Air France look back at IFTM Top Resa 2024, the must-attend event for the tourism industry
After a summer marked by the excitement of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Air France teams attended the IFTM Top Resa trade fair for three days packed with announcements, conferences, and meetings with tourism professionals.
The 45th edition of this key event for the tourism industry was an opportunity for the company to connect with its partners and customers. More than 200 contacts with existing and prospective customers (travel agencies, corporate, and tourist office partners) were established by the sales teams present at the show. The airline also promoted its Bluebiz product, the Air France and KLM business travel solution for companies.
Air France also unveiled its latest products and innovations and met with young professionals interested in a career in the sector.
Let’s look back at the highlights of this year’s event, which was held in Paris from September 17 to 19.
New agreements and a reinforced network for the winter season
Henri Hourcade, Senior Vice President France at Air France-KLM, inaugurated the Group’s stand, which attracted more than 2,000 visitors, and presented the major new features of the Air France winter schedule.
For the 2024-2025 winter season, Air France will serve nearly 170 destinations in 73 countries, including 5 new destinations: Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Manila (Philippines), Malé (Maldives) and Kiruna (Sweden). The three weekly flights to Manila, taken together with KLM’s four flights a week, make Air France-KLM the only airline group in the world with daily service to the Philippines. Henri Hourcade also highlighted the strengthening of the Air France network in North America, in particular the extension of service to Denver and Phoenix in the United States into the winter season.
During the event, Air France also signed a new interline commercial cooperation agreement with Madagascar Airlines to strengthen service between the two countries, starting October 1, 2024. This agreement follows another recently signed commercial partnership between Air France-KLM and SAS which, since September 1, 2024, grants Air France and KLM customers privileged access to 33 new destinations in Northern Europe.
The company’s France Sales Department also signed a number of marketing partnership agreements with tourist offices to drive sales to new destinations, including Madagascar, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Réunion, Martinique and French Guiana.
Air France pursues its strategy of moving upmarket
In addition to the new flight schedule updates, Fabien Pelous, Air France’s Director of Customer Experience, also announced the new positioning of its Premium class of travel experience. “Premium Economy” is now simply called “Premium”, highlighting the uniqueness of traveling in this spacious, private, and comfortable cabin. The airline presented its new recliner seat equipped with a 4K screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and an enhanced in-flight entertainment offer. Customers can also take advantage of a redesigned catering menu, with dishes created by a Michelin-starred chef using local, seasonal produce.
The airline also announced that, by the end of the yearn, it will introduce its completely redesigned La Première cabin, the longest on the market with five windows. Since last July, Air France customers traveling in the La Première cabin have been able to enjoy an exceptional new ground service at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
At this year’s IFTM, an unprecedented number of Air France-KLM representatives participated in round tables and conferences on a variety of subjects: Florence Estra, Director Paris 2024, on the assessment and legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Hervé Kozar, Director Sales Agencies France, in conversation with the agency Amplitudes on NDC; Vincent Audusseau, Head of Strategic Accounts Air France, on the “Business Barometer”, Frédéric Descours, Sales Director France, on “What’s new for sale”; Guilhem Mallet, Corporate Sales Director France, on “Who is responsible for content accessibility”; Aude Gaillard, Global Process Owner – Passengers with Disabilities, on “More inclusive and accessible travel is possible”; Maxime Quilles, Sustainability Manager, on “Not all flights are created equal!”; and Emmanuel Latapy, Head of Data Management, on “How data can reduce pain points in the customer journey”.
At the Air France-KLM stand, which drew a record number of visitors, the three days of the show were punctuated by “tasting moments” where Air France, KLM, Transavia and Delta Air Lines presented the gastronomy served on board as well as their sales and flight schedule innovations.
Exchanges with (future) young professionals
At this eagerly awaited annual event for specialized tourism schools, both professors and students showed up in large numbers to learn more about opportunities at Air France. As an emblematic player in the sector, the airline regularly ranks among the most attractive companies according to young people. And for the second year running, Air France’s Employer Brand, School Relations and Recruitment teams were on hand to meet with interested parties and answer their questions.
At an event on the theme of “Imagine your career in the airline industry”, Air France representatives met with over 200 students interested in the cabin crew and ground handling professions, and shared advice with them in anticipation of the company’s next recruitment sessions.
