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Air France inaugurates an exceptional new airport journey for La Première passengers transiting through Paris-Charles de Gaulle

A completely private and confidential customer journey, from airport arrival to boarding; New airport suites are available as an added option to provide enhanced privacy, complementing the La Première lounge; On July 23, 2024, Air France inaugurated an exceptional new airport journey at Paris-…A new dedicated check-in lobbyUpon arrival at the airport, every La Première guest is warmly welcomed by a dedicated concierge who promptly attends to their luggage. Guests are then guided to a newly established exclusive check-in lobby, marking the initial step in their personalized journey through the airport. Here, an…An exclusive lounge reserved for La Première passengersCrafted by architect Didier Lefort, the Air France La Première lounge embodies exclusivity, spanning an impressive 1,000 square meters (10,700 square feet). This sanctuary offers guests tranquil retreats, exuding a sense of serenity and the promise of an extraordinary experience. Gastronomy…New suites connected to the loungeFor the utmost privacy prior to a journey or during layovers, La Première passengers now have the option to reserve exclusive suites spanning nearly 45 square meters (nearly 500 square feet), conveniently located adjacent to the La Première lounge. Three suites are available, with the option to…A new La Première cabin coming soonDuring the winter 2024-2025 season, Air France will unveil its entirely redesigned La Première cabin. Setting a new standard in length, this cabin will boast the longest configuration on the market, offering five windows to passengers. Moreover, it will showcase up to three modular and entirely…

Air France adds Swiss railways CFF/SBB to its combined booking platform Air France Smart Connect

In 2021, Air France launched Air France Smart Connect, a combined booking platform developed by Dohop, enabling its customers to book an Air France flight and a Transavia flight in a single transaction. Customers using this platform are covered by the Dohop guarantee, providing assistance and an…Air France routeConnection by CFF/SBB train to the following stationsParis-Charles de Gaulle Geneva-Cointrin Bern, Lausanne, Fribourg, Biel/Bienne Paris-Charles de Gaulle Zurich-Kloten Bern, Thun, St. Gall Air France plans to gradually extend its offer by adding further stations in Switzerland and offering this service to customers connecting from…

Gastronomy

Air France, ambassador of the French lifestyle​.VideoPASSION GASTRONOMY | Air FranceTHE BEGINNINGSIn the beginning, in-flight food was rather limited: sandwiches and drinks given out to passengers who were not too bothered by the turbulence. The rare exception, at the end of the 1920s, was the Golden Ray from Air Union, a restaurant plane. It offered a real feast in the sky: seven dishes…GASTRONOMY AT THE HEART OF CHANGEIn 1969, the Air France transport division offered new "disposable" in-flight tableware in Economy Class: single-use plates, glasses, and cups. This made it possible to limit the weight carried on board. In 1971, at the opening of the Roissy hub, Air France created its own air kitchen subsidiary:…FRENCH-STYLE SAVOIR-VIVREIn 1991, light dishes were offered to passengers in the Le Club class on long-haul flights leaving Paris. Among the hot dish options offered, there were meat and fish dishes, one prepared without rich sauces, and a "Plat du Jour," a regional speciality from the departure city. In March 1993, Air…Servair Culinary Studio, led by Joël Robuchon, with the support of Guy Martin and Jacques Le Divellec, designs the menus served aboard First Class cabins leaving Paris. Each month, the chefs redesign the menu by creating an appetizer and two exclusive mains. The goal is to offer customers a dining selection that has all…

A few days ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Air France names one of its aircraft ‘Paris’

As an official partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Air France today named its latest long-haul aircraft ‘Paris’, host city of the 33 rd Olympiad of the modern era. Fresh off the assembly lines in Toulouse, this latest-generation aircraft registered F-HUVJ features the name of…A latest-generation aircraft meeting the highest industry standardsIntegrating the latest technological innovations, the aircraft named Paris is equipped with 48 Business seats, 32 Premium Economy seats and 212 Economy seats. It will serve destinations throughout Air France’s extensive long-haul network, including New York, Santiago de Chile, Hong Kong, and…Take an immersive tour of the new Paris aircraft at our dedicated exhibition space at the Palais de TokyoThroughout the duration of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, from 27 July to 11 August 2024, Air France has a dedicated exhibition space at the Palais de Tokyo. In between two events or during a visit to the French capital, visitors of all ages will be able to access the site free of charge and wander…

