Air France names new aircraft 'Paris' ahead of Olympic Games

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By Sky Industry News

Jul 18, 2024

Air France has named its latest long-haul aircraft 'Paris' in honor of the host city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The aircraft, registered as F-HUVJ, features the name Paris and the official logo of the Paris 2024 Games on its fuselage. It will join Air France's hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and commence its first commercial flight to Hong Kong.

Since 2019, Air France has been naming its aircraft after French cities to promote France’s regions globally. Previous names include Lyon, Saint-Denis de la Réunion, and Grasse. By naming this aircraft Paris, Air France pays tribute to its main base and leading destination. The airline operates nearly 1,000 flights daily from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly to almost 200 destinations worldwide.

The timing of this announcement coincides with the upcoming opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games. Air France plans to transport a significant number of athletes during the event: 15% of Olympic athletes, 35% of Paralympic athletes, and 13% of members of the "Olympic and Paralympic family." The company expects up to 125,000 customers per day this summer.

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In 2016, Air France had previously decorated aircraft in support of Paris' bid for the 2024 Games. Following the Tokyo 2020 Games closing ceremony on August 9, 2021, an Air France flight carried the Olympic flag back to Paris.

The new 'Paris' aircraft integrates advanced technological innovations with improved economic and environmental performance. It includes Business, Premium Economy, and Economy seats and will serve destinations such as New York, Santiago de Chile, Hong Kong, and Antananarivo. By 2030, latest-generation aircraft are expected to constitute 70% of Air France's fleet.

During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from July 27 to August 11, Air France will host an exhibition at Palais de Tokyo. Visitors can explore a virtual reality experience of the cockpit and learn about Air France’s sustainable development commitments.

Free admission is available at Palais de Tokyo from July 27 to August 11.