Originally Posted by
SDQBound
Maybe out of topic but the other fleet threads have not been active for a long time now.
Has anyone noticed the unusual equipment swap in the CDG-JFK route? AF22 in March will be an A340, which I have not seen in this route for a long time. Then, starting in April until the end of the summer, there will be 2 A380 flights (the usual AF6 and then AF10).
Originally Posted by
Mirk
Yep, I noticed the A340 and the 2 A380 too.
The difference of interior between the usual A330 and the A340 isn't huge as far as I can tell, similar configuration only a difference in J number of seats mostly.
The 2 A380 on the other hand seems like an interesting move. I will keep an eye on the loads to see if it's because they don't know where to use the A380 or if it's because there's a real need.
I think AF022/023 is currently served by an A332. So the A340 is just an upgauge for the Y cabin at a more busy period and the A332/343 have a common cockpit, so the same pilots at AF can fly both types indifferently.
For the 2 A388, yes this was announced by AF in december. And I believe the reason might be a combination of the 2 you mentioned (no better use elsewhere and traffic to JFK potentially justifying the mega jumbo). But the pity for such a premium route is to have potentially a vastly inferior J product with NEV3 or 4.