July 13, 2016
Our History

1956, Air France ordered its first Boeing

© air france

Premier Boeing

In 1916 began the story of the Boeing aircraft manufacturer in Seattle. 40 years later...

On 3 February 1956, Air France placed its first order for ten Boeing 707-320s. The first of these aircraft entered into service on 31 January 1960 on the Paris-New York route.

A nod to a long-standing partnership

During the post-war years, Boeing was at the forefront of developments in civil air transport. The company designed a prototype, the B367-80 which revolutionized aviation. The B707, the model designed for civil transport, could carry 142 passengers at a speed of 900km/h, double the speed of aircraft of the time! Its public launch in 1954 was a major media event.

Air France and the Boeing “family”

The 707 jet aircraft halved the flight time on long-haul routes, allowing the Company’s long-haul routes to boom in the 1960s and 70s. Air France expanded its fleet, and operated a large number of aircraft from the Boeing family, from the 707 (1960) to the 777 (1998), the 727 (1968), the 747 Jumbo (1970), the 737 medium-haul (1974) and 767 (1993). Air France currently operates 70 Boeing 777 including two cargo models and will receive its first Boeing 787-9 at the end of 2016.