The first-class cabins of Air France. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China has been the second largest international market for the Air France-KLM Group this summer, its general manager said.

Air France and KLM operate 88 flights weekly from nine Chinese destinations, said Bas Gerressen, general manager of Air France and KLM in China on Thursday.

The Chinese market contributes around 50 percent of the group's total sales in the Asia-Pacific region and has grown to twice that of Japan this year, he added.

For such a large market, Air France has been using the new long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft on its Beijing-Paris route since Monday which also sees passengers using new designer suites in the carrier's first class cabin, named La Premiere, for the first time.

All classes have been upgraded and routes to Shanghai as well as Guangzhou also use the new design.