PRESS KIT
2017
CEO’S NOTE Everyone is talking about it. In the press, in social networks, it is repeated over and over again. Often combined with words like “disrupter” or “game changer.” This is the low-cost, longhaul flight revolution. We took this turn a long time ago when we started our first low cost flight to the US, then to the French Caribbean and La Reunion Island. We did it consciously, we made certain choices and put best practices to use to offer the best price, of course, but not at any price. A practical answer for how to get from point A to B without spending an arm and a leg, connecting via multiple airports, becoming hypoglycemic, or traveling with only a cabin bag for holiday in Paris. A good compromise, always re-evaluated, adjusted, corrected to answer our client’s needs.
LAURENT MAGNIN XL Airways CEO
SUMMARY 04
The Airline
06
Network and Fleet
08
Fares
09
Our Assets
10
Onboard Entertainment
12
Our Options
13
Our Gourmet Meals
14
Support to Young Talents
THE AIRLINE Established in 1995, XL Airways is proud to be a French airline. With its all Airbus fleet, XL Airways carries around 800,000 passengers every year.
OUR HISTORY
OUR VALUES
In 2009 XL Airways started its first long-haul low-fare flights from Paris to New York followed by San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles. The airline’s network also grew to include Reunion Island, the French West Indies, Cuba and Israel. Today XL Airways flies to 17 destinations in 3 continents from its Paris Charles de Gaulle hub.
AUDACITY By opening new routes but also by the way we communicate which is offset, impertinent occasionally and far from the conventional and sometimes stilted codes of airline communication.
XL Airways employs 606 staff members including 400 cockpit and cabin crew.
OUR MISSION Allowing a larger number of people to have access to air travel and long haul travel onboard a 100% French airline who provides its clients and tour operators an economic option. XL Airways positions itself as a mobility facilitator, committed to tourism promotion.
COMMITMENT From our entire staff we offer passengers the best service at the best price. Our commitment is also shown by the will to be involved in the local community life (with French West Indies and La Reunion Island for example) by participating to events and support the local tourism economy. DYNAMISM With the opening of 10 routes this winter and medium and long-term expansion projects. PROFESSIONALISM This value is obviously required to safely transport all passengers and provide a quality service.
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DREAMJET PARTICIPATIONS GROUP In December 2016 XL Airways and La Compagnie Boutique Airline joined forces to form the first longhaul low-fare airline group in France. Each airline remains a distinct entity and brand, in connection with the travel segment on which it is positioned: leisure for XL Airways and business for La Compagnie Boutique Airline. The new group, named Dreamjet Participations, is led by Laurent Magnin. It operates a fleet of six long-haul aircraft: 4 Airbus A330 and 2 Boeing 757. Two XL Airways subsidiary tour operators are also part of Dreamjet Participations: CRYSTAL T.O B2B tour operator specializing in packages at attractive prices. HÉLIADES Tour operator specialist of Greece for more than 40 years. HÊliades offers many travel packages to Greece, the Greek islands and Cyprus with insurance for its clients of a recognized know-how and quality greeting on site. 33 clubs, packages, tours and cruises are offered from Paris and 11 French cities to medium and long-haul destinations.
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NETWORK AND FLEET
New York
San Francisco San Francisco
New York
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Miami Varadero Cayo Coco La Havane Miami Puerto Plata Varadero Cancún Cayo Coco Santa Clara Samana La Havane Punta Cana Puerto Plata Cancún Santa Clara Samana Pointe-à-Pitre Punta Cana Fort-de-France Pointe-à-Pitre Fort-de-France
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Lille Brest Paris Nantes Lille Brest Bordeaux Paris Lyon Nantes Toulouse Marseille Bordeaux Lyon Toulouse Marseille
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv
Dzaoudzi (Mayotte) Saint-Denis de La Réunion
Dzaoud (Mayot
Saint de La Ré
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FARES DEPARTURES
DESTINATIONS
SAISONNALITY*
RETURN FARES FROM*
New York JFK Miami Los Angeles San Francisco
Paris (France) Tel Aviv (Israel) Paris (France) Paris (France) Paris (France)
apr - nov / dec – jan apr - nov / dec – jan june - sept june - sept june - sept
US$ 591 US$ 712 US$ 730 US$ 830 US$ 830
DEPARTURES
DESTINATIONS
SAISONNALITY*
RETURN FARES FROM*
Paris CDG T2A
Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) Fort-de-France (Martinique) Saint-Denis (Reunion Island) Cancún (Mexico) Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) Samaná (Dominican Republic) Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) La Havane (Cuba) NE W Varadero (Cuba) Cayo Coco (Cuba) Santa-Clara (Cuba) New York JFK (USA) Miami (USA) Los Angeles (USA) San Francisco (USA) Tel Aviv (Israel)
all year all year all year all year all year dec - may dec - may dec - may dec - may dec - may dec - may april - nov / dec - jan june - sept june - sept june - sept all year
459 € 459 € 629 € 619 € 529 € 529 € 529 € 559 € 559 € 559 € 559 € 459 € 499 € 569 € 569 € 199 €
Bordeaux
Fort-de-France (Martinique)
NEW
jan - march
489 €
Brest
Fort-de-France (Martinique)
NEW
jan - march
499 €
Lille
Fort-de-France (Martinique)
NEW
april - may
499 €
Lyon
Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) Saint-Denis (Reunion Island)
NEW
jan - march all year
499 € 669 €
Marseille
Fort-de-France (Martinique) N E W Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) N E W Saint-Denis (Reunion Island)
jan and march feb - april all year
499 € 499 € 669 €
Nantes
Fort-de-France (Martinique)
NEW
jan - april
489 €
Toulouse
Fort-de-France (Martinique) Saint-Denis (Reunion Island)
NEW
jan - avril all year
499 € 669 €
(USA)
(France)
NE W
NEW
* Susceptible of changes during the year.
