Long before the appearance of individual screens, Air France turned flying into an experience of discovery, escape and spectacle. From the first onboard entertainment to today’s most immersive audiovisual programs, the airline has constantly invented new ways to bring cinema into the journey itself. Over the decades, Air France has become one of the leading film distributors in the world.
From the first in-flight entertainment to the in-cabin cinema
In the pioneering years of commercial aviation, the flight itself was the main attraction. In the 1920s and 1930s, passengers gazed at landscapes at low altitude, consulted route guides, leafed through newspapers and magazines made available free of charge by Air France. Children received coloring books and games, while playing cards allowed passengers to pass the time during the long hours of travel until the 1950s.
As long-haul flying became more common and journey times grew longer, Air France took its first steps into onboard entertainment. In 1957, filmed news reels, documentaries, travelogues and cartoons began appearing on DC-6 and DC-7 aircraft on select ultra-long-haul routes, a quiet revolution that would soon gather pace.
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Caroline en avion, a comic strip given to children on board - 1957
© Air France -
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Air France Revue (1950), the predecessor of the inflight Air France Magazine
© Air France -
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Caravelle, a comic strip given on board to children - 1957
© Air France
1966: the "Festival in the sky"
On May 1, 1966, Air France made aviation history. For the first time, a full in-flight entertainment program was offered aboard a Paris–New York Boeing 707 service. The cabin was transformed into a cinema for the duration of the flight, and the “Festival en plein ciel” was born.
Passengers watched films in French and English on the big screen, including Louis Malle’s Viva Maria!, starring Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau, accompanied by a musical offer broadcast in stereo. Nineteen Boeing 707s were gradually fitted for the experience, marking the dawn of a new era in which travel and spectacle became one.
Towards the individual screen and freedom of choice
Starting in the 1980s, Air France pressed ahead with innovation: video projection became widespread on the long‐haul fleet, and by the 1990s personal entertainment systems had transformed the onboard experience entirely. Cinema was now a matter of individual taste; with each flight offering a curated section of films, series, multilingual news, cultural programs and video magazines..
The 2000s marked a major technological turning point: digital video on demand, exterior cameras for take-off and landing views, interactive maps and exclusive audiovisual content. Recognized repeatedly for the quality and originality of its offer, Air France has established itself as a reference in in-flight entertainment.
A passenger in the 'La Première' cabin on a B777-300ER - 2010
© Air FranceToday: an immersive experience
Today, Air France offers more than 1,500 hours of on-demand content across 38,000 individual HD and 4K screens through its in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. . Recent releases, timeless classics, festival favorites, series, documentaries, podcasts, music and wellness content come together in a rich catalogue available in multiple languages and original versions. Partnerships with leading content publishers carry on the tradition of innovation that began nearly sixty years ago.
The latest partnerships with Canal+ (May 2025), Apple TV (January 2026) and Disney+ give passengers exclusive early access to many films fresh out of theaters and unreleased series.
The in-flight customer experience is constantly enriched: a multilingual touch interface, Bluetooth connectivity to enjoy one’s own headphones, and Wi-Fi to access other content while on board.
More than a carrier, Air France remains a purveyor of dreams, true to its motto: "Air France loves cinema".