Air France and Air Côte d’Ivoire have just announced plans to launch a codeshare agreement and loyalty reciprocity, and regular OMAAT readers will know why I’m excited about this, at least in theory. 😉
Air France & Air Côte d’Ivoire strengthen cooperation
Air France and Air Côte d’Ivoire have signed a reciprocal codeshare agreement for the route between Paris (CDG) and Abidjan (ABJ). Starting October 25, 2026, Air France will place its code on flights operated by Air Côte d’Ivoire, and Air Côte d’Ivoire will place its code on flights operated by Air France, giving customers wide choice of departure times between France and the Ivory Coast.
Let me emphasize that a codeshare agreement is not the same as a joint venture. The airlines can’t actually coordinate fares or schedules, so expect to still see different prices for flights on the two airlines. This is simply about each airline being able to market flights of the other airline.
On top of that, Air France and Air Côte d’Ivoire are also aligning their loyalty programs, Flying Blue and sMiles. The launch is planned for the end of 2026. With this, Flying Blue members will be able to earn and redeem miles on Air Côte d’Ivoire operated flights between Paris and Abidjan. Meanwhile sMiles members will be able to earn miles on Air France operated flights between Abidjan and Paris, and redeem miles across the entire Air France network.
Many people don’t realize this, but Air France actually owns a stake in Air Côte d’Ivoire. This is clearly less about Air France thinking it’s a good investment, and more about historical ties between the countries, and government pressure. So I suppose it’s not surprising to see the two airlines partnering.
Here’s how Air France CEO Anne Rigail describes this:
“This codeshare agreement marks a new milestone in our cooperation. By combining our offering on the Paris–Abidjan route, we are giving our French, Ivorian and international customers greater choice and flexibility, while helping to strengthen the economic and cultural ties between France and Côte d’Ivoire.”
Here’s how Air Côte d’Ivoire CEO Laurent Loukou describes this:
“Introducing codesharing with Air France on the Abidjan–Paris route is the first step in a partnership that will be extended to other destinations across the Air France network before the end of the first half of 2027. Implementing all phases of this agreement will enable us to expand the range of services between Abidjan and Paris, and beyond. Most importantly, from the launch of this agreement, our flights will be marketed through Air France’s global network to and from Côte d’Ivoire.”
My take on this expanded France & Ivory Coast partnership
I certainly don’t want to rag on aviation in Africa broadly, as you have some very well run carriers, like Ethiopian Airlines, which actually operate in a way that makes sense, reflecting demand, unserved markets, etc. But then you also have so many national airlines that are simply vanity projects that are about prestige — we’re talking Air Côte d’Ivoire, Air Senegal, Air Tanzania, etc.
Air Senegal has already failed, Air Tanzania is a mess, and not much about Air Côte d’Ivoire makes sense either. I mean, the airline acquired two Airbus A330-900neos, which it exclusively flies between Paris and Abidjan. Based on published data, load factors have been pretty abysmal, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise:
- Air France has been serving this market for decades, and even flies its latest cabin product in the market, featuring the new La Premiere first class
- Air France of course has a huge connecting network, so can fill its Paris to Abidjan route with demand from all over the place
- Air France is still considered by far the most premium airline in the market, even among people from the Ivory Coast, so the only people who would fly with Air Côte d’Ivoire are those who are seeking the lowest fare
- Air Côte d’Ivoire has horrendous aircraft utilization — there are two planes flying a total of eight weekly flights, so we’re talking about the two planes flying an average of around 84 hours per week (out of a maximum of 336 hours)
So we’ll see how this all plays out in the long run, but there’s simply no economic reality where Air Côte d’Ivoire’s service makes sense, Air France partnership or not.
Now, OMAAT readers will know why I’m excited about this partnership, which is that we’re being promised Flying Blue award redemptions on Air Côte d’Ivoire. This is the last airline in the world that I haven’t flown in first class, and I’ve committed to doing so ASAP, just in the interest of my completionist tendencies. The thing is, Air Côte d’Ivoire’s first class fares are high, the product doesn’t look like anything special, and no one actually seems to book it.
So I am crossing my fingers (hi, friends at Flying Blue!) that we see redemptions in first class. After all, Flying Blue has rolled out some other first class redemptions on partners, so I’d sure love to see this. Unfortunately I imagine that’s highly unlikely, though. Using the redemption calculator on Air Côte d’Ivoire’s own website, it indicates that “no matching redemption rule” is found for first class awards through its own program. Bleh! Maybe you need some sort of government status to unlock these awards? 😉
Please don’t make me pay full price for Air Côte d’Ivoire first class, only to be disappointed! Then again, who knows… maybe it’s actually the world’s best kept secret, with a caviar and champagne bar onboard, plus inflight massages. There has to be more to the experience than just being able to carry-on 80 pounds worth of bags… right?
Bottom line
Air France and Air Côte d’Ivoire are strengthening their partnership, with a new codeshare agreement on the route between Paris and Abidjan, along with loyalty reciprocity. Air France actually owns a stake in Air Côte d’Ivoire, but that seems to be more for political reasons rather than in order to turn a profit on that investment.
There’s not much merit to Air Côte d’Ivoire operating two A330neos inefficiently in a market where Air France dominates in every way, but then again, that’s not surprising. I’m just hoping that we get some good award options out of this (Flying Blue, please, please, please, convince them to do first class awards!).
What do you make of this new partnership between Paris and Abidjan?
