Air France will be strengthening its presence in East Africa, after announcing it will open a new route between Paris and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania while increasing frequencies on several other routes within the continent.
Beginning June 12, 2023, the French flag carrier will inaugurate three flights per week between its base at Paris-CDG and Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere airport, operated as a continuation of the service to Zanzibar by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that can accommodate 30 passengers in Business Class, 21 in Premium and 225 in Economy.
Departures are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:20 am to arrive at 20:15 in Zanzibar, depart at 21:45 and land at 22:20. Return flights will leave Tanzania’s financial capital at 11:50 p.m. and land live the next day at 7:55 a.m.
Air France will be without competition on this route, although Dar Es Salaam is being served from Europe by its sister KLM Royal Dutch Airlines with daily flight from Amsterdam, continuation of Zanzibar as well. Turkish Airlines also connects the largest city in Tanzania with Europe.
The opening of Dar es Salaam service will therefore lead to an increase in flights to Zanzibar-Abeid Amani Karume airport, which gains a third weekly rotation compared to last summer.
Inaugurated at the end of October 2021, this link was until now provided as a continuation of Nairobi’s Jommo Kenyatta Airport. Also from 12 June 2023, the Kenyan capital will have direct two-way travel, with daily flights operated from CDG with the 787-9 as well.
Further south, Air France will offer next summer an expanded program between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Antananarivo’s Ivato Airport in Madagascar, with 5 direct flights per week against 4 currently. Flights to and from Madagascar will be operated for the first time by Airbus A350-900, the new flagship of the airline’s long-haul fleet, equipped with 34 seats in the Business cabin, 24 in Premium Economy and 266 in Economy instead of the 777-200ER or -300ER currently deployed.
