Air France has announced that it will be launching new direct flights from the United States to the French Caribbean.
The direct flights will be from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Guadeloupe and are expected to begin on November 21.
“This new service is in line with the Group’s offensive strategy,” the company said in a release. “As part of its Trust Together corporate project, the expansion of the fleet combined with a more intensive use of its aircraft makes it possible to offer new routes.”
The flights will depart Pointe a Pitre on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with flights from Atlanta to Guadeloupe on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Customers who want to continue from Pointe a Pitre to Fort de France, Martinique can do so on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Travelers can also fly from Martinique and French Guiana to Atlanta as a continuation of the Pointe a Pitre service on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
This could be good news for Dominicans who want to avoid the San Juan hub when traveling to the island. A ferry service and a number of flights serve Dominica from the French islands.
This is a wake up call to build an International Airport !! Think about the revenue gain from such an opportunity.
Why do we have to turn every event into political controversy ? Why don’t we look at this as a business opportunity. Air France already have direct flights from Europe, now they announce direct flights (to the French Caribbean) from the USA. So why don’t we find ways to exploit this situation.
When negotiations to expand relations with the Francaphone countries in general and France in particular in the mid 70’s, it was decided to tap into Air France air travel to improve visits to Dominica. Air Guadeloupe and Air Martinique was operational to ferry travelers to and from Dominica.
We need to organize air travel business to take advantage of the situation.
So thanks DNO that is good news, it is left to us to use it, before others do so.
Mr Tonge should start negotiations a s a p.
Because it is a jack idea. That’s why. These flights are not landing in Dominica. They’re landing somewhere else, leaving Dominicans and other visitors with the hassle to find connecting ferrys or flights and suffer the indignity of being constantly overcharged, because we are a captive market with no alternatives. How dumb are our people.
Right now American Airlines is doing about the same thing. You fly to ATL to SJU and then take Seaborne to DOM. Still that’s two stops which I hate because I have young children.
I prefer to fly direct from Atlanta to Guadeloupe with Air France any time. You don’t have that transfer hassle in San Juan, transfer at Gudeloupe much smoother and the French plane much more comfortable and faster than that narrow old Seaborne Saab Propeller thing.
It really doesn’t matter what happens in the neighboring French Islands, Dominican travelers will still get hosed. Imagine that you’re providing connecting transportation to Dominicans and you’re one of a few such providers. You can raise prices whenever you feel like, because you have little or no competition and your customers are captive. American Airlines did it to us and Seaborne is also doing it. Until we have an airport that can accommodate a medium body jet, we will continue going through the same crap year after year. What ever happened to the plan to build a new road through Caholm, thus shortening the trip to the Eastern part of the island? Yet another empty Labor promise.
This should be good news for Dominicans and other visitors who wish to visit D/ca. If the Norwegian Air Lines will be flying to the French islands, when booking your passage you have a choice to fly with the most convenient one when you plan to travel to Dominica. It is good to have a choice to compare fares.
This will not solve our problem. It’s going to be more costly and time consuming especially to the people who live in other states. Let’s not even talk about buying a ticket on another airline to connect in Atlanta and get delayed because of weather. You are now responsible for you accommodation and rebooking on a flight a few days later.
Should that be a reason to deny this opportunity to those living in the Atlanta catchment area?
We too damn chupid in Dominica. How does that help those who live on the Eastern or Western United States? So I first fly to Atlanta, then Guadeloupe and then take a ferry to Dominica. Let’s keep clapping like the fools that we are. Hip, Hip Hooray.
This announcement by air France should help us understand the lies of Mr. Tonge yesterday about his government talking to Newegian Airline to help us in Dominica, because if anything, this is air France way of letting Nowegian airline know that they are going to compete with them until they get rid of them. So sorry DNO, this is not good news for us and nothing will be good news for us UNTIL we are able to attract airline companies that are ready to compete to fly to Dominica, the country that ONLY CROOKS AND CRIMINALS that are hiding from justice will want to come to,
Nonsense.
– Norwegian operates between New York and Fort Lauderdale and Guadeloupe and Martinique., whereas AirFrance operates between Atlanta and Gudeloupe only.
– Norwegian operates a different time- and frequency schedule from AiFrance.
– Norwegain fares are substantially lower than those of AirFrance.
– Norwegian is a budget airline, whereas AirFrance is not.
In other words, there is no competition between AiFranca and Norwegian on the Atlanta-Guadeloupe.
Please note, the aircraft shown in the caption is an Airbus A380 (double decker) and not the type used by AirFrance on this new Atlanta-Guadeloupe raoute, which is a Boeing 777.
route.
@ Malatete …Thanks for your informed posting. Boeing 777 cannot land in Dominica, so what would be the biggest size plane that can be accommodated at the Douglas\ Charles Airport.
