Air France-KLM launch low-cost carrier: HOP! ~ Thursday, 31st January 2013 from 4Hoteliers

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Air France-KLM launch low-cost carrier: HOP!
Thursday, 31st January 2013
Source : Air France

Air France’s own short and medium-haul activity includes Air France flights which feed the long-haul network at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, routes with a high proportion of business customers in France and Europe as well as flights departing from the regional bases at Marseille, Toulouse and Nice.
As from summer 2013, HOP! Will operate point-to-point flights from Paris-Orly and the domestic network, as well as flights to the hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle on behalf of Air France.
The «leisure» area of activity, a high-growth segment represented by Transavia France, will operate flights to destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean from Paris-Orly and regional cities.

A simple and efficient name, synonymous with mobility and action

The name “HOP!“ evokes rapidity and the ease with which travelers can get from point A to B. Synonymous with agility, HOP! illustrates its capacity to bounce back and adapt to customers’ needs. The simple typography and red colouring featured in the HOP! logo illustrates the Company’s flexibility in a creative and playful manner. Positioned alongside a slanted exclamation mark, symbolizing an aircraft’s take-off, HOP! illustrates an ambition for reactivity and mobility.

With its slogan “making Europe smaller”, HOP! is the ideal solution for travelling quickly and easily between regions, in France and Europe.

HOP! in short

A dense flight schedule with 530 daily flights to 136 destinations
A modern fleet of 98 aircraft with between 48 and 100 seats
Fares starting at €55 including tax one way (Excluding issuing charges)
More than 3,000 employees at the service of our customers, both on the ground and on board

3 questions for Lionel Guérin, Chairman and CEO of HOP!

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A result of the synergy between the Air France group’s three regional airlines - Brit Air, Regional and Airlinair - HOP! aims to become the reference airline on inter-regional routes in France and Europe with a competitive offer, quickly adaptable to market changes and competition, for business or leisure travel.

How will the new airline hop ! improve service provided to customers?
« By regrouping three airlines under a single banner, HOP! provides its customers with a clearer and more coherent offer which has been completely redesigned in order to respond to their mobility and autonomy requirements. Customers travelling for leisure and seeking the lowest fares will be won over by our fares starting at ¤55 including tax one-way. And customers travelling for business will appreciate the all-inclusive fare offer and the Premium services guaranteeing quality and efficiency.

Our sales policy will be supported by attractive offers and our ambition to better serve all our customers. Every day, we will strive to meet their requirements, while also adapting our commercial offer in line with their expectations to ensure their preference for our Company. »

In what ways does hop ! respond to real demand today?
« In spite of the crisis, mobility among European citizens is booming and air transport is one of the primary beneficiaries of this trend. European customers no longer hesitate about taking a plane to see family and friends, go on holiday or travel for business. This is why the mobility offer is now larger and more accessible than ever. The other main new trend concerns the explosion of online sales: over 60% of Europeans systematically buy their airline tickets on the internet. This sales channel facilitates the act of purchasing and particularly brings greater competition, notably with price comparison tools, in a context where customers are being more careful with their budgets.

With HOP!, all these new habits and trends are taken into account. The best offers and tools will be available, later this summer, to help customers simplify each stage of their trip, with a mobile app and booking system designed to enable customers to receive their boarding pass directly on their mobile phone, etc. »

What assets do you dispose of to make this launch a success?
« Our main asset is our ability to offer our customers what they are looking for: frequent direct flights at attractive fares. In summer 2013, we will be in a position to operate 530 daily flights and offer 136 destinations, in France and Europe.

Our second asset concerns the men and women who make up the teams at HOP! The staff at Britair, Regional and Airlinair put customer satisfaction, attentive, customer-oriented service and professionalism at the centre of their concerns.Innovation also plays an important role in our strategy. The Company has invested in new technologies and the social media – Facebook, Twitter, digital press offer, etc. – to take a more active part in its customers’ interests and will constantly develop its offer in order to adapt to their new expectations.

And last but not least, a fundamental and essential requirement for our customers and our Company alike, that of flight safety, regularity and punctuality, which are, of course, our top priorities. We already have many years’ expertise in this area.

To conclude, the key to the new airline’s success will reside in our capacity to stay alert, reactive and adapt to new consumer trends and know how to surprise them. To this end, our customers can count on a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 staff, flight attendants and ground staff, supported by Air France’s sales teams, all eager to rise to the challenge!»

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