Air France

As the national flag carrier of France and a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, Air France embodies French elegance, sophistication, and a deep-seated commitment to connecting cultures. From our primary hub in Paris, we offer an unparalleled travel experience, combining gourmet dining, refined service, and an extensive network that spans the globe. Air France is dedicated to making every journey a seamless and enjoyable reflection of the “art de vivre” (art of living) that defines France.

Our Story: A Rich History of Aviation Prowess

Air France was officially formed on October 7, 1933, through the merger of five pioneering French airlines: Air Orient, Air Union, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne (CIDNA), and Société Générale de Transport Aérien (SGTA). From its very beginnings, Air France set out to establish a vast network, particularly focusing on routes connecting France to its overseas territories and beyond, playing a crucial role in early long-haul air travel.

Throughout the decades, Air France has been at the forefront of aviation innovation. It embraced the jet age, introducing iconic aircraft like the Sud Aviation Caravelle and the Boeing 707 in the late 1950s and early 1960s, dramatically reducing travel times. The airline also became one of only two carriers in the world to operate the supersonic Concorde from 1976 until 2003, symbolizing a pinnacle of speed and luxury in commercial aviation.

The late 20th century saw Air France consolidate its position, acquiring major rivals like UTA (Union de Transports Aériens) and the domestic carrier Air Inter. A transformative event occurred in 2004 with the merger of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, creating Air France-KLM, one of the largest airline groups in the world. While sharing a common parent company, both airlines retain their distinct brand identities, hubs, and unique services.

Air France was also a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance in 2000, alongside Delta Air Lines, Aeroméxico, and Korean Air, significantly expanding its global reach and offering seamless travel benefits to its passengers.

Today, Air France continues to prioritize sustainable aviation, fleet modernization, and delivering a premium, authentically French experience to millions of travelers worldwide.

Leadership and Ownership

Air France is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air France-KLM SA, a publicly traded holding company listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (Euronext Paris: AF). The ownership of Air France-KLM is distributed among several key stakeholders:

  • French State: Holds a significant direct stake of approximately 28.6%.
  • Delta Air Lines: Holds a direct stake of approximately 9.2%.
  • Employees: Own around 2.9% via employee share programs.
  • Free Float: The remaining shares (around 59.3%) are held by various institutional and retail investors.

This mixed ownership structure reflects the airline’s strategic importance to France while operating as a publicly traded commercial entity.

Ms. Anne Rigail serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air France, leading the airline’s strategic initiatives, operational excellence, and customer experience. Mr. Benjamin Smith is the CEO of the Air France-KLM Group. Air France’s headquarters are located in Tremblay-en-France, near Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The Air France Group includes several important subsidiaries:

  • Air France Hop: Operates regional domestic and European flights.
  • Transavia France: A low-cost carrier focusing on leisure routes.
  • Servair: A major airline catering company (50.01% owned).
  • Air France Cargo: Its dedicated freight division.

Our Fleet: A Modern Mix of Airbus and Boeing

Air France operates a large, modern, and diverse fleet, combining the latest generation Airbus and Boeing aircraft to serve its extensive global network. The airline is heavily invested in fleet renewal programs to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce its environmental footprint, and improve passenger comfort. The fleet generally includes:

  • Airbus A350-900: These highly fuel-efficient and quiet twin-aisle aircraft are a cornerstone of Air France’s long-haul fleet, offering a premium cabin experience. Air France is rapidly adding more A350s to its fleet.
  • Boeing 787 Dreamliner (787-9 and 787-10): Another key component of the long-haul fleet, the Dreamliner offers advanced technology, improved cabin environment (lower cabin altitude, higher humidity), and enhanced passenger comfort.
  • Airbus A330-200/300: These versatile wide-body aircraft serve a mix of long and medium-haul international routes.
  • Boeing 777 (777-200ER and 777-300ER): These reliable wide-body aircraft remain vital for high-demand long-haul routes, with many featuring refurbished cabins and premium products.
  • Airbus A220-300: This new generation regional jet is being introduced to replace older short and medium-haul aircraft, offering significant fuel efficiency and a comfortable, quiet cabin.
  • Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321: These narrow-body Airbus aircraft form the backbone of Air France’s short and medium-haul network, connecting Paris to cities across France, Europe, and North Africa. The airline is also progressively introducing A320neo and A321neo variants.

