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GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A., the parent company of Brazil’s low-cost airlines GOL Transportes Aereos S.A. and VRG Linhas Aereas S.A., has entered into an interline agreement with Air France. Since September 4, passengers traveling on Air France can purchase tickets for all 58 destinations served by GOL in Brazil and South America.

Air France will be able to sell tickets on GOL flights. Passengers have the added convenience of having their luggage checked through to their final destination, eliminating the need to retrieve it upon arrival in Brazil. GOL will honor Air France’s baggage allowance policy.

source: CNN

Air France-KLM is looking to buy a 49 pct stake in Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA, while potential Spanish partners Juan Abello’s Torreal investment vehicle and the Lara family’s Grupo Planeta would take the remaining 51 pct, Expansion reported, citing unnamed sector sources close to the process.

Air France plans to operate the Spanish flagship as an individual airline, while looking for as many synergies as possible with the French-Dutch air carriers.

source: hemscott.com

Air France is showing its passengers satellite views of the countries, cities and terrain they are flying over, thanks to a new partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).The French airline receives satellite images of varying resolutions from ESA on CD-ROMs and uses them to create a program lasting the full length of each flight on its services from Paris to Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Singapore.

source: MSNBC

Air France KLM said it is looking at the possibility of a tie-up with Spanish airline Iberia, which is already a takeover target.

Air France KLM could team up with private equity company Apax in a consortium that was ready to bid 3.8 billion euros ($5.24 billion) for Iberia.

Air France KLM, the world’s biggest airline in terms of revenue, repeated it intended to play an active role in the consolidation of the airline industry.
source: Reuters

Air France–KLM said yesterday it would raise its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights due to the rise in oil prices.

The airline said Air France would increase its fuel surcharge by five euros. The rise would not apply to short-haul and medium-haul flights.

“‘Valid on tickets issued in France as from May 3, 2007, this increase will be withdrawn as soon as the price of the barrel drops below $65 for 30 consecutive days,”‘ the airline said in a statement.

Air France announced this week that its daily non-stop flight service to Seattle will commence as of June, 11, 2007.  The route will be serviced by the Airbus A330-200, which offers 219 seats, and will be equipped with the New Travel Concept.

The airline asserts that the service will best suit business and leisure customers, allowing for fast transits to and from cities in Europe and worldwide.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will renew many aspects of its inflight catering product. The changes will affect KLM’s World Business Class and intercontinental Economy Class, as well as KLM Europe Select aboard KLM and KLM cityhopper flights.

source: AsiaTravelTips.com

Air France-KLM today unveils its low-cost airline that it hopes will help it compete with the likes of EasyJet and Ryanair. The new company, provisionally called “‘Air France Soleil'”, will focus on destinations that Air France does not traditionally reach, such as North Africa, and certain destinations in Spain and Italy.

source: paris link

Air France-KLM Chief Executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said Thursday the airline recently began talks with Alitalia SpA that may lead to the opening of merger discussions.

Spinetta said merger talks will go ahead on three conditions: a confirmation of Alitalia’s financial turnaround, the assurance that both companies share a strategic vision and the determination of potential synergies from a merger.

source: MSN