AF/KL to ground almost entire fleet for next 2 months
Mar 16, 2020, 2:34 am
#1
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AF/KL to ground almost entire fleet for next 2 months
Dutch broadcaster NOS is reporting that AF/KL will be grounding almost its entire fleet for the next two months, expecting a 70 to 90% reduction in passenger traffic: https://nos.nl/artikel/2327248-air-f...ronavirus.html
Edit: Not as bad as reported. From the actual press release:
Source: https://www.airfranceklm.com/sites/d..._crisis_ve.pdf
Edit: Not as bad as reported. From the actual press release:
Faced with these growing restrictions on the possibility of travelling and a strong downward trend in demand which has resulted in a drop in traffic and sales over the last few weeks, the Air France-KLM Group is obliged to gradually reduce its flight activity very significantly over the next few days, with the number of available seat kilometers (ASK) potentially decreasing between -70% and -90%. This reduction in capacity is currently scheduled to last two months, and the Group will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation on a daily basis andadjust it if necessary. As a result of this reduction in capacity, Air France will ground its entire Airbus 380 fleet and KLM its entire Boeing 747 fleet.
Mar 18, 2020, 12:24 am
#4
Join Date: May 2004
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Hum...so my LAX-CDG-DUB flight on a 777 on April 7 is likely to get cancelled?? So bummed but when we book on Air Chance, we always know there's only a chance we'd fly the flight...just didn't think it would be a non-labor issue!
Mar 18, 2020, 1:25 am
#5
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Mar 18, 2020, 4:51 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: BA, LH, AF, TK
Posts: 213
Latest email from AF for a reservation next week:
Due to the evolution of the coronavirus (covid-19) situation, many countries around the world are deciding to implement restrictive entry measures throughout their territory on very short notice.
As of 23 March, we will cancel almost all of our flight schedule. The maintenance of some services for reasons of territorial continuity or repatriation of our compatriots is under consideration but remains dependent on new traffic restrictions to come.
If you are currently far from your home, we therefore invite you to anticipate your return trip now by contacting your usual point of sale or via our website.
As of 23 March, we will cancel almost all of our flight schedule. The maintenance of some services for reasons of territorial continuity or repatriation of our compatriots is under consideration but remains dependent on new traffic restrictions to come.
If you are currently far from your home, we therefore invite you to anticipate your return trip now by contacting your usual point of sale or via our website.
Mar 18, 2020, 4:56 am
#7
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Unless you are an EU citizen or resident (or fall inside a small group of exempted travellers), you would not have been permitted entry to the EU anyway. In which case you may wish to take this up with your travel agent to see if you get a refund (or wait until AF probably cancels the flight.)
Mar 18, 2020, 4:49 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Classic 'Air Chance', bending to silly and trivial things like border closures and global pandemics. When will they finally grow a spine and just work? Tsk tsk.
Mar 18, 2020, 8:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Zanzibar
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 1,319
For all the things bad normally.....
But for now, give AF/KL a break. They are really trying!
They are actually still managing Executing flights far more then other airlines.
I have a lot of people who we are trying to get home and I am amazed how much capacity KLM actually still has compared to other airlines.
if all is well we will be all home by Sunday latest.
But for now, give AF/KL a break. They are really trying!
They are actually still managing Executing flights far more then other airlines.
I have a lot of people who we are trying to get home and I am amazed how much capacity KLM actually still has compared to other airlines.
if all is well we will be all home by Sunday latest.
Mar 19, 2020, 7:51 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
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For European flights at least, AF has published full Y and full J promo fares at much more affordable levels than the usual Y and J level fares. I guess it is done to make sure that those who need those flights don't pay crazy amounts because of automated revenue management algorithm keeping only full Y and J booking classes available for purchase. Example CDG OTP YPRWFR at 268 EUR+tax (723 EUR normally) and JPRWFR at 451 EUR+tax (1234 EUR normally). Not cheap but not expensive either. Kudos to AF!
Mar 19, 2020, 7:56 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2011
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For European flights at least, AF has published full Y and full J promo fares at much more affordable levels than the usual Y and J level fares. I guess it is done to make sure that those who need those flights don't pay crazy amounts because of automated revenue management algorithm keeping only full Y and J booking classes available for purchase. Example CDG OTP YPRWFR at 268 EUR+tax (723 EUR normally) and JPRWFR at 451 EUR+tax (1234 EUR normally). Not cheap but not expensive either. Kudos to AF!
Si vous ętes en possession d'un billet pour un vol effectué par Air France, nous vous conseillons d'anticiper votre retour en Europe au plus vite, en modifiant vous-męme votre réservation en ligne, dans la rubrique « Mes Réservations » de notre site ou de l'application mobile. Vous avez aussi la possibilité de contacter votre point de vente.
Si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez également acheter un nouveau billet ŕ un tarif spécial. Vous pourrez, par la suite, annuler votre vol initial et obtenir un avoir non remboursable valable 1 an sur l’ensemble des vols Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines et Virgin Atlantic.
Si vous n'avez pas de billet pour un vol effectué par Air France, vous pouvez acheter un billet sur notre site ou auprčs d'un point de vente Air France, et bénéficier de nos tarifs spéciaux.
Si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez également acheter un nouveau billet ŕ un tarif spécial. Vous pourrez, par la suite, annuler votre vol initial et obtenir un avoir non remboursable valable 1 an sur l’ensemble des vols Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines et Virgin Atlantic.
Si vous n'avez pas de billet pour un vol effectué par Air France, vous pouvez acheter un billet sur notre site ou auprčs d'un point de vente Air France, et bénéficier de nos tarifs spéciaux.
Honestly I agree, i think AF/KLM is handling this to the best of their ability and I'm happy they'd refund near term tickets without charges. My mother was supposed to visit me next month from the US on TAP Portugal, she had a helluva time contacting them just to find out they would only reschedule. Doesn't help when one doesn't know how long this pandemic will last.
Mar 19, 2020, 3:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Somewhere between AMS and ANR
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, United Platinum Premier, AF/KLM Platinum
Posts: 266
For all the things bad normally.....
But for now, give AF/KL a break. They are really trying!
They are actually still managing Executing flights far more then other airlines.
I have a lot of people who we are trying to get home and I am amazed how much capacity KLM actually still has compared to other airlines.
if all is well we will be all home by Sunday latest.
But for now, give AF/KL a break. They are really trying!
They are actually still managing Executing flights far more then other airlines.
I have a lot of people who we are trying to get home and I am amazed how much capacity KLM actually still has compared to other airlines.
if all is well we will be all home by Sunday latest.
Mar 19, 2020, 4:23 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 317
We received this notice today but our flight is May 25th from Paris to Berlin. I have not done anything about cancelling reservations in hotels or flight. Still holding out hope. I just thought they have enough to deal with right now without asking AF. Am I right or wrong?
Mar 19, 2020, 7:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Zanzibar
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 1,319
We received this notice today but our flight is May 25th from Paris to Berlin. I have not done anything about cancelling reservations in hotels or flight. Still holding out hope. I just thought they have enough to deal with right now without asking AF. Am I right or wrong?
as it is may.. you should just wait and see what happens.
Mar 20, 2020, 3:35 am
#15
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We received this notice today but our flight is May 25th from Paris to Berlin. I have not done anything about cancelling reservations in hotels or flight. Still holding out hope. I just thought they have enough to deal with right now without asking AF. Am I right or wrong?