Air France is preparing to play a crucial role in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 11 and August 28 to September 8, respectively. The airline announced on July 20, 2023, that it has become the official partner of the 33rd modern Olympics. This partnership stems from Air France’s continued support for the Paris 2024 bid, which began in 2016.
“As you can imagine, we are especially thrilled to welcome Air France to the Paris 2024 journey as an official partner of the Games” highlighted Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG). For Estanguet, having an airline with such rich history and iconic status within the French economy on board boosts the anticipation in welcoming the world to Paris and fulfilling the Committee’s commitment to hosting the Olympics with a distinctive French touch. The President’s sentiments resonate with the Games’ slogan, “Games wide open,” which symbolizes the spirit of inclusivity and openness that Paris aims to embrace as it hosts this global event.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 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.
Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group
Preparations for the grand spectacle have already been set in motion, with Air France mobilizing its teams in Paris and across the globe. The airline is gearing up to cater to the athletes, fans, and media who will converge in France for the event. Special attention will be given to travelers with reduced mobility or disabilities through Air France’s Saphir service, ensuring their travel experience is smooth and accommodating. Saphir has been offering travelers with a disability with flight assistance throughout the whole flight experience, from booking, to issuing tickets and coordinating with the special transportation teams.
Moreover, the airline is making arrangements to transport the necessary sports equipment for various Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, such as javelins, vaulting poles, kayaks, bicycles, wheelchairs, and even surfboards destined for the Teahupo’o waves in Tahiti. It will also facilitate the check-in process at the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Seine-Saint-Denis, allowing athletes to conveniently check in their luggage and sports equipment directly on-site for their return flight.
This partnership between Air France and Paris 2024 is not new; the airline has been a staunch supporter of the bid since 2016. Air France’s commitment was demonstrated through the decoration of ten of its airplanes with the Eiffel Tower-inspired logo stylized into the number 24, symbolizing its dedication to the cause. In September 2017, the airline played a significant role in flying the French delegation, led by Tony Estanguet, back home from Lima after Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The anticipation for the games heightened when, on August 9, 2021, Air France carried the Olympic flag from Japan to Paris following the Tokyo 2020 Games’ closing ceremonies. Then, the countdown to next year’s momentous event was officially launched at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Air France’s association with the Olympic Games dates back to 1952, making it the official carrier for France’s sporting and international delegations. One notable historic feat was during the Albertville Olympic Games (Savoy) in 1992 when Air France transported the Olympic flame from Athens to Paris aboard the Concorde at a record-breaking speed of 2,200 km/h.