Air France’s fleet strategy emphasizes the balance between passenger comfort, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.

Connecting the World: Paris as Your Global Gateway

Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) serves as Air France’s primary and highly strategic global hub. It is one of Europe’s largest and most connected airports, facilitating seamless transfers for millions of passengers. Paris–Orly Airport (ORY) serves as a secondary hub, primarily for domestic and some regional international flights.

From these Parisian hubs, Air France offers an unparalleled and comprehensive network:

  • Extensive European Network: Connecting Paris to nearly every major city and capital across Europe, including London, Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Athens, and numerous smaller regional destinations, often operated by Air France Hop.
  • Robust North American Network: A very strong presence with direct flights to over a dozen cities in the United States (e.g., New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Seattle, Detroit, Houston), and major cities in Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver). This network is significantly enhanced by its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
  • Deep African and Indian Ocean Network: Unrivalled connectivity to major cities across North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean islands, including destinations like Abidjan, Dakar, Lagos, Cairo, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mauritius, and Réunion.
  • Comprehensive Asian and Middle Eastern Network: Direct flights to key hubs and cities across Asia (e.g., Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai) and the Middle East (e.g., Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Tel Aviv).
  • Extensive Latin American and Caribbean Network: Strong connections to major cities across South America (e.g., Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Mexico City) and numerous Caribbean islands (e.g., Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Havana, Santo Domingo).
  • Vast Domestic Network: Connecting Paris to numerous cities and regions within France.

Air France offers a range of sophisticated cabin classes: La Première (First Class, on select long-haul routes, offering unparalleled luxury), Business Class (featuring lie-flat seats and exquisite dining), Premium Economy (offering enhanced comfort and space), and Economy Class, all designed with attention to detail and French flair.

Your Journey, Your Rewards: Flying Blue

Flying Blue is the highly acclaimed loyalty program shared by Air France and KLM, as well as Transavia. It is designed to reward frequent travelers with a flexible and generous points system and exclusive benefits. As a Flying Blue member, you can:

  • Earn Miles: Accrue valuable Miles when you fly with Air France, KLM, Transavia, all SkyTeam alliance member airlines (providing access to a global network of partners), and an extensive network of over 100 non-airline partners (including credit cards, hotels, car rentals, and lifestyle brands). Miles are earned based on the amount you spend on your ticket, along with your membership status.
  • Earn XP (Experience Points): These are the points that determine your elite status within the Flying Blue program. XP are earned based on the distance and cabin class of your flights.
  • Redeem Miles: Utilize your accumulated Miles for a variety of rewards, including:
    • Flight Awards: Book complimentary flights on Air France, KLM, Transavia, and SkyTeam partner airlines. Flying Blue offers “Promo Rewards” for discounted award tickets.
    • Upgrade Awards: Upgrade your cabin class.
    • Extra Options: Redeem miles for seat options (e.g., extra legroom), extra baggage, and more.
    • Hotel Stays & Car Rentals: Use miles for accommodations and vehicle rentals.
    • Experiences & Products: Access a wide selection of merchandise, experiences, and services through the Flying Blue Store.
  • Achieve Elite Status: Progress through the membership tiers – Explorer, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – to unlock an increasing suite of exclusive privileges:
    • Explorer: The entry-level tier.
    • Silver: Offers priority access for check-in and baggage drop-off (SkyPriority), free standard seat selection, a free extra checked baggage item, and bonus Miles. Corresponds to SkyTeam Elite status.
    • Gold: Provides access to Air France and SkyTeam lounges worldwide (with a guest), SkyPriority access throughout the airport, free seat options (from 72 hours before departure), and higher bonus Miles. Corresponds to SkyTeam Elite Plus status.
    • Platinum: The highest tier, offering the most exclusive benefits, including guaranteed Economy seat availability (under specific conditions), complimentary seat options at time of booking, and the highest bonus Miles. Also corresponds to SkyTeam Elite Plus status, with additional Air France/KLM specific perks.
  • Lifetime Status: Achieve Lifetime Gold or Platinum status by accumulating a certain number of XP over time