A380-255FND 12 IMPERF Air labels - 1° Flight A380 AIR FRANCE Paris-Abidjan 2014

26.10.2014: Air France deploys its Airbus A380 to Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

First A380 connection for French-speaking Africa

A “world first” according to Air France, the arrival of the A380 in the Ivorian capital makes Abidjan the first destination in French-speaking Africa regularly served with the super jumbo, and the second in Africa after Johannesburg. “The Company thus intends to support the growth of the country, which aims to be the hub and gateway to West Africa, a market of more than 300 million inhabitants,” Air France indicated in a statement.

TEST FLIGHT - January 28, 2014 - Air France tested its A380 on the Paris - Abidjan route on January 28, during an international congress. Following this first “test” flight, Félix Houphouët-Boigny airport in Abidjan carried out the necessary work to be able to accommodate the A380.

Since October 26, 2014, the service has become regular with 3 flights per week: - Outbound flight AF 702: departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1:50 p.m., arrival in Abidjan at 7:25 p.m. - Return flight AF 703: departure from Abidjan at 10:10 p.m., arrival at Paris-CDG at 6:35 a.m. the next day.

A collection of personalized postage stamps and aerophilatelic covers in limited editions, bearing the special stamps of the inaugural outward and return, was carried out especially for the “TEST FLIGHT” and the “first A380 Paris - Abidjan flight” of Air France.