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Next June is likely to mark a new chapter in the development of French national carrier Air France. The opening of a new satellite at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport with an additional capacity of 7.8 million passengers will dramatically improve Air France’s competitive image. But this is not the only positive aspect. As Alexandre de Juniac, CEO and Chairman of Air France-KLM explained at an official presentation, the new satellite will provide Air France with the right instrument to implement its new strategic plan “Transform 2015”. The plan is due to help the carrier –it is said that Air France currently loses over a million Euro per day- lowering its costs by 20%. The Satellite S4 is part of a project named “HUB 2012”. It will contribute to Air France’s financial improvement in the way that it will help to concentrate the airline’s offer in only three terminals : 2E for long-haul and non-Schengen traffic, 2F for Schengen traffic and terminal 2G for regional flights. The three air terminals will then provide room for a total of 42 million passengers.
By moving its hub eastwards, Air France will then be able to offer 90% of its long-haul flights and over 80% of short-haul flights in contact to terminals. “This represents a ten-point improvement over previous standard. This percentage will be on pair with the most efficient hubs in the United States”, said Alexandre de Juniac. The S4 will be able to accommodate simultaneously 16 large aircraft including seven Airbus A380. Redesigned taxiways will also help shorten distances to the runway for aircraft.
CDG is currently Europe’s largest gateway offering over 25,000 connection opportunities within two hours times. “This is more than twice the size of our next competitor in Frankfurt and four to five times more than our competitor in London Heathrow,” told Air France CEO.
Redesigning CDG hub is of extreme importance to help Air France winning the hub battle in Europe, according to Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aeroports de Paris. “Total investments for the new terminal reached Euro 580 million and will provide unsurpassed comfort to world travellers. We especially look at all the possible details to give to the passengers the best services at an airport,” he explained. Thanks to new EU rules, transfer times will be reduced on average by 10 minutes as passengers coming from the Schengen area and in transit will not have to pass again controls to access a long haul or another Schengen flight.
Both ADP and Air France worked also on services. The new terminal with 100,000 m2 of surface will also be an innovative hub. It will integrate a shopping mall designed after Paris’ most famous fashion and design streets with 6,000 m2 of shops and food outlets. A transit hotel with 80 rooms will be available for transfer passengers spending more than three hours in the terminal, offering also a spa and wellness area as well as a dining area. S4 will also have Air France’s largest lounge to date with a surface of over 3,000 m2. It will integrate a new culinary experience, a working area and numerous spaces for relaxing in a nature-inspired environment.
Security and immigration will be centralized in each terminal helping to speed up the procedure while information will be provided through various sources such as multilingual agents, android phones or large interactive tactile screens. A new ADP application -My Way Aeroports de Paris- will help passengers to locate themselves in the giant structure. Children lounges, music zones, play stations terminals, dedicated areas for Premium passengers will be part of the experience.
Last but not least, Aeroports de Paris first-ever museum will also open its door. “It is a fully dedicated 220 m2 specially designed from day one to welcome exhibitions. It will be free of charge to any passenger and will receive works from some of Paris’ most famous museums,” highlighted Francois Rubichon, ADP Deputy CEO.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
