As of 25 October 2026, the two airlines will reciprocally market their flights between Abidjan and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The agreement is intended to offer travelers more options and allow Air Côte d'Ivoire to benefit from the global commercial network of Air France.
Air Côte d'Ivoire and Air France are reaching a new milestone in their cooperation. Gathered in Ajaccio for a meeting of the Association of Francophone Airlines, both carriers announced the signing of a reciprocal codeshare agreement on the Paris-Charles de Gaulle–Abidjan-Félix Houphouët-Boigny route.
The arrangement will come into effect on 25 October 2026. Air France will then be able to market flights operated by Air Côte d'Ivoire between the two economic capitals under its own code.
Reciprocally, the Ivorian airline will place its code on flights operated by Air France on this same route. Concretely, a ticket sold by one airline may correspond to a flight actually performed by the other.
This arrangement will allow them to combine their various frequencies into an expanded commercial offer, with more scheduling possibilities between Côte d'Ivoire and France. For Air Côte d'Ivoire, the agreement is primarily intended to strengthen the marketing of its route to Paris.
Its flights can now be offered through the global network of Air France, giving the national carrier greater visibility among travelers departing from or arriving in Côte d'Ivoire. "The deployment of all stages of this agreement will allow us to expand the offer provided between Abidjan, Paris, and beyond," emphasizes Laurent Loukou, Director General of Air Côte d'Ivoire.
The cooperation is not expected to be limited to the Paris-Abidjan route alone. According to the executive, this first step is to be extended to other destinations in the Air France network before the end of the first half of 2027.
The terms and routes concerned have not yet been specified, however. For Air France, the partnership complements its offer by integrating the frequencies operated by the Ivorian carrier.
It is part of a relationship established since the creation of Air Côte d'Ivoire in 2012, with Air France acting as both a shareholder and strategic partner of the national carrier. "By combining our offers on the Paris-Abidjan route, we are offering our French, Ivorian, and international clients more choice and flexibility," explains Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France.
She believes that this cooperation will also contribute to strengthening the economic and cultural ties between the two countries. The agreement also includes a section dedicated to loyalty programs.
Air France and Air Côte d'Ivoire plan to bridge Flying Blue and sMiles starting at the end of the year 2026. sMiles members will be able to accumulate miles on flights between Abidjan and Paris operated by Air France. Eventually, they will also be able to use them across the entire network of the French airline.
For their part, Flying Blue members will be able to earn and use their miles on flights operated by Air Côte d'Ivoire between Paris and Abidjan. This synergy should allow frequent travelers to retain their benefits, regardless of the carrier actually operating the flight.
Through this codeshare and the cross-recognition of their loyalty programs, the two airlines intend to make travel between Abidjan and Paris more seamless. For Air Côte d'Ivoire, this alliance constitutes, above all, a gateway to broader commercial cooperation with the international network of Air France.
Published on 19/10/26 17:46 The Editorial Staff