Air France Asie

Air France Asie was a subsidiary and operating brand of Air France created to permit continued service between France and Taiwan at a time when the political status of Taiwan and its relationship with the People's Republic of China made direct operation under the Air France name difficult. The entity formed part of Air France's solution to an unusual international aviation and diplomatic problem: maintaining commercial links with Taipei without presenting the flights as ordinary Air France services. The arrangement followed an earlier interim operation by Air Charter, another Air France subsidiary. Beginning in 1993, Air Charter operated flights between Paris and Taipei through Hong Kong. Air France Asie began its own service in early 1994, linking Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport with Taipei and commonly using Hong Kong as an intermediate point. The Hong Kong stop initially used Kai Tak Airport and later moved to the new Chek Lap Kok Airport when Kai Tak closed in July 1998. The subsidiary also operated a Paris–Osaka service through Hong Kong, serving Japan as part of the same regional network. Air France supplied aircraft for the operation. Passenger services initially used Boeing 747-400M combi aircraft, which could carry both passengers and freight. The fleet later included Airbus A340-200 aircraft. Two A340-200s associated with the operation were registered F-GLZD and F-GLZE, while Boeing 747-428M aircraft associated with the passenger and mixed-use services included F-GISA and F-GISC. The Air France Asie visual identity was distinct from the standard Air France livery: its tail used blue and white striping rather than the blue, white, and red arrangement associated with the French tricolour. Air France Asie became the principal France–Taipei operator after Air Charter ceased its flights in 1998. Its passenger role ended in March 2004 in connection with Air France's merger with KLM. After that change, the remaining operation concentrated on cargo rather than scheduled passenger flying. Air France Cargo Asie continued to use Boeing 747-200 freighters or combi aircraft on the Paris–Taipei link, but the freight service was halted in 2007. The available historical account associates the end of this operation with changing relations among France, the People's Republic of China, and Taiwan, although it does not establish a single formally announced cause. Air France eventually resumed flights to Taipei under its own name in April 2018, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. That later service was separate from Air France Asie and reflected a different diplomatic and commercial environment. Air France Asie should therefore be understood as a historical operating subsidiary or sub-brand rather than as a continuing independent airline. It had no documented standalone consumer business outside the routes, aircraft, and identity used for Air France's Taiwan-related operations.

Air France Asie emerged from Air France's effort to maintain a commercial air connection between France and Taiwan without operating the route under the standard Air France identity. The underlying constraint was political rather than technical: Taiwan's contested international status and the People's Republic of China's position affected how foreign airlines could present and operate services to Taipei. Air Charter, an Air France subsidiary, began a Paris–Taipei service through Hong Kong in 1993. In early 1994, Air France Asie took over the role with a route from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Taipei, generally stopping at Hong Kong. The Hong Kong stop was initially made at Kai Tak Airport. When Kai Tak closed on 6 July 1998, the operation moved to Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. Air France Asie also operated a Paris–Osaka route through Hong Kong. Osaka service initially related to Itami Airport before the opening of Kansai International Airport, but the documented route history does not show Air France Asie operating at Kansai. Taipei served as the principal Asian destination and focus point, while Paris Charles de Gaulle was the European base of the network. The operation used aircraft supplied by Air France. Boeing 747-400M combi aircraft were used at launch, combining passenger and freight capability. Airbus A340-200 aircraft later joined or replaced them on passenger operations. Aircraft identified with the operation included A340-200s F-GLZD and F-GLZE and Boeing 747-428M aircraft F-GISA and F-GISC. A separate Air France Cargo Asie operation used Boeing 747-200 aircraft, including combi and all-cargo examples. The brand's aircraft carried a modified identity with blue and white tail stripes instead of Air France's usual blue, white, and red tail treatment. In March 2004, the passenger operation ended in the context of Air France's merger with KLM. Air France Asie then concentrated on freight. Cargo flights between Paris and Taipei continued with Boeing 747-200 freighters or combi aircraft until 2007, when the service ceased. The historical account indicates that changing political relations involving France, the People's Republic of China, and Taiwan may have contributed to the end of the freight operation, but does not provide a definitive official explanation. The Air France Asie identity consequently disappeared as an active operating brand. Air France did not restore passenger service to Taipei under its own name until April 2018, when it began operating the route with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. That later return should not be treated as a continuation of Air France Asie: it represented Air France's direct operation under its principal brand in a changed political and commercial context. Air France Asie is best classified as a discontinued historical subsidiary or sub-brand created for a specific route and diplomatic circumstance.

• 2018

  Air France resumes Taipei passenger service under its own name

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  Air France returns to passenger service between France and Taipei under the Air France name, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft; this is separate from the discontinued Air France Asie identity.

• 2007

  Taipei freight operation ends

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining Air France Cargo Asie freight service between Paris and Taipei is halted.

• 2004

  Passenger services end after the Air France–KLM merger

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  In March, Air France Asie stops passenger operations in connection with the Air France–KLM merger and shifts its remaining activity toward freight.

• 1998

  Hong Kong connection moves from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  Following Kai Tak Airport's closure on 6 July 1998, Air France Asie shifts its Hong Kong operations to the newly opened Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

• 1998

  Air France Asie becomes the main France–Taipei operator

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  After Air Charter stops flying the route, Air France Asie becomes the principal carrier connecting France with Taipei.

• 1994

  Air France Asie begins operations

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  Air France Asie starts a Paris Charles de Gaulle–Taipei route, generally via Hong Kong, and also operates a Paris–Osaka service through Hong Kong.

• 1993

  Air Charter begins Paris–Taipei service

  [1]Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org

  Air Charter, an Air France subsidiary, begins operating between Paris and Taipei through Hong Kong, establishing the operational precedent for Air France's Taiwan-related service.

A specialized Air France operating identity designed to preserve France–Taiwan air connectivity while addressing the diplomatic constraints surrounding Taiwan's international status.

• Scheduled international passenger airline · 1994

  Air France Asie passenger services

  The principal Air France Asie offering was scheduled passenger transportation between Paris and Taipei, usually routed through Hong Kong. The subsidiary also operated a Paris–Osaka service through Hong Kong. Passenger operations used aircraft made available by Air France, including Boeing 747-400M combi aircraft and Airbus A340-200 aircraft. The services were branded separately from ordinary Air France flights to accommodate the political circumstances surrounding Taiwan.

• International air cargo · 2004

  Air France Cargo Asie freight services

  After passenger operations ended in 2004, the associated Asia operation focused on freight between Paris and Taipei. The cargo service used Boeing 747-200 aircraft, including combi and all-cargo variants. It continued for several years after the end of passenger flying but was halted in 2007.

• 2018

  Resume Taipei service under the Air France brandStrategy

  Background

  Following the discontinuation of Air France Asie and its cargo operation, Air France returned to the Taiwan market in a later political and commercial environment.

  Action taken

  Air France resumed passenger flights to Taipei under its own name using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The return marked a renewed direct Air France presence in Taipei, rather than a revival of the Air France Asie sub-brand.

  Source

• 2004

  End passenger operations and focus on freightStrategy

  Background

  The Air France–KLM merger created a major structural change for the Air France group and coincided with the end of Air France Asie's passenger role.

  Action taken

  Air France Asie stopped passenger services in March 2004, while the remaining operation continued in a cargo-oriented form.

  Aftermath

  Freight flights between Paris and Taipei continued until 2007. Air France later resumed Taipei passenger service under its own name in 2018.

  Source

1. 1Air France Asieen.wikipedia.org