Air France is the official partner of the 33rd Olympics of the modern era to be held in Paris in 2024. This follows the signing of a partnership between the airline and the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOPG)
Commenting on the partnership, Air France-KLM Group CEO Benjamin Smith said, “We are proud to extend our partnership with the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. After the thrill of Paris being awarded the Games, we can’t wait to contribute to making this global event a success. The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games speak to our goals and values at Air France. Come summer 2024, we will help the very best of France soar worldwide like never before, on the wings of excellence, respect, and inclusion.”
Air France has already mobilized its teams in Paris and across the globe to prepare for the arrival of the athletes, fans, and media in France for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Special attention will be given to travelers with reduced mobility or a disability, who will be able to avail themselves of the airline’s Saphir service for assistance.
The women and men of Air France are also readying the planes’ cargo holds for the equipment slated for action in various Olympic and Paralympic disciplines: javelins, vaulting poles, kayaks, bicycles, wheelchairs, and even the surfboards that will be tackling the Teahupo’o waves in Tahiti.
Air France will assist with the check-in process at the Olympic Village in Seine-Saint-Denis to allow athletes to check in their luggage and sports equipment directly onsite for their return flight. They can then commute to the airport via an assigned route.
In her remarks, Air France CEO Anne Regail said, “We are already marshaling all of our resources at Air France to make the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games a success. Preparations got underway months ago as we ramp up toward next summer and the work of getting the athletes and fans to the various Olympic and Paralympic venues. This is quite the journey we and our 38,000 employees – pilots, flight attendants, and ground teams – are eager to embark on and share with visitors from all over the world”.
Air France has been backing Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games since 2016. The air carrier decorated 10 of its airplanes for the occasion, outfitting them for years with the Eiffel-Tower-inspired logo stylized into the number 24.
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet added: “As you can imagine, we are especially thrilled to welcome Air France to the Paris 2024 journey as an Official Partner of the Games. The storied airline is an iconic jewel of the French economy, it enjoys a strong history with the Games and has supported us since the bid phase in 2016. Together with Air France, we look forward to welcoming the world and delivering on our promise to host the Olympics with a French touch, while honoring our slogan: Games wide open!”
In September 2017, after Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympics, Air France flew the French delegation headed by Tony Estanguet home from Lima, where they were greeted by members of the airline’s team.
On August 9, 2021, after five years in Japan, the Olympic flag traveled to Paris aboard an Air France aircraft following the closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Games. And the countdown to the July 26, 2024 opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Games was officially launched at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Air France has been the official carrier of France’s sporting and international delegations for the Olympics since 1952.
The official international carrier of the Albertville Olympic Games (Savoy) in 1992 and official partner of the French Olympic and Paralympic team at the time, Air France shuttled the Olympic flame from Athens to Paris on the Concorde at 2,200 km/h. This historic feat set a record as the fastest flame of all time.
