Air France formally launched a new thrice-weekly direct service between Manila and Paris last 8th December.

This is the first time that Air France has had a direct route to the Philippine capital in two decades.

To launch the revived route, Philippine transportation secretary Jaime J Bautista, tourism secretary Christina Frasco joined French ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel and Air France-KLM general manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania Femke Kroese at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to send off the first flight.

Travellers arriving and departing on the new route were greeted at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport with floral garlands whilst being serenaded with traditional Filipino festival music.

Kroese said of the airline’s return into Philippine airspace: “We are extremely proud of this new Air France service operating non-stop between Manila and Paris, three times weekly. Together with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Air France-KLM group is the only European carrier with a daily service between Manila, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam-Schiphol.”