, they can turn around planes arriving in the morning for regional flights and return by evening for next European flight.
BTW, what is the chance of AF using A380 for double overnight service to HKG? HKG's J/C fares are normally second most expensive after NRT.
FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7312 posts, RR: 61 Reply 12, posted (7 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1369 times:
Quoting Flying Belgian (Reply 5): I'm pretty sure this flight will be the longest for an A332 in the world.
One of the 3 DAILY CDG-NRT-CDG (AF272/279) is the longest flight operated by an A332.
Quoting SIMPLICITY (Reply 7): I am very surprise to see a A332 operates this route indeed, as other airlines whom fly to western Europe are using B744, A340, A346...
The Other DAILY CDG-HKG-CDG is operated by a B773ER.
Starting Next Winter, the 10 x Weekly frequencies will be operated again by a B772ER, fitted with the new seats configuration.
Only 1 aircraft (F-GSPA) has this new config. and is used on the Daily AF022/AF023 (CDG-JFK-CDG), but progressively, they will be used to DXB (April 24th), IAH (June 12th), NRT & GRU (August 7th), then HKG next winter.
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