Air France brings Joon brand to India

Joon which is billed as a budget brand will take over Paris-Mumbai route from June 18

Air France is introducing Joon brand on the Paris-Mumbai route in place of its mainline service. The move comes close on heels of intensified commercial co-operation between Air France and Jet Airways. 

Joon was launched last year to target younger travellers and as a part of airline's efforts to lower costs and win passengers which it lost to its more nimble European and Gulf rivals. Joon will take over Air France flights on the route from June 18.

The Joon flight will be operated with a three-class Airbus A340 aircraft which includes economy, premium economy and business class. However, the business class beds in the Joon aircraft are not fully flat. 

There will be no charge for meals and one piece of luggage on the Joon flights. Liquor will be free for business class customers but can be purchased by economy and premium economy class passengers, sources said.

At present Air France operates three-class Airbus A330 or Boeing 777 aircraft. Jet Airways flies a three-class Boeing 777 plane on the route which also includes first class service.

An airline spokesperson said as the flights are marketed under an Air France code, customers can earn and spend miles with Flying Blue, the Air France-KLM group’s frequent flyer programme, and enjoy the same advantages as with an Air France flight. Customers will benefit from new cabins on board the Airbus A340s equipped with the latest-generation individual touch-screens to enjoy some one hundred films, the spokesperson added.

Joon flies to destinations in Europe and from next month will operate to Cape Town, Cairo and Teheran. The airline hopes to save on costs by paying less to flight attendants of Joon in comparison to their counterparts in Air France.