Canadian market stronger than in 2019
IAN STALKER
Air France-KLM’s new general director of Canadian operations has arrived in this country at a promising time for his two carriers, which are benefitting from what he says is an eagerness among Canadians to travel the globe once again.
Jean-Eudes de La Breteche — a 13-year Air France-KLM veteran — arrived in Montreal in August from Paris, where he was Alliances Director Americas, which saw him primarily focusing on the coordinating the management of Air France-KLM’s transatlantic joint ventures with Delta and Virgin Atlantic, and negotiating commercial agreements between Air France-KLM and its partner airlines in the Americas, including WestJet and Aeromexico.
de La Bretche notes that both of his airlines have a weighty presence in this country’s skies, with Air France now serving Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City and Vancouver, while KLM’s network includes Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton .
A codeshare agreement with WestJet broadens Air France’s and KLM’s Canadian reach.
Air France will also begin linking Montreal and Guadeloupe in a winter program that begins in October.
de La Breteche says the Canadian market has rebounded strongly for the carriers, performing at “a little over 100%” over the pre-pandemic 2019 level.
“We really are in a good position. We see there’s a real eagerness to travel,” he says, adding there has been two years of “constraints on travel” as governments worked to contain Covid.
“We are happy to see our passengers come back.”
Nevertheless, de La Breteche acknowledges that the aviation industry still faces obstacles, such as the high cost of aviation fuel. “We’re still confident but very vigilant.”
de La Breteche’s work is made somewhat easy by him overseeing the Canadian operations of two airlines that are well-known in this country — with KLM marking its first century in 2019 and Air France celebrating its 90th anniversary next year, and the carriers being based in countries that are well-known and liked by Canadians.
Air France works closely with French tourist board Atout France.
de La Breteche says those travelling with Air France will travel with an unmistakably French carrier.
“Our promise is that when you step on board you’re already in France,” he says, noting such features as French food being available, French movies can be seen and all passengers will be served Champagne, something that he says is unique among airlines. The passengers receive actual Champagne, rather than sparkling wine.
The airline has a new promotional video called Taking Elegance to New Heights, which shows a woman wearing a red dress with an extremely long train scaling the lofty Eiffel Tower
Those travelling with KLM can expect to find Dutch cheese offered, Delft plates and Business Class passengers will be given miniature Dutch-style houses that contain gin.
October will see KLM offering Premium Comfort service — which is equivalent to Air France’s Premium Economy — on its Toronto route, part of an ongoing rollout of that service.
de La Breteche says both KLM and Air France are committed to working with travel agents and admire them for their perseverance during the pandemic.
He also praised them for environmental initiatives, noting that Air France is committed to seeing its carbon emissions being 30% lower per passenger kilometre by 2030 than they were in 2019. The airline has committed itself to a number of steps to make its operation greener, including renewing its fleet by adding more fuel-efficient aircraft, developing more sustainable aviation fuel and the generalization of eco-piloting.
The airline plans to eliminate carbon emissions entirely by 2050.
“It really will be a massive game-changer,” he says of the steps being taken.