Ben, your snark about “government status” makes me wonder if you completist tendencies extend to earning bans in additional African countries….
@ Jack -- I mean... it is what it is!
Wowza, Ben really is lucky! This is practically tailor-made for his 'completionist' plans!
That’s interesting, I didn’t realize Flying Blue allowed F on other carriers. Who would that be? Korean and China Eastern?
@ Motion to Dismiss -- In theory on Garuda Indonesia, China Eastern, and Xiamen Air:
https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-first-class-partner-awards/
However, Garuda Indonesia has discontinued first class, and China Eastern and Xiamen Air award space seems impossible to come by, so...
The second a330neo was initially acquired to launch flights to Beirut, as Côte d'Ivoire has a pretty sizeable Lebanese community. But those plans were delayed for now, for reasons that you can easily guess.
It also seems that the second a330neo is getting leased to Air Senegal for some of their Dakar to Paris flights, I only see 2 instances in October though.
I also previously read that some Air Senegal crews (pilots...
The second a330neo was initially acquired to launch flights to Beirut, as Côte d'Ivoire has a pretty sizeable Lebanese community. But those plans were delayed for now, for reasons that you can easily guess.
It also seems that the second a330neo is getting leased to Air Senegal for some of their Dakar to Paris flights, I only see 2 instances in October though.
I also previously read that some Air Senegal crews (pilots and FAs) that were already trained on the A330neo were "loaned" to Air Côte d'Ivoire to operate some of the a330 neos flights to Paris as part of an agreement between both airlines. https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1740039/economie-entreprises/air-senegal-air-cote-divoire-la-cooperation-qui-fache-a-dakar/ (Link in French)
Formidable - and excellent news! Lucky, it's meant to be. :)
As an Ivorian, I really don't understand why Air Côte d'Ivoire went so premium on their widebodies. Now they're wedged between premium customers preferring Air France, and budget/leisure customers preferring the lower fares on the MUCH denser Corsair planes.
I'm sure they've noticed that by now and hope they will reconsider their strategy.
Air Côte d'Ivoire has such low utilisation on their A339s due to the war that indefinitely postpones its planned Beyrouth...
As an Ivorian, I really don't understand why Air Côte d'Ivoire went so premium on their widebodies. Now they're wedged between premium customers preferring Air France, and budget/leisure customers preferring the lower fares on the MUCH denser Corsair planes.
I'm sure they've noticed that by now and hope they will reconsider their strategy.
Air Côte d'Ivoire has such low utilisation on their A339s due to the war that indefinitely postpones its planned Beyrouth service. Though, an air transport agreement has been recently signed with Canada, and I see A drop from 8 to 7 weekly rotations to CDG, so I think our airline has found its next intercontinental route ☺️. Flight between Abidjan and Canadian cities would make a lot of sense, as there's a significant African diaspora in Canada whose only current options are flights with a European stopover. Côte d'Ivoire's geographic location could allow to significantly reduce flight time for trips between Africa and Canada.
Ben, you'll fly this not because it's in your interest, but because it's in your nature. On the other hand, to paraphrase P.T. Barnum, "If you write it, they will read it." so maybe it's in your interest after all. Either way, I dare ya. And either way, there will be tears.
While you're down that way, obviously the trip should include the SA Link flight from JNB to St Helena. If you can figure...
Ben, you'll fly this not because it's in your interest, but because it's in your nature. On the other hand, to paraphrase P.T. Barnum, "If you write it, they will read it." so maybe it's in your interest after all. Either way, I dare ya. And either way, there will be tears.
While you're down that way, obviously the trip should include the SA Link flight from JNB to St Helena. If you can figure out a way to fly J on points on that flight, you'll earn the Bonus Power Award, move up to the next level and Join the Pantheon, or something LOL. SA Link flies from St Helena to Nairobi via JNB (QSuites home!).
What completist could sleep, without first completing this challenge?
Additionally, I think that this is Air France's way to recapture part of the AES market (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger), that were lost to the likes of AT, TK and ET (and to a lesser extent your buddies at Air Algerie), and routes that they stopped flying to following Niger's airspace restrictions to French aircraft
Now that's Funky!!!! ;)
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but AF had announced a similar partnership with EY back in the day, and we all know how that panned out.
Then again, the negotiating positions are a bit different this time around ;)
Smiles is also the name of the GOL loyalty program. It always pops up in my award tool searches offering ludicrous redemptions like 648k points to fly Sydney to Tokyo.
I can only assume Tiffany pulled some strings for you :)
Ha I thought the same thing.
In other words, Air France is gobbling ACI the same way they acted with Cameroon Airlines, Air Gabon, Air Madagascar and a few others which chose not to participate in an Air Afrique strongly linked to UTA when UTA and AF were competitors in Africa.
You may notice that, with the exception of Air Madagascar which is moribund and lease long-range planes where they can, all these airlines are gone. It may last a little...
In other words, Air France is gobbling ACI the same way they acted with Cameroon Airlines, Air Gabon, Air Madagascar and a few others which chose not to participate in an Air Afrique strongly linked to UTA when UTA and AF were competitors in Africa.
You may notice that, with the exception of Air Madagascar which is moribund and lease long-range planes where they can, all these airlines are gone. It may last a little longer with ACI, but they now have a "Daddy" or a "Big Brother" and they will increasingly do as they are told. In particular, the CEO may, for a time, remain in place but the 2nd in command will quickly be changed for an Air France man.
Ben, if you are still set on flying ACI's First Class, do it quickly.