Since you ask operational limits are dictated by min, runway length requirements at maximum take-off weight (mtow). Runway length at Melville Hall is 5761 ft. and Western-built commercial passenger jet aircraft (not propeller driven turboprops ) that could operate from there would be:
-Embraer (Brasil) E-170 max. pass. 78
-Bombardier (Canada) CS100 max pass.133
-Fokker 100 (Holland) max 122 pass. (no longer built)
and, at a pinch ( less than full max. load)
– Boeing (USA) 737 100 & 200 max, pass 130. I have seen this type of aircraft operating out of
Melville Hall. However, these are the older, less popular versions of this best selling airplane.
– Airbus (France/EU)A318 (and possibly A319) max pass. 150 (FAA). Again this is the least popular version of this successful aircraft, airlines generally preferring the A320 or A321 version
with more seating capacity.
So you see, runway length at the existing airport is the real limiting factor., as is the topography of course
You are really the fake news. Nothing stated will ever please you. Change this negative manner of thinking and commenting.
What do you mean Mr. Tonge told lies? Are you in his head? It is not fair to him. Cease your judgmental attitude.
If Air France hears another airline is trying to get business in that area, it will do its utmost to compete with another airline. This is business. What else is new?
rubbish writing! Norwegian fares are the lowest moron!
Here is DNO analysis: “This could be good news for Dominicans who want to avoid the San Juan hub when traveling to the island. A ferry service and a number of flights serve Dominica from the French islands.”
DNO, how will this help Dominicans and people that are trying to visit DOMINICA? No wonder Dominica is so backward because when you have media houses that should be educating us, they are helping to keep us in the dark just to ensure Skerrit remains in power. First of all they will ONLY be flying from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which means those leaving in other states will have to find their way to Atlanta. Secondly, by the time they arrive in Guadalupe or Martinique, it will be too late to connect to DA. Instead of the media help solve our problems they are there painting false hope to us. If anything, this announcement by air France should have Dominicans to question the lies of Robin Tonge yesterday about talking with Nowegian airline,
Stop chat foolishness.
The job of the media is not to educate, just inform.
It is up to the reader to take the information and make up their own minds on what is published.
I swear some of you people think out of all u behind.
Anonymous I guess the job of the teacher is also to pass on information, and it’s left to the student to educate himself based on what is taught? In my opinion @ fake news didn’t chastise DNO for the story, but rather for what they added in the last paragraph. That is not information but very misleading. They should just have reported the story and let people believe what they want. But for them to add that a flight from Atlanta to Guada or Martinique will help Dominica is very misleading and I support @ fake news
If you do your research you will conclude that your assertions are not based on fact.
Robbie Working!
air france know anything about dominica? much less for tonge.
The French were here long before the British.
ferry ferry ferry
A late ferry from Guadeloupe to Roseau after the Norwegian and Air France flights arrive would be very helpful. Are you listening L’Express des Isles? (fingers crossed)
Dominica kanana again
Thats not new whats wrong with u all
AF 609 dep. Atlanta 10,20arr. Guadeloupe 15.50 – return: AF608 dep. Guadeloupe 16.20, arr. Atlanta 20.05.
Lowest Economy return (full cabin service) U.$.$.574.33 return/ all taxes included. (for 65 yr. +). Aircraft type Boeing 777
These are very good departure and arrival times for same day (daylight connections) to Dominica.
Excellent news.
From Dominica, but not to. With that schedule, right now neither L’Express des Iles nor Air Antilles departs late enough to avoid an overnight in Gwada on the way to DA.
So, we are happy over the announcement; Dominica however, is a patios Caribbean island, and not French, so what does that matter to us?
And even if we were French, the announcement would not apply, or mean anything to our people: be reminded, Douglas-Charles, or Charles-Douglas Swamp, or Roosevelt Skerrit-Ralph Gonzales Swamp cannot accommodate Air France, or any aircraft in that category.
So, I don’t even understand what that matters to anybody in Dominica. We are always happy when we hear good things taking place on other islands around us. Nevertheless, while we become overwhelm and happy, we sit back, and say “we do need that in Dominica, because some other island or country have dat already besides it is too expensive, and we doh have de money.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahah!
That is the Dominican mentality, that shall be our legacy, while our takes a giant step backwards each day!
The govt should try to negotiate having an evening ferry service from the french islands into DA, so that people can get to DA the same day without having to overnight.
Fantastic news! Can’t wait to visit!
Excellent news. Why don’t we join Guadeloupe and Martinique in a union, like Roosie Douglas proposed. We would be in the E.U. and not have to pay a costl;y government all of our own. We are not truly independent anyway. What about it?
lol stop dreamming man
santa doesn t exist.
Sounds good ?? Houston Atlanta den take that fairey to Dominica ??!!
You can take the fairey Jennifer. Most women would prefer a real man.
Me that’s not funny. hahahhaha next you’ll tell Houston Atlanta Giraudel!
just 4 laughs.
Okay Now I will think of going home . Been twice in 36 yrs. Can’t could not will not take the BS in B/dos, Antigua etc. I just put visiting DA on the back Burner and I just forgot about visiting.
I went elsewhere no hassle.