Zhu Yan, principal dancer of the Chinese national ballet, becomes Air France ambassador in China

A leading airline between Europe and China and the first European airline to have served this country over 45 years ago, Air France has now further strengthened its ties with China. Air France has become the first major European airline to be represented by a Chinese mentor. Miss Zhu Yan, principal dancer of the internationally renown Chinese National Ballet, has become Air France’s brand ambassador to China, at a ceremony organized at the new French Embassy in Beijing in the presence of Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of Air France.

“Becoming the face of Air France is of emotional and symbolic importance to me. Together we share the values of dance: excellence and rigour. France and Paris also have a special place in my heart, as this is where I won my first international ballet prize in 1994," said Zhu Yan.

"We are very proud and honoured that Zhu Yan has agreed to embody the image of Air France in China, especially since we are the first major western airline to associate our image to someone from China," said Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of Air France. He also added: "This decision underlines the strategic importance of the Chinese market for our airline."

Zhu Yan started ballet at the age of 9. In 1995 she joined the Chinese National Ballet. Zhu Yan has notably been the guest of honour at some of the greatest operas in the world, such as the Paris National Opera, the Royal Opera House in London (Covent Garden) and the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. She has also performed the leading role in Romeo & Juliet and Carmen. Today she has become the face of Air France in China and will be involved with several Air France related events and trips in the coming months.

Air France and KLM in Greater China

Air France and KLM, leading airline between China and Europe, operate 80 weekly flights linking their hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol to 8 destinations in Greater China: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xiamen and Taipei. On 11 April 2012, Air France became the first airline to operate non-stop flights between Wuhan and Europe, with three weekly flights operated by Boeing 777-200ER equipped with 309 seats, 35 in Business class, 24 in Premium Voyageur and 250 in Voyageur/Economy.

中国中央芭蕾舞团首席舞蹈家朱妍成为法航中国形象代言人

法航是目前欧洲航空界的领先者,作为45年前第一家开通中国航线的西方航空公司,法航仍在不断加深与中国人民的友好关系。今天法航成为了第一家以中国女性为形象代言人的大型欧洲航空公司，她就是世界知名的中国中央芭蕾舞团首席舞蹈家朱妍，今天她正式成为法航的中国形象代言人。 为此，法航总裁朱尼克先生来到北京，参加了今天在法国驻华大使馆举办的庆祝活动。

朱妍坦言：“成为法航的代言人对我意义重大，因为法航的企业价值与芭蕾舞的核心价值一样，追求卓越，精益求精。并且，1994年在法国我赢得了我的第一个芭蕾舞国际奖项，因此在我心中对法国也有着特殊的感情”。

法航总裁朱尼克称到：“我们不仅为邀请到朱妍成为法航在中国的形象代言人而感到非常自豪和荣幸，更因为我们是第一家将企业形象与一位中国女性形象相结合的大型西方航空公司”。他还提到：“这个选择强调了中国市场在法航发展中的重要战略地位”。

朱妍9岁开始学习舞蹈，1995年加入中央芭蕾舞剧团。作为首席主演曾被多个国际大型芭蕾舞团邀请参加演出，如巴黎国家芭蕾舞团，伦敦皇家芭蕾舞团，瑞典皇家芭蕾舞团。她还成功饰演了《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，《卡门》中的女主角。今天她成为了法航在中国的新面孔，在未来的几个月里，她将在各地与法航合作出席不同活动。

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目前法航荷航集团每周提供80个航班往返欧洲与大中华区的8个目的地城市（北京、上海、广州、香港、成都、杭州、厦门和台北），成为中欧航线上领先的航空公司。2012年4月11日，法航又将成为第一家开通武汉-巴黎直航的欧洲航空公司，此直航航线拥有每周3次航班,启用波音777-200ER型号飞机运营，可搭载309位乘客：其中包括35个公务舱座位，24个尊尚经济舱座位，以及250个经济舱座位。