Air France reinvents its lounge at Cayenne airport

On 28 June 2024, Air France reopened its fully renovated lounge at Cayenne-Félix Eboué international airport. Customers can enjoy a bite to eat, work, or just relax in this elegant and comfortable redesigned space, before boarding or between flights. This lounge is dedicated to Air France's…Redesigned spaces for greater comfortThe Air France teams now welcome customers in a calm and warm environment. From the lounge entrance, the Air France universe is reflected in its signature colours, with shades of blue, luminous whites, touches of red and the presence of the winged seahorse, the airline's historic symbol. At the…

Operations

In the beginning, Air France's business was concentrated in a 37,800 km network, which covered Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and South America, with an eastern extension toward Saigon.IN THE BEGINNINGAs modest as it was, Air France needed to control every part of this network's operations. "Operations" refers to the optimal use of air routes, depending on flight parameters such as the type of aircraft, the load embarked (passengers, freight, messages, etc.), and weather conditions. It also has…AFTER THE WAR, A SURGE IN AIR OPERATIONSThis work was initially the responsibility of pilots and station managers. But the surge in the network and traffic after the war – 140,000 km of routes in 1947 – required creating specific departments. In 1949, each of Air France's 150 destinations had an operations department. Before each…PERMANENTLY CONNECTED TO THE FLEETThe Operations department in Orly was the hub for the operations centres. A communications network provided links with official air navigation departments, weather stations, and other stations. It operated continuously. It received nearly 500 messages every day from all parts the world – by radio,…UPSTREAM: SCHEDULINGThe Air Operations Division was created in 1964. It works with Scheduling, the department in charge of planning flights. Along with the IATA, they develop the long-term operations schedule (three years), which they constantly readjust depending on technical, economic, or political changes. This is…THE OCC, THE AIR FRANCE NERVE CENTREThe Division was transferred to Roissy in 1990, where it became the Operations Control Centre (OCC). 200 people work 24 hours a day at this high-tech hub to coordinate the global network and deal with intangibles. Each shift manager, surrounded by experts representing all the areas of the airline,…Discover today's professionsEn savoir plus

Maintenance

Air France decided to provide its own maintenance for its planes from the beginning.VideoMatériel et entretien | Air FranceA PRIORITY SINCE THE ORIGINSAir France relied upon quality technicians to inspect mechanical systems that certainly had their quirks, and repair the damage caused by flight conditions, which could sometimes be very rough. The stakes were high: protecting human lives, and optimising the use of the aircraft.MORE THAN HALF OF STAFFEven back in 1934, maintenance made up the majority of the airline's staff: more than 1,300 employees. They included mechanics, electricians, and boilermakers… but also carpenters and "canvassers." The structure of some planes was still made out of wood and canvas. The work was sometimes done at…FROM CRAFTSMANSHIP TO INDUSTRYWith the growth of air traffic after the war, aviation became industrial. Staff numbers reached 7,000 in 1949. Hangars took on a new scale. Aircraft were getting larger and larger, were made of metal – careers like "canvasser" disappeared – and were American: Douglas DC3s and DC4s, Lockheed…IMMENSE TECHNICAL PROGRESSAt the end of the 1950s, the arrival of jets was a turning point for the workshops, especially on the engine side. There were no more "eyeball" inspections. A turbojet, protected in its chamber, cannot be disassembled like a piston engine. It was necessary to learn how to work with X-rays and…RECOGNISED EXPERTISEAir France maintenance teams strengthened their expertise, including when it came to maintenance of the Concorde (which joined the fleet in 1974). In fact, many airlines gradually started to call upon their services. Today, more than 150 airlines around the world trust Air France Industries, as the…Discover today's professionsEn savoir plus

