Air France is introducing Paris Stopover for transit passengers
Passengers Air France I can now extend my layover in Paris and book a package that includes accommodation, transfers, and tourist attractions. The new product turns a long wait for a connecting flight into a short city break.
Air France iExtime Travel have launched Paris Stopover, a programme aimed at travellers continuing to another destination via Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. The service is available in all travel classes, and extended stopovers can be arranged on either the outbound or return journey.
From changing planes to a short rest
The programme enables stay in Paris From one to four nights. The traveller first selects the extended layover option when purchasing an Air France ticket, after which they can book a suitable package through Extime Travel.
The offer includes transfers between the airport and the hotel, accommodation in four or five-star hotels, and activities tailored to the available time. Among the initial options are a tour of the main Parisian sights, a visit to the Louvre, a Seine river cruise, and a stay at Disneyland Paris.
Packages can be booked up to 48 hours before departure, subject to availability. The layover must be at least 27 hours, while the maximum stay is limited to four nights. Passengers are responsible for meeting the entry, health, and customs requirements for France.
New income from transit passengers
The business logic of the programme is fairly straightforward. According to Air France's data, around half of its passengers arriving at Charles de Gaulle continue on to another destination. This represents a large group that until now has largely passed through the Paris hub without any additional tourist spending.
The Paris Stopover is not just an airline ancillary service. It is also a distribution product that combines flights, hotels, transport, and activities into a single booking. It can open up opportunities for travel agents and TMCs to upgrade long-haul journeys, particularly in markets where Paris is already a natural transit point to Africa, the Americas, or Asia.
Strengthening Paris as an international hub
The programme is part of a wider Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP collaboration, aimed at strengthening Charles de Gaulle as an international hub and increasing the tourism value of transit passengers.
For the industry, the shift from selling mere transport to managing the entire travel experience is particularly interesting. If the model succeeds in simplifying booking and resolving issues of transfers, luggage and activity scheduling, lengthy layovers could become a selling point rather than a reason to avoid a particular connection.
