For the first time since it stopped flying to Cape Town in 1999, Air France has relaunched a seasonal non-stop service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and the Mother City, promising to expand the service if it proves successful.

The first inaugural flight took place on November 3 and according to Air France KLM Senior VP Africa & the Middle East, Pierre Descazeaux, "The first flights were full and forward bookings for November and December were very good."

According to Tourism Update, the three weekly services will run from the end of October 2011 to the end of March 2012 - to cater for the seasonal summer upturn in traffic.

- Flight AF3014 arrives in Cape Town at 11h35 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

- Return flight, AF3017, departs on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays at 19h35.

The airline would re-evaluate the service next year to determine whether
to increase the number of flights or use larger aircraft. He said
80-85% load factors were needed to extend the service year-round. "We
currently achieve it on the Johannesburg route with Air France KLM and
we think we can do it here as well year-round."

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