L’information avait fait parler dans l’industrie touristique, les tour-opérateurs et agents de voyages craignant qu’Air France se substitue à eux.
En juillet dernier, nous vous révélions en effet la volonté de la compagnie nationale de reprendre le contrôle de son activité d’agence de voyages. Nous avions aussi eu écho d’une certaine déception, au sein de la direction d’Air France, concernant les résultats de cette activité, avec la volonté de la démultiplier.
Selon nos informations, la décision aurait été prise de mettre fin au partenariat avec PerfectStay, afin d’internaliser la production d’offres packagées.
Une nouvelle société a été créée dans le cadre de cette activité. Elle a même été immatriculée dernièrement par Atout France.
Pour la première fois, la compagnie à la dérive tricolore a pris la parole sur la reprise en main du projet.
En juillet dernier, nous vous révélions en effet la volonté de la compagnie nationale de reprendre le contrôle de son activité d’agence de voyages. Nous avions aussi eu écho d’une certaine déception, au sein de la direction d’Air France, concernant les résultats de cette activité, avec la volonté de la démultiplier.
Selon nos informations, la décision aurait été prise de mettre fin au partenariat avec PerfectStay, afin d’internaliser la production d’offres packagées.
Une nouvelle société a été créée dans le cadre de cette activité. Elle a même été immatriculée dernièrement par Atout France.
Pour la première fois, la compagnie à la dérive tricolore a pris la parole sur la reprise en main du projet.
Air France-KLM: an entity to manage and operate the entirety of its Holidays offering
It was during our interview with Nadia Azale that we learned more about the dossier.
“The package holiday market is a strategic market for aviation and for the Air France-KLM group as a whole. Its contribution is very important for leisure routes.
We have created an entity that will be called Air France-KLM Holidays and that will manage these different products, which existed already within the various group companies.
We are trying to professionalize this activity“, the head of the France market for Air France-KLM told us.
And the company spokesperson clarified the direction’s intentions a little more.
Indeed, this activity is regarded as “both strategic and complementary to its core aviation business” by the group. To such an extent “that it should be developed further given the potential for additional sales“.
EasyJet Holidays thus becomes a genuine source of inspiration for Air France-KLM.
To achieve the development of this activity, the group has decided to “create a dedicated and unified operating unit to manage and operate the entirety of its Holidays offering.
This activity responds to a growing demand for personalized and seamless travel experiences, while relying on the strength of the group’s networks and brands.”
“The package holiday market is a strategic market for aviation and for the Air France-KLM group as a whole. Its contribution is very important for leisure routes.
We have created an entity that will be called Air France-KLM Holidays and that will manage these different products, which existed already within the various group companies.
We are trying to professionalize this activity“, the head of the France market for Air France-KLM told us.
And the company spokesperson clarified the direction’s intentions a little more.
Indeed, this activity is regarded as “both strategic and complementary to its core aviation business” by the group. To such an extent “that it should be developed further given the potential for additional sales“.
EasyJet Holidays thus becomes a genuine source of inspiration for Air France-KLM.
To achieve the development of this activity, the group has decided to “create a dedicated and unified operating unit to manage and operate the entirety of its Holidays offering.
This activity responds to a growing demand for personalized and seamless travel experiences, while relying on the strength of the group’s networks and brands.”
Air France Holidays: a takeover of control thanks to Airtrade?
In a first phase, according to our information, Air France will rely on a company owned by KLM, namely Airtrade.
Founded in 1989, then acquired in 2021 by the Dutch company, Airtrade was originally an aviation consolidator, before developing other services to ultimately become a provider of technology solutions for distribution in the Netherlands.
A French version of its tools would be operational.
It is on this basis that Air France could thus reintermediate its activity, in line with the rest of the group, since a single company should handle the entire Holidays offering for the airlines.
Moreover, in May last year, Airtrade’s shares were transferred directly to the Air France-KLM holding. A proposal that would have been put forward by Paris.
“It is therefore absolutely not a forced centralization, but a strategic choice. We welcome it.
For KLM Holidays, we are exclusively a technology provider and offer implementation services. Naturally, we will study how to export this model further“, commented TravelPro, Jeroen Martron, the CEO of Airtrade.
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together. It remains to be seen whether the assembly will yield a beautiful work.
Founded in 1989, then acquired in 2021 by the Dutch company, Airtrade was originally an aviation consolidator, before developing other services to ultimately become a provider of technology solutions for distribution in the Netherlands.
A French version of its tools would be operational.
It is on this basis that Air France could thus reintermediate its activity, in line with the rest of the group, since a single company should handle the entire Holidays offering for the airlines.
Moreover, in May last year, Airtrade’s shares were transferred directly to the Air France-KLM holding. A proposal that would have been put forward by Paris.
“It is therefore absolutely not a forced centralization, but a strategic choice. We welcome it.
For KLM Holidays, we are exclusively a technology provider and offer implementation services. Naturally, we will study how to export this model further“, commented TravelPro, Jeroen Martron, the CEO of Airtrade.
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together. It remains to be seen whether the assembly will yield a beautiful work.
Publié par Amelia Brille 
