Air France and Air Côte d’Ivoire will codeshare between Paris and Abidjan from October 25, 2026, with Flying Blue and sMiles reciprocity to follow. Here's why I'm cautiously excited.
Ben, your snark about “government status” makes me wonder if you completist tendencies extend to earning bans in additional African countries….
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 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 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 ☺️.
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?