PNC : Air hostess and steward

In the early days of Air France, in-flight service was the exception, not the rule.VideoLE PERSONNEL NAVIGANT COMMERCIAL | Air FranceFIRST CABIN CREWThere were only five British bartenders – in red jackets, wing collars, and bow ties – on the Paris-London route. Cabin crew were not deemed to be essential on these flights, which were generally short. Above all, on narrow and low-powered planes, each pound counted. The first "stewards" hired by…"FRENCH" SERVICE BASICSThis "featherweight" staff – less than 60 kg by regulation – had been trained in luxury hotels and on transatlantic passenger ships. They established the basics of French in-flight service. Their task consisted both in providing service that was worthy of the finest establishments, and overseeing…1946: THE FIRST AIR HOSTESSESBefore the war, the role of flight attendants had not yet been formalised. Air France only had about 30 stewards, in uniform adapted from that of the railway sleeping cars. There was a change in scenery after the war, which had seen significant technical progress in aviation. More powerful engines…EACH IN THEIR OWN ROLEHostesses and stewards had uniforms to set them apart from passengers. Their roles complemented one another. Hostesses had the role of "lady of the house" and stewards were tasked with preparing meals in the galley and maintaining cleanliness in the cabin. Air France's heightened reputation of…THE AIR FRANCE IMAGEWith jumbo jets, the profession became standardised. Hostesses and stewards started to take on essentially similar roles in larger teams: up to 16 people on a Boeing B-747. Chief pursers appeared to supervise the pursers on high-capacity aircrafts, Boeing 747 and Airbus A300. The renowned "Air…Discover today's professionsEn savoir plus

Airport ground handling

In the 1920s, the first airfields were often grass runways with huts on their edges.​VideoService en aéroport | Air FranceTHE FIRST AIRFIELDSThey were run by the authorities, who provided customs clearance and made available the equipment necessary for air travel: placing lights along the runways, taxiing the planes, and providing wireless and weather service. It was the airline's responsibility to oversee the preparation of the…THE FIRST AIR TERMINALSAt Air France, created in 1933, these new jobs were coordinated by the station manager, formerly known as an aerodrome leader, with the assistance of a runaway manager. Passengers were greeted, checked in, and accompanied to the bottom of the gangway by employees. They were weighed first: aboard…THE INVALIDES, "A DOOR TO THE WORLD"Everywhere that Air France set up a destination (85 in 1939), it complemented its services with bars, restaurants, and sometimes hotels – like in Africa (Dakar in 1938, Bamako in 1941, Algiers in 1942). After the war, these airport facilities were not able to absorb the increase in traffic. To…EQUIPMENT TO HELP WITH TRAFFICIt was a temporary system. The future would see modern hubs, adapted to the crowds of passengers that were coming with the widespread adoption of jets and wide-body aircraft. Orly (1961) and Roissy (1974) installed equipment to assist in the flow of passengers and baggage such as escalators,…ONE AIRPORT, THREE PROFESSIONS: RUNWAY, TRAFFIC, AND PASSENGER ACTIVITIESTo face this increase in traffic, Air France optimised its organization, which is now articulated around three professions: runway, traffic, and passenger activities. Runway and traffic teams include all employees who work on preparing aircraft, as well as handling baggage and freight. Passenger…Discover today's professionsEn savoir plus

Stunning images filmed from the air to celebrate Air France’s 90th anniversary and the Patrouille de France’s 70th anniversary

To round off a year of celebrations marking Air France’s 90th and the Patrouille de France’s 70th anniversaries, the two jewels of the French aviation industry are honoured in a special film featuring them together in spectacular aerial footage. At the end of September 2023, the company’s 22nd…About the Air France A350-900The aircraft named “Les Sables d’Olonne” is the 22nd Airbus A350-900 to join the Air France fleet. With an order placed for 99 aircraft in the different versions (passenger and cargo), the Air France-KLM Group expects to be the world’s leading operator of this latest-generation aircraft, designed…About the Patrouille de FranceThe Patrouille de France is an ambassador for the French Air and Space Force. A unit made up of pilots, mechanics and administrative staff from operational units, the Patrouille de France display team showcase their expertise to the general public at annual air shows. In 2023, the Patrouille de…