Air France celebrates 90 years of elegance
In 2023, Air France is celebrating 90 years of elegance. 90 years of technology, innovation and comfort on board its aircraft. 90 years of travel, fine dining, design, haute couture, art and architecture. Since its creation, the company has been celebrating French excellence, a “je-ne-sais-quoi” that the world recognizes in France, thanks to an exceptional travel experience that takes elegance to new heights.
Created from the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Société Générale de Transports Aériens, the Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne and Aéropostale, Air France was officially inaugurated on 7th October 1933. Ever since, the company has continued to create its legend by promoting the French art of travel around the world. Air France today offers its customers close to 1,000 daily flights to 200 destinations with a fleet of more than 240 aircraft.
Illustrating 90 years of elegance
To embody and bring to life 90 years of elegance, Air France unveiled a collection of iconic dresses that interpret the different hallmarks of the airline – aircraft and technology; uniforms and fashion; its iconic posters promoting its vast network; fine dining and tableware; design and architecture. Each dress is an invitation to explore these themes which have enabled Air France to continually offer the very best from the different eras it has witnessed, and even break new ground, way ahead of its time.
To imagine and design these original dresses, Air France has teamed up with the French designer Xavier Ronze, head of the costume design workshops at the Paris Opera Ballet. The costume designer has created these designs from iconic items that have marked the company’s history and contemporary pieces. He has succeeded in connecting history and modernity, a strong interpretation symbolizing the best of Air France and the best that France has to offer in its areas of expertise.
To ensure maximum exposure of the company’s exhibition for everyone, wherever they are in the world, the company has created a new immersive website, available in French and English, a unique opportunity to explore 9 themes of virtual window displays and look back at the history of Air France and its legacy. Visit the website 90ans.airfrance.com for an immersive tour through 90 years of elegance.
90 years of elegance, the video
To celebrate its 90th anniversary with the whole world and showcase its unique expertise, Air France is also bringing out an anniversary video. The video features models wearing the collection of designer dresses created by Xavier Ronze in a spectacular setting, in behind-the-scenes locations at Air France. From the airline’s huge aircraft hangars to the wings of an Airbus A220, the jewel of its medium-haul fleet, the dresses take centre stage among modern-day and vintage Air France heritage items that have inspired them.
Directed by Killian Lassablière, in collaboration with the Aura by Omnicom agency, this original video blends grandiose sets with archive images and sound, set to an original score by composer Axel Guenoun. This original video showcases Air France’s legendary heritage and the best of its current offer, in a singularly elegant approach. The video has been broadcast online and at various Air France locations from 28 September, and is also visible to the airline’s customers in its airport lounges and on board its aircraft.
Become part of the legend
Air France is offering a range of affordable and more limited-edition models of old and new aircraft, as well as a collection of comfort kits, postcards and baggage tags and notebooks sporting the 90 years signature. The company is also reissuing mythical items such as its famous vintage travel bag and iconic posters. A range of items is available on their website www.airfranceshopping.com.
And for the very first time in its history, Air France is offering visitors the opportunity to purchase original tableware signed by the painter Jean Picart Le Doux and used on board its La Première and Business cabins between 1966 and the 2000s. The proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to the Air France Foundation, which has been committed to supporting children around the world for 30 years.
