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 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 Paris and the official logo of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the front of its fuselage. It will join the Air France hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle this afternoon, from where it will operate its first commercial flight to Hong Kong in the evening.

Since 2019, Air France has revived its tradition of naming its aircraft after French cities. This allows the company to promote France’s regions throughout the world. “Paris” is the latest aircraft to join the fleet, following on from Lyon, Saint-Denis de la Réunion and Grasse, the names of other aircraft currently in service.

By naming this aircraft Paris, Air France is paying tribute to the French capital, which is both its main base and its leading destination. With a fleet of 256 aircraft, Air France operates close to 1,000 flights a day from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly to nearly 200 destinations worldwide. The airline is the leading private employer in the Paris region.

Air France’s decision to name this aircraft just a few days before the Paris 2024 Games opening ceremony illustrates the feeling of pride shared by the company’s 39,000 employees who have contributed to the organization of this historic event, during which the airline plans to carry more than one in five athletes. 

In more detail, the company plans to carry 15% of Olympic athletes, 35% of Paralympic athletes and 13% of members of the “Olympic and Paralympic family”. Overall, it expects up to 125,000 customers per day this summer, who will discover the company’s advertising campaign launched to coincide with the Paris 2024 Games. The campaign is visible on giant billboards around competition venues, at the Paris airport terminals and adorns the main façade of the company’s head office at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

In 2016, Air France had already decorated aircraft in the colours of the city of Paris’ bid to host the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games. At the time, the company’s aircraft sported a logo featuring a stylized Eiffel Tower depicted with the numbers 24.

On 9 August 2021, after five years in Japan, the Olympic flag was flown back to Paris on board an Air France flight following the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Games. Welcomed by airline staff at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the French delegation led by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Games Organizing Committee, announced the official launch of the countdown to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games.

A latest-generation aircraft meeting the highest industry standards

Integrating 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 Antananarivo (Madagascar).

It belongs to a family of new-generation long-haul aircraft, with an improved economic and environmental performance. Its CO2 emissions are reduced by 25% compared to previous-generation aircraft and its noise footprint is reduced by 40%.

By 2030, latest-generation aircraft will make up 70% of the Air France fleet – compared to 20% in 2023 – thanks to an ambitious investment plan of one billion euros per year.

Take an immersive tour of the new Paris aircraft at our dedicated exhibition space at the Palais de Tokyo

Throughout 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 at their own pace and convenience around an area spanning over 850sq.m dedicated to the company.

In the exhibition areas, visitors will be able to visit the cockpit of the Paris aircraft, via a fun virtual reality experience. They will also be able to try out the company’s latest Business cabin, equipped with a new sliding door and offering greater comfort and privacy. They will also be able to admire the iconic red dress with a never-ending train featured in the Air France brand video.

Air France will also install large information screens to allow visitors to learn more about the company’s sustainable development commitments and understand what it is doing to decarbonise its activities, notably through the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel, fleet renewal, eco-piloting practices and intermodality.

Air France at the Palais de Tokyo, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, 75016 Paris. Free admission from 10:30am to 6pm, from 27 July to 11 August, 2024. More details.