Looking to beat the winter blues and travel abroad? Find out more information about new airline routes between the US, France, and other countries here.
Keen travelers who want to escape the winter blues will be pleased to know that over the course of the next few months, there will be an increase in flights between the United States, Europe, and plenty of new and exotic destinations.
Travelers can fly via popular routes, such as New York, Miami, or Los Angeles to Paris, France, as well as updated connections to fan favorites like Milan, Saint Martin, Zanzibar, or Muscat.
Travelers who want to travel to these exciting destinations should make sure to read up on the latest France visa requirements for US citizens, as the majority of Air France flights are routed through the company’s Paris hub.
Here’s what you can expect for this winter:
US Lifts Travel Ban: Increased Flights to the United States
The United States recently announced that it will be lifting travel restrictions on vaccinated citizens from more than 30 countries, including those from the European Union, Brazil, China, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, among others.
After news broke, airlines scrambled to take advantage of the new rules by resuming old routes and increasing capacity to popular US-based destinations.
For example, Air France will add more flights to its 11 United States hubs like New York’s JFK airport, as well as Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Detroit, Houston, San Francisco, and more. This means that there will be approximately 100 flights per week that fly between the States and Air France’s global hub in Paris, France.
Air France noted that these changes will return the company’s capacity back to 90% of what it was in 2019, before the pandemic took place in 2020 and grounded most of its fleet.
Airbus A220 Opens Up New Opportunities in Europe Routes
After the pandemic, the way people travel has drastically changed.
According to an Ipsos report, around 94% of those who planned to travel in summer 2020 chose a destination that was near their mainland (i.e. a European country for Europeans, an American country for Americans, etc.)
To address this new normal, many airlines are taking notice and adding new short- and medium-haul routes to their roster.
Air France has recently purchased 60 new Airbus A220 aircraft, which will join the airline’s fleet of 136 currently operating Airbus airplanes. This new aircraft, which is a step up in the company’s economic and environmental performance, will start operating at the beginning of November.
Air France will use the new 220s to continue diversifying its short and medium-haul network to classic favorites like Berlin (Germany); Madrid and Barcelona (Spain); Milan, Venice, Rome (Italy); as well as to two new routes, Tenerife (Spain) and Rovaniemi (Finland).
Enjoy Winter in Paradise With New Routes
Those who want to escape the winter blues and travel to a new country can take advantage of Air France’s brand new routes.
The company announced that it will add four new destinations to its network. They include Zanzibar, an island in Tanzania famed for its blue water and old town; Colombo, a fast-paced and eclectic port city in Sri Lanka; Muscat, the capital of Oman; and Banjul, a lively city in Gambia.
In addition to these new destinations, Air France will also resume a handful of flights to destinations that have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. A majority of them, including Brazil, the Seychelles, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Mauritius, offer fantastic weather and are the perfect place to enjoy winter.
Traveling During the Pandemic: Airlines Offer Increased Flexibility & Safety
Although there are many routes that have been added or revised, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: airlines’ flexible cancellation policy.
After the pandemic hit and borders closed, thousands of would-be travelers were scrambling to change or cancel their tickets to destinations that were effectively shut down overnight. In light of the situation, many airlines have started to offer flexible policies for their tickets.
For example, Air France is currently offering tickets that can be fully modified until March 31st, 2022. This policy means that travelers can change their tickets free of charge, or opt to receive a credit voucher for a future flight if they cannot take the current one.
On a similar note, US-based Delta Airlines, which has 14 flights between the United States and France, has a policy where all of their flights are modifiable up to 24 hours before departure. However, the traveler must pay the difference in price between their previous ticket and the new ticket.
To improve the health, safety, and convenience of all travelers, Air France has also launched their Ready To Fly program. This allows travelers to check and make sure that they have all of the required health documents (such as a negative PCR test or vaccination certificate) before they travel. Thanks to the program, travelers can enjoy a stress-free vacation while the airline can cut back considerable wait times at check-in.