Calchas

Is it still the case that leisure = Y and business = J?

I don't know about AF's revenue management but BA seems to think those are switching directions, particularly on the shorthaul routes.

LY777

AF today sends an A332 to TLV.
If I am not mistaken, this is the first time in years (or decades) that AF sends a widebody to TLV for a scheduled flight.
F-GZCH (A332) is currently flying to TLV.

I hope to see more AF widebodies flying to TLV instead of the A320s... AF used to send their A300s to TLV in 80s/90s IIRC

Goldorak

I didn't know that they resumed flights to TLV. Good news.
This being said, do not dream for permanent widebody service to TLV. They also had A332 service to TUN this summer on one flight. This is temporary.

LY777

yes they resumed flights to TLV a while ago, but only once daily though.
I know this is temporary unfortunately...

Sjondorn

Actually this has be wondering - both AF and KLM are flying CDG-SFO / AMS-SFO with 777s (AMS-SFO is usually flown with 787 on KLM side). You'd wonder why they don't use smaller aircraft because obviously the plane is exceptionally empty.

Goldorak

cargo ?

gkl

given the low cargo capacities I would assume that the belly of the B777 was completely full

LY777

Currently, all El Al planes are grounded and their is still demand between France and Israel.
This should explain why AF sent a widebody...

irishguy28

Given that it was a one-off substitution, it's far more likely that it was done for fleet management/crew hours reasons. Some airlines have had to resort to making their crews take off , looping around, and land again with empty planes just to keep their hours up. Better-run airlines can decide to combine competing needs in ways that involve operating aircraft bigger than necessary when it helps with other needs of the airline apart from accommodating passengers (which, as pax, we selfishly think is the only consideration that moves airlines)

If increased passenger demand was the reason, you would probably instead see larger aircraft routinely scheduled.

And although El Al may not yet be operating, there will soon be 3 other operators plying the route; ASL Airlines recommences with 2 weekly flights as of 17 September, while both Israir and Arkia already have a number of flights weekly.
Note that, for several days next week, AF is operating 2 daily services, and the double daily operation appears to return fully on September 15.

Transavia also operates a number of flights weekly from ORY.