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On April 30, French bee inaugurated at Orly line Paris-Los Angeles in Airbus A350-900his new route to the United States after New York opened in July 2021, San Francisco in 2018 (with possible extension of the trip to Papeete) and Punta Cana when it was created in 2016. The opening of Miami will follow next December. On this horizon, the company will also receive its second A350-1000, with greater capacity (480 passengers including 40 in Premium), which will be like the first positioned on the service of theReunion Island. After two difficult years marked by declines in activity of 50% in 2020 and 40% in 2021 (compared to 2019), the low-cost long courrier from the Vendée group Dubreuil regains altitude. ” After two years of pandemic, summer is that of a return to international travel for our customers. The lines to the USA are in high demand because the French have not been able to travel there since 2020. On Pape’etewhich we had not operated since March 2020 via the USA [remplacé par une escale à Vancouver durant la Pandémie], demand is higher than in 2019“, welcomes Sophie Hocquez, the commercial director of French bee. While the clientele is almost exclusively leisure in economy class, business passengers prefer the Premiummainly from PME-PMIof independent firmsof the liberal professions… In order to facilitate their pre-routing, French bee has Train + Air agreements with the SNCF up to the Massy TGV station, as well as with the companies Chalair, Amelia et Air Corsica connecting at Orly airport.
His young fleet of five A350s constitutes an advantage in the current period marked by soaring prices for fuels. Thanks to the performance of its new Rolls-Royce engines (Trent XWB for connoisseurs), its aerodynamics and the shape of its wings, this aircraft allows a 25% reduction in consumption compared to previous generation aircraft but also operating costs and carbon emissions. However, this advantage will not be sufficient for the air group that constitutes French bee with her big sister Air Caribbean returns to profitability in 2022, with kerosene accounting for a quarter of its costs. ” We have passed on part of the increase in fuel to our prices, but this does not represent all of the increase in costs that we are incurring“, adds Sophie Hocquez. A difference related to concurrence between carriers on the destinations served.
A solo trip for now
With Air Caraïbes and French bee representing 25% of its activity, the Dubreuil group possesses 17 planes which makes it a major player in the French skies today. An activity which he intends to continue to develop despite the failure of the merger with CGA-CGMthe Marseilles maritime carrier having preferred to take 9% ofAir France-KLM as part of its new capital increase. ” We can live without this deal“, however, told us a few months ago Marc Rochet, the general manager of Air Caraïbes/French bee, when questions were already emerging about the outcome of this partnership.
Business Travel tested the A350-900 on the Paris-Los Angeles routeFrench bee dessert The Angels from Paris-Orly with an average of three weekly flights (up to six this summer). Recent device,A350-900 possesses 411 seats dont 35 en Premium. Comfort is optimum, these seats offering a wide seat of 48 cm, a spacing of 92 cm with a foot and leg rest for its inclination, and an adjustable headrest. During the 11-hour flight, passengers in this class of travel receive attentive service marked by the distribution of a welcome drink (with champagne), hot towels, a hot meal and a snack. or breakfast depending on the direction of travel. To work, the passenger has PC and USB sockets and a wifi network optional available via four packages: $4 for 25MB, $9 for 50MB, $17 for 120MB and $29 for 250MB. It works quite well despite small connection cuts sometimes during the trip. In addition to an entertainment portal (with recent films, series, music, games, etc.) that can be used via the 30 cm touch screen integrated into the front seat, a Tablet is lent at the beginning of the flight to read the daily press, magazines and a selection of books. This Premium ticket is sold from €704 one way includingpriority check-in and boardingle skip the line for the passage through security at Orly, the choice of seatthem meal et two pieces of luggage 23kg in the hold. Possibility of access before take-off to the salon du terminal 4 at Orly (+€30). The ticket can be modified free of charge (with fare readjustment if the price of the new flight chosen is higher) and refundable against a penalty of €50 per flight. On the other hand, the offer is 100% à la carte in economy class with a “Basic” fare from €301 one-way including only cabin baggage to which the traveler can add various items by opting for the Basic Plus ticket (meals included) or the smart Smart fare (checked baggage and meals). |
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