French carrier Air France announced plans to expand its Nairobi-Paris route with additional flights starting April 2019, marking a key step in its African market strategy.
The airline will operate five weekly flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport, using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with 276 passenger capacity. Flights will run daily except Tuesdays and Saturdays.
This expansion follows Air France's 2018 resumption of Kenya services after an 18-year gap. The carrier now operates 12 weekly flights on the route through a joint venture with Kenya Airways, which reported increased bookings after the service revival.
Arthur Dieffenthaler, Air France's eastern Africa general manager, cited growing trade and tourism between Kenya and France as drivers of the expansion. The airline highlighted its 2018 partnership with Kenya Airways as instrumental in boosting regional connectivity.
Kenya's tourism sector reported 2.02 million arrivals in 2018, a 37.33% increase from 2017, underscoring the route's economic significance.
