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The airline has announced its intention to challenge Eurostar, whose monopoly comes to an end at the start of 2010, when new EU rail laws come into force.

Air France said: “It would seem logical to replace some air transport services with a rail transport solution so that we can continue to provide our customers with a global offer, meeting both their short-distance and intercontinental travel needs.”

The carrier said its plans were in their early stages and that it had not yet worked out which routes it might run.

source: Sky News

With the high price of fuel raising the cost of flying, Air France is looking into replacing some of its short-haul European flights with high-speed rail service in partnership with a French train operator, a move that analysts said could lead to significant savings.

Air France spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand said the French flag carrier and Veolia Transport “are examining the possibility of concluding a strategic partnership aimed at introducing a new player in the European high-speed rail sector.”

fuente: IHT.com

Air France-KLM has offered a share swap and a capital increase of €750 million (US$1 billion) as part of its bid for Alitalia, the chairman of the Franco-Dutch airline was quoted as saying.

The group would renew Alitalia’s aging fleet and cut up to 1,700 jobs, Jean-Cyril Spinetta was quoted as saying in Italian newspapers Sunday.

Alitalia is scheduled to hold a board of directors meeting Tuesday to announce a decision on which sole bidder to open negotiations with. The Italian government, which has a 49.9 percent stake in the struggling airline, met earlier this week but failed to decide on a preferred bidder.

source: International Herald Tribune

A Frenchman who weighs 170 kilograms (375 pounds) has won a court case against Air France after it made him buy a second seat on a flight from New Delhi to Paris, he told AFP.

Jean-Jacques Jauffret, a 43-year-old screen-writer, said he was deeply humiliated when airline staff measured his girth with wrapping tape in front of other passengers at New Delhi airport.

source: Forbes

Air France has filed a law suit against the Irish low-cost airline with the Bobigny court of first instance in France, and is seeking compensation for damages.

‘Ryanair has broadly advertised to the press that it is launching proceedings with the European Commission denouncing the alleged collusion between Air France and two other European airlines,‘ Air France said.

‘It is basing its complaint on the mere fact that Air France and the two airlines concerned increased their fares on the same day, a few hours apart, following implementation of a fuel surcharge,‘ it added.

Air France said it considers the facts ‘slanderous accusations‘ not only because they are ‘pure fabrication‘ but also because ‘Ryanair deliberately leaked the accusations to the media.‘

source: Forbes

Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines have agreed a tie-up over translantic flights which they say will offer more choice and value for passengers.

Under the deal, the two airlines will share revenues from flights between Europe and the US, expected to total $8bn (5.6bn euros) a year from 2010.

Closer co-operation would allow the carriers to launch new routes and run services more frequently, the duo said.

Airlines want to exploit the opening-up of US-European travel next year.source: BBC