Air France celebrates 50th anniversary of Paris-Toronto route with La patisserie pop-up

Air France is giving Toronto a little taste of what the airline offers its passengers on board, with the opening of La patisserie – a limited time pop-up pastry shop on Bloor Street West in the city’s downtown core.

The pop-up boutique, open until May 17, is also Air France’s creative way of marking the 50th anniversary of its Paris-Toronto route (which was launched on May 21, 1976) by giving Torontonians a chance to sample some wonderful pastry, enjoy a coffee and, generally experience Air France’s signature service beyond travel itself.

Located at 151 Bloor Street West – which it should be noted was Air France’s office in Toronto for 40 years until it closed in 2018 — La pâtisserie is designed as a boutique inspired by the world of Air France Business Class, where French elegance, audacity, and culinary expertise come together in a refined yet welcoming setting.

At the heart of the pop-up is a curated selection of five pastries, created by renowned French pastry chefs Yann Couvreur and Laurent Le Daniel (Meilleur Ouvrier de France).

These creations are the very same served on board Air France Business Class, reflecting the airline’s commitment to French gastronomy through collaborations with leading chefs.

Air France began its Paris-Toronto service on May 21, 1976, operating three weekly flights using Boeing 747 aircraft and 50 years later, the carrier will be offering 2 daily flights from Toronto this summer.

Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche, Air France’s Canada Country Manager, said that Toronto has been a big part of Air France’s operations when you consider that the airline has been connecting Toronto to Paris for 50 years of its 93-year history of operation out of Canada.

In fact, he said that Canada was Air France’s second biggest international market after the United States.

He’s also pleased with the fact that many of the Canadians on the Toronto-Paris flights are heading onward, travelling on Air France’s network both within France and beyond to other international destinations.

In general, he said that demand for Europe is strong, although he noted that Air France has been seeing more people booking later as they adjust to the current world situation in the world. As for the fuel crisis, he said that the airline was monitoring the situation closely.

Along with 14 weekly flights from Toronto in peak season, Air France will operate to Paris from Montreal (28 flights), Quebec City (4), Ottawa (7), and Vancouver (7), for a total of 60 flights per week.

In the photo 

Seen from l to r, are Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche, Air France’s Canada Country Manager and Bertrand Pous, Consul General for France in Toronto.