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OUR ASSETS XL Airways is the go-to French airline for great deals! Here are 6 proofs.
1
SMART FARES
No need to be rich. XL Airways offers flights to 17 destinations at the best prices. If we decide to offer the best price possible we also decide to include the essentials for a good flight. Options are possible to allow everyone to create their personalized trip and to pay only for what they need.
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COMPLIMENTARY FIRST CHECKED BAG
No need to leave your belongings behind. Your ticket always includes one complimentary checked bag (up to 23kg/50 lbs for the French West Indies, up to 20kg/44 lbs for the other destinations), a carry-on bag (5kg/11 lbs) and one piece of accessory (ie: computer bag, small backpack or purse).
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AT LEAST ONE HOT MEAL
No need to bring a picnic. On all flights, whatever the destination, the fare always includes a full meal including a hot dish. Menus vary according to airport of departure and are renewed regularly. On our longest flights (to/from Los Angeles or Reunion Island for example), a snack or a breakfast are also served for free.
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WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT
No need to count the clouds. A full entertainment offer is available to satisfy everyone (see Entertainment). In 2017, the airline equipped its entire fleet with a wireless entertainment system: XL Cloud. Once the application is downloaded, it enables passengers to watch movies and series, read the press, download destination guides, or play directly on their own electronic devices (smartphones, tablets or laptops). Children have a dedicated section with games and cartoons.
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DIRECT FLIGHTS
No need to make a stopover. XL Airways flies direct to Paris from all its US gateways.
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FLIGHTS TO/FROM PARIS CDG
No need to go in the fields. Paris Charles de Gaulle – Europe’s 2nd busiest airport - in XL Airways only hub. This airports allows easy connections from Paris to France and the rest of Europe by plane or by rail, via the airport’s high speed train station (TGV). All flights depart from Terminal 2A, directly accessible from Paris suburbs train RER B.
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ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT In 2017 XL Airways invested one million Euros in onboard entertainment. Two services developed by startups were introduced to meet the demands and changing habits of our passengers.
XL CLOUD
OUR NEW WIRELESS ONBOARD ENTAIRTAINMENT SYSTEM XL Cloud offer passengers free exclusive contents to discover from their own electronic device (smartphone, tablet or laptop): a selection of movies, series, magazines, games and a children section with cartoons and games. It also offers travel guides and the possibility to book excursions directly onboard. A chat allowing passengers to communicate between each other is also included in the app. For passengers who want to have access to more contents, a Premium section is available (9.95 €/flight) and for those who don’t have any tablet, IPads can be rented (15 €/flight, XL Cloud Premium access included). Service available on all XL Airways flights (except flights operated by partner airlines). The free XL Cloud app is available on Apple’s AppStore and Google Play. Immfly is a Spanish start up based in Barcelona. XL Airways is the first airline to install this solution on long-haul aircraft and to equip all its Airbus A330 fleet. READ MORE
SKYLIGHTS GOGGLES Isolating the passenger completely to offer an experience similar to that of a movie theater, that is Skylights immersive cinema goggles target. Developed exclusively for long use in airplanes, they are combined with a noise-reducing headset, to enjoy 20 2D and 3D movies like never before. Rental service available on all flights (15 €/ flight). Skylights is a French startup based in Toulouse and born from the meeting of an airline pilot and PHD student in optics. XL Airways was engaged on Skylights sides since the beginning, testing their product then launching it. To this day, XL Airways is the only airline to have commercially deployed this innovating solution. READ MORE
OVERHEAD ENTERTAINMENT A selection of movies is also screened on all flights. Passengers can follow the movie with their own headphones or can request disposable earplugs from the crew.
