All articles tagged with #air france
A Brazilian father whose son died in the 2009 Air France Flight 447 crash says justice remains elusive even after Airbus and Air France were found guilty, as families continue seeking accountability and memory for the 228 victims.
A Paris Court of Appeal has convicted Air France and Airbus of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 Rio‑Paris AF447 crash that killed 228 people, issuing €225,000 fines to each company and signaling accountability despite prior acquittals; both firms said they will appeal as families welcomed the ruling but noted no executives were charged.
A Paris appeals court found Air France and Airbus guilty of corporate manslaughter in connection with the 2009 AF447 crash that killed 228 people, imposing the maximum €225,000 fines on each company; the verdict closes a 17-year legal battle with families seeking recognition, while further appeals are anticipated and could prolong the case.
A Paris-to-Detroit Air France flight was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo boarded the plane in error, amid US entry restrictions for people who have recently been in the region. The diversion, confirmed by US CBP, was taken as a precaution to prevent entry into the United States, with passengers later remaining on the same aircraft to complete the journey. The ongoing Congo Ebola outbreak has prompted international health measures and travel screening.
France's Paris Court of Appeal convicted Airbus and Air France of manslaughter in the 2009 AF447 crash that killed 228 people, ruling them solely responsible and ordering €225,000 per passenger; the penalties are largely symbolic as both companies plan to appeal the 2023 acquittal.
France’s Paris Appeals Court has found Air France and Airbus solely responsible for the 2009 AF447 crash that killed 228 people, after an eight‑week trial, and ordered the maximum fines of €225,000 for each company; Airbus said it would appeal. The verdict follows a decade-long search for the wreckage and black boxes and marks a rare acknowledgment of accountability in a major aviation disaster.
Air France resumed its Dubai service after a brief suspension amid heightened US–Iran tensions, while KLM halted flights to several Middle East destinations and won’t fly through Iraqi or Iranian airspace as a US military buildup heads toward the Gulf; both airlines said they are monitoring the situation and will update schedules as needed.
Air France diverted flights away from Iran airspace due to heightened tensions, with one flight from Ho Chi Minh to Paris rerouted to Bangkok for refueling and expected to land in Paris four hours late.
Air France is set to launch nonstop service from Phoenix to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport starting May 23, with three weekly round trips during the summer months. The route is seen as a significant addition for Phoenix, which previously lacked nonstop options to Europe. The service will be operated using Air France's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering lie-flat seats in business class, premium economy, and economy. This new connection is expected to be a major win for the city, especially with the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has partnered with Air France to offer non-stop flights to Paris starting in May, just in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The service will operate three days per week through the summer, providing convenient travel options and unlocking new business opportunities for Phoenix.
Advertisements from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad have been banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading customers about the environmental impact of air travel. The ads, identified using artificial intelligence, made claims about sustainability and environmental commitment that could not be substantiated. The ASA ruled that the ads gave a misleading impression of the impact of air travel on the environment. This is the second time this year that Lufthansa and Etihad have violated UK marketing rules. Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, and despite industry efforts, it continues to be a significant source of greenhouse gases.
A pilot from Air France, Tom Gerbier, fell approximately 1,000 feet to his death while hiking Mount Whitney in California. The 38-year-old pilot was reported missing when he didn't return from his hike, and search teams discovered his body in an area called "The Notch." Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, has claimed multiple lives in recent years, and authorities advise that climbing it requires technical skills and experience. Air France expressed condolences to Gerbier's family and loved ones.
European carriers are experiencing disruptions and suspending flights across Africa as Niger's junta closes its airspace, defying a deadline set by the West African regional bloc. This closure adds to the existing geopolitical disruptions in African airspace, resulting in longer flight times and detours for commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa. Air France has suspended flights to Burkina Faso and Mali, while Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines anticipate flight times to be one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours longer for rerouted flights. British Airways apologized for the disruption and is working to minimize the impact on affected customers.
Air France has introduced a new business-class seat for its A350 fleet, featuring 48 seats laid out in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, sliding doors, plenty of storage space and automated window shades. However, the new seats will only be available on newly delivered A350s from Airbus, with the first set to be delivered and put into service in July. The new configuration holds a total of 292 passengers, compared to 324 passengers in the existing cabin, which could cause logistical issues in the event of equipment swaps.
France has officially banned domestic short-haul flights for journeys where train alternatives are in place in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The ban only applies to commercial flights and private jets are reportedly unaffected. To qualify for the ban, there must be a high-speed rail service between the start and end destinations that takes less than 2 1/2 hours. Critics claim that the 2 1/2-hour stipulations and a small number of affected routes make the ban largely symbolic.