Air France set to launch A380 on Dubai route

Air France said on Tuesday it was planning to launch A380 services to Dubai next month. The move is part of the French carrier's strategy to expand its A380 network which will also see Los Angeles added next May. Starting December 5, and continuing throughout the winter season, Air France will serve Dubai with a flight departing daily from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the airline said in a statement. The new A380 destination is made possible by the aircraft’s redeployment to Dubai from Tokyo for the winter season as a result of lower seasonal demand in Tokyo. For the 2011-12 winter season, Air France will operate six Airbus A380 aircraft from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, serving five destinations: New York-JFK, Johannesburg, Montreal, Washington and Dubai. Air France will also begin a daily Airbus A380 service to the global entertainment capital of Los Angeles on May 28, 2012, making it the third US destination served with the wide-body aircraft. Operated by Air France since November 2009, the A380 has a capacity equivalent to a Boeing 777-200ER and an Airbus A340 combined.