Air France introduces new first and business class service on long-haul routes; Centerpiece of $100-million program: the industry's first seat that converts to a bed.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Air France today introduced its new first class and business service on routes linking Paris with the U.S. and other long-haul destinations.

Called L'Espace (Translation: Space), the new service boasts remarkably spacious seating in both classes, more dining options and innovative "smoking bars" for passengers who smoke.

Centerpiece of the $100 million investment in new services, both on the ground and inflight, is the L'Espace seat. In first class, marketed as L'Espace 180, the seat reclines to the virtually horizontal position to become a bed measuring 6 feet 5 inches -- an industry first. The number 180 denotes this exceptional degree of recline.

Business class, called L'Espace 127, offers the same seat but with a recline set at 127 degrees, almost the same as the previous Air France first class seat (135 degrees). The number 127 is the sum of the degree of seatback recline and the position of the seat cushion, which automatically rotates upward slightly as the seatback is reclined. The angle of recline at the full position represents the natural angle assumed by the human body in a zero-gravity environment, according to studies by NASA.

In first as well as business class, passengers enjoy an unprecedented feeling of spaciousness, with far more room between seats than before. On the 747-400 linking Paris with New York and Los Angeles, for example, L'Espace 180 first class seats have been reduced from 16 to 13 in the same cabin space, with a pitch (distance between seats) of 82 inches compared to 62 inches previously. L'Espace 127 business class seating has been reduced from 80 to 56 seats in approximately the same cabin area, with a 48-inch seat pitch vs. 38 inches before.

On the A340 serving Washington, San Francisco and Miami, there are six of the new first class seats compared with 12 of the old style in the same cabin before. Business class on the A340 is reduced from 42 to 38 seats. On 767's serving Chicago and Houston, first class is reduced from seven to five seats and business class from 24 to 20 seats in the same floor area.

In L'Espace 180 first class, when it's time to sleep, passengers receive special amenities including sleepsuits, goosdown duvet and pillow, water atomizers and slippers. The seat's headboard even includes a private reading light.

Other L'Espace features in both classes:

- Individual built-in phones at each seat, using the Satcom system that permits callers to phone from the aircraft anytime to anywhere in the world.

- Individual armrest videos with unique headphones that block external sounds with white noise. In the near future, programming will be "on demand," allowing passengers to choose from 45 hours of cassettes for viewing when they wish.

- Flexible dining, offering meals served at the passenger's convenience or a classic gastronomic dining experience at the customary hour. A light meal option is available.

- A smoker's bar equipped with special ceiling-mounted smoke extractors that eliminate the problem of drifting smoke, thus providing a clean-air atmosphere for all passengers.

Introduction of L'Espace begins today on Air France routes linking Paris with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Houston will be added by year-end; flights to Newark, Miami and Chicago will be refitted by early 1996.

CONTACT: Air France, New York

Bruce Haxthausen, 212/830-4482