Air France Asie

Air France Asie
IATA ICAO Call sign
AF AFR AIRFRANS
Founded1994 (1994)
Ceased operations
  • 27 March 2004 (2004-03-27)
    (passenger)
  • 2007 (2007)
    (Air France Cargo Asie)
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program
Alliance
SubsidiariesAir France Cargo Asie
Fleet size8 (including Air France Cargo Asie)
Parent companyAir France

Air France Asie was a subsidiary of Air France founded due to the legal status of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and territory disputes with the People's Republic of China in order to allow Air France to continue flying to Taiwan from France. It became the main carrier operating from France to Taipei after Air Charter (another company operated by Air France) stopped flying in 1998.

History

Main period (1994–2004)

F-GLZD (Airbus A340-211) in the Asie livery, the usual red strip part of the French tricolour is replaced by a blue strip the same colour as the other blue lines.
F-GLZD (Airbus A340-211) in the Asie livery, the usual red strip part of the French tricolour is replaced by a blue strip the same colour as the other blue lines.

Owing to the disputed status of Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China), Air France could not operate flights to the island under its own name. In 1993, its subsidiary, Air Charter, began operating flights between Paris and Taipei via Hong Kong. Air France Asie started provided services from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport to Taipei, often stopping in Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport (until it closed on 6 July 1998) as early as 1994.[1] It also operated flights from Paris to Osaka via Hong Kong.[2] Starting out with 747-400Ms, it later used Airbus A340-200s both from Air France.

In 2004, Air France Asie stopped flying to Taipei and ceased passenger services due to the merger of KLM that year, focusing vitally on freight. Air France did not resume passenger services to Taipei until April 2018 using the Boeing 777-300ER.[3]

Freight service (2004–2007)

Air France Cargo Asie 747-200 (F-GCBH).
Air France Cargo Asie 747-200 (F-GCBH)

After passenger services stopped in 2004, the remaining fleet of Boeing 747-200Fs continued flying freight between Paris and Taipei although it was later it cut in 2007 possibly due to the relations between Mainland China, France and Taiwan.[clarify]

Destinations

Asia

Europe

Fleet and livery

The livery of Air France Asie differed from that of Air France by having blue and white stripes on the tailfin, rather than blue, white and red ones, representing the French Tricolour. Air France Asie used two Airbus A340-200 aircraft, F-GLZD and F-GLZE, as well as two Combi (for passengers and freight) Boeing 747-428Ms, F-GISA and F-GISC. Similarly, Air France Cargo Asie used a 747-200 Combi, F-GCBH, or the all-cargo (F-GCBL, F-GPAN and F-GBOX). Air France Asie ceased operations in 2004 while Air France Cargo Asie ceased operations in 2007.

Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Replacement Notes
Airbus A340-200 2 1994 1997 None F-GLZD was later transferred to Air Tahiti Nui.[4]
Boeing 747-200B 1 1995 2003 None
Boeing 747-200F 3 1994 2006 None F-GPAN crashed in March 1999.[5]
Boeing 747-400M 2 1994 1995 Airbus A340-200 F-GISA was later converted into a cargo aircraft.

References

  1. ^ "FRANCE'S TAIWAN POLICY" (PDF). sciencespo.fr/ceri/sites/sciencespo.fr.ceri/files/jpcabest.pdf. June 2001.
  2. ^ "Photography of Air France Asie". Airliners.net. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  3. ^ "Air France launches its Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Taipei service | Air France - Corporate". corporate.airfrance.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  4. ^ "YV1004 Conviasa Airbus A340-200". planespotters.net. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  5. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-2B3F (SCD) F-GPAN Chennai Airport (MAA)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2019-04-23.