Air France became the first European carrier to introduce flights to the Chinese city of Wuhan this week when it inaugurated a new three times weekly service to the city from its Paris CDG hub on April 11, 2012. The airline is using a Boeing 777-200ER on the route with seating for up to 309 passengers; 35 in Business, 24 in Premium Voyageur and 250 in the Voyageur/Economy cabin.

To mark the inauguration of this new service, Air France has launched a new corporate website specially designed for its Chinese customers. Available in simplified and traditional Chinese, this site provides information about Air France in Greater China and worldwide (news, strategy, network map, art of travel, etc.).

The French national carrier has been serving China for 45 years, inaugurating flights on the Paris – Shanghai route on September 20, 1966 when it became the first Western airline to fly to the People's Republic of China. The company and its Dutch partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are currently operating 92 flights per week to nine destinations in Greater China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan and Taipei) from either Amsterdam Schiphol or Paris CDG.

“Air France was the first European airline to serve mainland China 45 years ago. By operating the first non-stop flights between Wuhan and Europe, the Company intends to strengthen its position as European air transport leader on these routes and contribute to the economic development of this region,” said Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Air France.

In 2011, an estimated 7.5 million O&D passengers flew between Europe and China, up 14.3 per cent on the previous 12 month period. Air France currently has a 7.6 per cent share of this total O&D traffic, positioning it as the fourth largest operator in this market. However, when you also include the KLM traffic this share rises to 16.1 per cent and the second position behind Air China, which holds an 18.5 per cent share of the traffic.

Situated at the crossroads of central China and at equal distance from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Wuhan is a transportation hub for air, railway as well as ferry traffic. The capital of the Hubei province, with a population of 9 million inhabitants, Wuhan is an energetic city, a commercial centre of finance, industry (especially automotive), trade and science, with many international companies located there. It is home to a number of scientific, technological and educational institutions such as Laser City and the Wuhan University, and the city is also an intellectual centre.

There is an existing demand of around 41,000 O&D passengers between Europe and Wuhan, and Air France will hope to stimulate this market further with direct services. The strongest demand is from France, with an estimated 12,000 O&D passengers travelling between Paris CDG and Wuhan last year. Air France holds a less than one per cent share of this traffic with the majority of passengers flying with China Eastern via Shanghai, Air China via Beijing, Cathay Pacific Airways via Hong Kong or China Southern Airlines via Guangzhou.