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Air France Asie

Air France Asie was a subsidiary of Air France estabilished because the political status of Taiwan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its territory disputes with the People's Republic of China to allow Air France to continue flying from France to Taiwan. It became the main carrier operating from France to Taipei after Air Charter (an Air France subsidiary) stopped flying in 1998.

History

Main period (1994–2004)

Owing to the Taiwan (also known as Republic of China) disputed status, Air France could not operate flights to the island under its own name. In 1993, its subsidiary Air Charter, began operating flights between Paris and Taipei via Hong Kong. In early 1994 Air France Asie started a route from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Taipei, often stopping in Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport (until it closed on 6 July 1998).[1] It also operated flights from Paris to Osaka via Hong Kong.[2] Operations debuted with 747-400Ms, and later with Airbus A340-200s, both types made available by Air France. In March 2004, due to the merger of KLM that year, Air France Asie stopped passenger services focusing on freight. Air France did not resume own passenger services with Boeing 777-300ER to Taipei until April 2018; by then, services were operated by Air France under its own name.[3]

Freight service (2004–2007)

After passenger services stopped in 2004, the remaining fleet of Boeing 747-200Fs continued flying freight between Paris and Taipei although it was halted in 2007 possibly due to the changed relations between People's Republic of China, France and Taiwan.

Destinations

Asia

  • 🇭🇰/🇭🇰
  • Kai Tak Airport (Focus city; 1994–1998)
  • Chek Lap Kok Airport (Focus city; 1998–2007)
  • 🇯🇵
  • Osaka – Itami Airport (before the opening of Kansai Airport in 1994; never operated at Kansai)
  • Taipei – Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (Focus city)

Europe

  • 🇫🇷
  • Paris – Charles de Gaulle Airport (Focus city)

Fleet and livery

The livery of Air France Asie differed from that of Air France by having blue and white stripes on the tailfin, rather than blue, white and red ones, representing the French Tricolour. Air France Asie used two Airbus A340-200 aircraft, F-GLZD and F-GLZE, as well as two Combi (for passengers and freight) Boeing 747-428Ms, F-GISA and F-GISC. Similarly, Air France Cargo Asie used a 747-200 Combi, F-GCBH, or the all-cargo (F-GCBL, F-GPAN and F-GBOX).

References

  1. FRANCE'S TAIWAN POLICY sciencespo.fr/ceri/sites/sciencespo.fr.ceri/files/jpcabest.pdf, June 2001^
  2. Photography of Air France Asie Airliners.net, retrieved 2019-04-23^
  3. Air France launches its Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Taipei service corporate.airfrance.com, retrieved 2019-04-23^
  4. Harro Ranter. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-2B3F (SCD) F-GPAN Chennai Airport (MAA) aviation-safety.net, retrieved 2019-04-23^