• Air France inaugurated the new non-stop service connecting Manila and Paris on December 8
• The new service operates three times weekly, enhancing connectivity between the Philippines and Europe
• Air France-KLM Group is the only European carrier with daily flights from Manila to Europe via Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol
Air France inaugurated the new non-stop service connecting Manila and Paris on December 8.
The new route, operating three times weekly, strengthens connectivity between the Philippines and Europe, providing travelers with a direct link to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
During a pre-departure ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Manila airport, key government and airline representatives underscored the significance of the new service, including Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who highlighted the route’s potential to boost tourism between the two nations.
Femke Kroese, Air France-KLM General Manager for South East Asia & Oceania in a statement said, “Together with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Air France-KLM group is the only European carrier with a daily service between Manila, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam-Schiphol.”
“In 2023, France was the Philippines’ 14th top source of tourists, with more than 61,000 French nationals visiting our country. We’re confident that those numbers will significantly increase,” said Bautista.
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel emphasized the deepening cultural and economic ties between France and the Philippines. “Seeing from my perspective as Ambassador, it’s a milestone in the strengthening of our bilateral relationship. We aim to increase our interactions, and we are already working on this,” she said.
The reintroduction of direct flights between Manila and Paris, announced in September, is set to position the Philippines as a key destination for European travelers, particularly from France, strengthening its appeal in the competitive European tourism market, Air France said.
The non-stop route reduces the 10,700-kilometer journey to just 14 to 15 hours.
As of December 5, 2024, France has emerged as the second-largest EU source market for Philippine tourism, with 55,267 French arrivals recorded this year. The resumption of direct flights is anticipated to further boost these numbers, aligning with the government’s efforts to attract more European visitors.
