Promoting Equal Opportunities: Air France Supports the “Cité Éducative” in the Paris suburb of Garges-lès-Gonesse

On December 10, 2025, Air France’s IT Department (DGSI), the Garges-lès-Gonesse city council, the Cité Educative of the Paris suburb Garges-lès-Gonesse and the Val d’Oise Prefecture officially formalized their partnership as part of the national “Pathway to Success” (Cordée de la Réussite) initiative. This signing demonstrates their shared commitment to supporting the area’s young people in achieving academic success and professional integration, by opening doors to careers in aviation and digital fields.

The Cité Educative– a French government-labeled initiative aimed at improving educational outcomes for children and young people – brings together local stakeholders to support young people from underprivileged neighborhoods on their path to success and professional integration. The “Cordée de la Réussite” program offers middle school students mentoring and career discovery opportunities to guide them in their educational choices and promote equal opportunities.

The event was notably highlighted by speeches from Benoit Jimenez, Mayor of Garges-Lès-Gonesse; Christel Bonnet, Deputy Prefect for Equal Opportunities; Valérie Legallicier, Deputy Academic Director of the National Education Services; and Ane Jensen, Human Resources Director of Air France’s IT Department (DGSI). Florence Pigeard-Galand, Head of Functional Design Practice at Air France, is the sponsor of the first Cordée class.

Comprehensive and sustainable support for young people

As the largest private employer in the Île-de-France region, Air France leverages its strong local presence and a network of associations and partners to support youth employment. For example, nearly 50 Air France mentors advise and assist young people with their professional projects, including CV writing and interview preparation.

Within Air France, increasing the representation of women and encouraging young women to pursue careers in digital fields is also a priority. This commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in the fact that 34% of DGSI’s workforce are women, a proportion that is rising and already exceeds the national average (24% according to INSEE).

Ane Jensen, Human Resources Director of the Air France IT Department, states: “Our IT department is high-performing and inclusive thanks to the wealth of backgrounds and talents it brings together. Now more than ever, access to equal opportunities is at the heart of our mission. We are also convinced that diversity and gender balance are major drivers of innovation, creativity, and performance. In this respect, we are fully committed to promoting women’s presence in digital and engineering careers.”

Strong partnerships and collective momentum

Alongside partner organizations such as “Tous en Stage”, “Article 1”, and training centers (AFMAÉ, Centre Interlines des Guyards), Air France has been investing for 25 years in professional integration and equal opportunities in its local communities. As a result, thousands of young people have had the chance to find their path, develop their skills, and establish themselves in the workforce.

Among these organizations are JEREMY and Aérométiers (formerly Airemploi), of which Air France is a founding member. JEREMY offers training in around ten transport-related professions (flight attendants, ground agents, security agents, etc.), enabling many young people to start and build their careers at Air France and with a number of companies based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. In 2024, JEREMY launched “Immersion Avant Décollage”, a program developed with five local missions to help young people far removed from employment opportunities discover aviation careers and gain initial work experience.

Created in 1999, Aérométiers is a leading organization for the promotion and guidance towards careers in aeronautics and space. Each year, it organizes nearly 200 conferences in schools, leads actions to encourage more women into these fields, trains employment advisors, and participates in many professional fairs and forums. Today, Air France hosts and supports more than 1,200 apprentices.

Commitment to the future

Air France remains committed to offering every young person the opportunity to reach their full potential. By combining personalized guidance, career discovery, and knowledge sharing, the airline reaffirms its commitment to social responsibility and its dedication to diversity and inclusion. This new partnership with the Cité Educative of Garges-lès-Gonesse further strengthens this collective momentum, helping young people succeed and enabling the emergence of tomorrow’s talent.