Air France - Cloud of volcanic ash: latest news
19-Apr-2010 All the news about the cloud of ash:
- Statement by Pierre-Henri Gourgeon to the media
- Commercial measures
- Scheduled departures and arrivals
- Test flights
Statement by Pierre-Henri Gourgeon to the media
We can no longer continue managing the risk created by the Icelandic volcano in this manner.
In the absence of precise data on the density of any particles and without sufficient experience to assess the risks for aircraft engines, Air France is adopting a pragmatic approach based on test flights.
Our aim, which is the same as that of several other airlines and European countries, is to ascertain that there is no risk on certain routes by operating test flights and inspections on arrival that would allow a gradual resumption of traffic.
Today, several medium and long-haul flights are operating with no passengers on board - 7 have already taken place in France - which should validate air corridors to the south, to Amsterdam and elsewhere. Several dozen flights have been operated in Europe and no abnormalities were reported on any of them.
When the authorities involved in this experiment have acquired enough evidence, they will be able to decide to use these routes to transport passengers.
The situation is now extremely urgent. Millions of passengers are stranded all over the world.
In the past few days, more than 60,000 flights have been cancelled in Europe.
The European air transport industry, which has come to a complete standstill, is losing 150 million euros per day and today is the 5th day. Air France-KLM accounts for a quarter of these losses, i.e. 35 million euros.
500,000 direct employees, and three times as many staff employed indirectly, could very soon be temporarily laid off.
Air France's priority is to find immediate solutions for its passengers and its Cargo customers.
Today, 13 long-haul flights are heading to France where they will land at airports in the French provinces and 5 cargo flights will land at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Air France has scheduled 7 long-haul flights on departure from the French provinces, including 6 from Toulouse and one from Pau.
For tomorrow, Tuesday 20 April, Air France plans to increase this number to 17 long-haul flights and more if the air corridors become operational.
Air France and KLM are doing all they can and the crisis centres have been operational night and day since Thursday 15 April.
Commercial measures
How to postpone your trip or request a refund ?
preferably at the ticket office where the ticket was purchased
www.airfrance.com in the assistance and contact sections
by calling your country's call center or 36 54 (from France only / 0.34 euro cents per minute)
For passengers who have already arrived at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and who have a connecting flight, over 7,500 hotel rooms have been booked for 16 April. Meal vouchers are also available.
Air France airport and sales staff are available to inform passengers whose flights have been cancelled.
Transfer between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and French provincial airports
For customers who are interested in taking any of these flights, buses will leave Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Terminal 2E, Checking-in Counter 7) and take them to French provincial airports.
Customers should arrive one hour before the bus's scheduled departure.
Air France is doing all it can to help its customers arriving at French provincial airports return to Paris-Charles de Gaulle with the help of local bus companies.
Passenger information:
Passengers can consult updated information:
at www.airfrance.com, in the "schedules" and "flight information" sections,
by calling 3654 (34 euro cents per minute)
by texting their flight number to 6 3654 (e.g.: AF2062).
Scheduled departures and arrivals
Domestic flights from French provincial airports
Test flights
Five Air France test flights: no irregularity observed
On 18 April, in accordance with DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) procedure, Air France carried out five test flights with a view to obtaining information about the impact of the cloud of volcanic ash on aircraft operations.
Two of these flights were operated by Airbus A320 in South West France and three by Boeing 777, from Marseille and Toulouse to Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
No irregularity was observed with these five flights.
Other test flights are scheduled today, including one between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol by Airbus A320, and two from Marseille and Nice to Paris-Charles de Gaulle by Boeing 777.