Suspension of the France-China bilateral aviation agreement
The French government has suspended the bilateral air agreement signed in 2017 with China, the airline Air France being too disadvantaged compared to its Chinese rivals since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. According to the France-China bilateral agreement signed in 2017 contains a suspension clause in the event of the closure of Russian airspace, which is currently the case for European companies since the invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has also announced a similar measure with regard to Russian airlines. However, this measure was not extended to Chinese airlines, which created a situation of imbalance between French and Chinese airlines.
Air France: the only company offering flights to China from mainland France
Air France is the only French airline that offers flights to China from mainland France. Due to the extension of its routes to Asia, the company faces additional challenges. Despite this, Air France had planned to offer daily flights to Beijing-Capital, Shanghai-Pudong and Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok from July 1, 2023, with a gradual increase in flight frequency.
However, the Chinese regulator slowed this progress in April 2023. Air China and China Eastern Airlines, which are partners of Air France in the SkyTeam alliance, have also planned to serve Paris-CDG every day for the summer of 2023, departing from Beijing and Shanghai respectively. China Southern intends to make two weekly rotations to Roissy from Guangzhou and Hainan Airlines plans two weekly departures from Shenzhen.
The history of air traffic agreements between France and China
It should be recalled that the last revision of the bilateral agreement between France and China dates back five years. This agreement had established a fair distribution of traffic rights, including 90 passenger flights per week and an equal share of cargo flights for the airlines of each country. This revision followed a first revision of the agreement in 2011, the first bilateral agreement having been signed in 1966.
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