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OUR OPTIONS Several options are available to customize each of part of one’s trip and to make sure passengers only pay for what they really need.
COMFORT AND BAGGAGES*
ENTERTAINMENT •
• • •
Seat selection Additional bags, oversize bags and sport equipment Lounge access at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
MEALS*
• •
ASSISTANCE •
• •
Special meals World collection menus
Premium access to XL Cloud wireless entertainment system Ipads rental service Skylights Cinema Goggles rental service
Unaccompanied minor service (for children from 5 to 16 y.o.)
PETS TRANSPORTATION •
Transport of dogs and cats in the cabin or on the hold depending on height and weight
* Options bookable online and by telephone up to 96 hours before departure.
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OUR GOURMET MEALS XL Airways always offers a hot meal to its passengers. For those who wish to discover new flavors or enjoy a meal adapted to their needs, several menus are available with supplement.
WHAT’S NEW? CHE F’S ME NU BY YONI SAA DA The rewarded chef, known for his participation in the Top Chef France TV Show, created a menu that honors French cuisine: foie gras opera and onion marmalade, scallop and seaweed puree with lemon butter, brie cheese and black cherry jam followed by a raspberry blancmange with its coulis.
WORLD COLLECTION MENUS** The Collection is now made-up with four recently renewed meals (from 16 €/18 US$, drink included). • • • •
Italian Oriental Spanish NEW South West of France
SPECIAL MEALS** Passengers on a particular diet can also order a meal adapted to their needs (from 10 €/11 US$). • • • • •
STRE E T FOOD ME NU BY ANNABELLE SCHACHMES French culinary blogger and author Annabelle Schachmes was inspired by New York street food to create a tasty and generous menu: crispy Caesar salad, toasted bagel with chicken, cream cheese and honey mustard sauce, Tyrrell’s chips and cheesecake.
Gluten free NEW Halal Kosher Smart Kids menu Vegetarian/Vegan
** The World Collection menus and special meals are available on all flights departing from Paris and on some flights departing from the United States. They are to be booked up to 96h before departure.
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SUPPORT TO YOUNG TALENTS Throughout the year, XL Airways supports young talents thru innovative initiatives and solidarity actions.
All these young talents come from areas served by the airline which it contributes thus to valorize in a concrete and original way. Sports, Culture, gastronomy or design: the projects in which XL Airways is involved all have one thing in common, they are brought by talented people to be followed.
AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN ZE RACE GUADELOUPE In January 2017, XL Airways helped a team of volunteers who organized the world’s second longest downwind race after Hawaii. To give a new dimension to this paddle sport competition (paddle, pirogue, surfski, prone paddleboard), the presence of high level athletes was necessary. XL Airways decided to carry four of them to Guadeloupe. In addition, XL Airways financed some supervisory boats, handled the entertainment at the arrival village and created an XL Airways Villa: a friendly venue where the race press conference and the closing brunch where held. Two champions were also welcomed there.
LOUIS-ANDRÉ GOULAY, A REUNION ISLAND CHAMPION Louis-André, « le Tigre Pèl », is 14 years old, he is already considered as a karate prodigy with an impressive record of achievements: four times karate Kyokushin (fight and katas) Europe champion, bronze medalist at the world championship, gold medalist at several Opens in the United States, Australia, South Africa and Europe. Gifted for golf, fire pistol (France champion in 2012), and rugby addict, Louis-André is also a good and much applied student. By supporting him to follow his sporting carrier in the best conditions, it is all the Réunion Island that XL Airways helps radiate through the world.
A CREOLE GASTRONOMY TROPHE XL Airways in partnership with l’Académie de l’art culinaire du monde créole, a culinary association dedicated to promote creole gastronomy, created the « Talent Coup de Coeur 2016 » prize. In November 2016, during the Creole Culinary Art Trophies, the airline decided to give this prize to the Young Creole Chefs gourmet circle, thus rewarding their efforts to foster a dynamic between young Creole chefs. Moreover they are currently preparing a meal that will be served on XL Airways flights. On the menu, creole dishes, of course!
SENDING STUDENTS TO NEW YORK FOR WANTEDDESIGN SHOW XL Airways offered tickets for students to attend the WantedDesign show in New York this May. They were able to disply their work, network and attend workshops, some hosted by French teachers who were also carried by XL Airways.
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PRESS CONTACT Hawkins International PR for XL Airways AMELIE BRUZAT 212.255.6541 amelie@hawkpr.com
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