Saturday, August 10, 2024 Air France teams are fully mobilized as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach their closing ceremony, preparing to manage the critical weekend of the world’s biggest sporting event, where the airline proudly serves as an official partner. Throughout the competition, Air France has transported over 10,000 accredited guests, including athletes, delegations, and media, representing more than 150 nationalities. With more than one in three accredited guests arriving in Paris by air choosing Air France, the airline has solidified its position as the leading carrier for Olympic participants.
Miniature Airport Opens in Olympic Village to Facilitate Athlete Departures As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games draw to a close, the gradual arrival of Olympic athletes and delegations, which peaked on July 25th, the eve of the Opening Ceremony, is giving way to a wave of departures. Some medalists, including Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, who won gold and set a new world record in pole vault, have already begun their journeys home. However, the majority of departures are expected to occur in a concentrated 48-hour window surrounding the Closing Ceremony, scheduled for Sunday evening, August 11th, at the Stade de France.
The busiest day for departures is anticipated to be Monday, August 12th, 2024. On this day, Air France plans to transport nearly 3,000 delegates aboard 280 flights. With a total of 120,000 customers expected, the day’s traffic will resemble that of a major weekend departure rush—an extraordinary volume for a Monday.
To ensure a smooth experience for all travelers, whether they are connected to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games or not, Air France has implemented a specialized system at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Village. This system is designed specifically for athletes and delegations. For three days, from August 10th to 12th, more than 125 Air France customer service agents will be stationed at the Olympic Village to manage the check-in process for athletes and delegations flying with Air France and its partner airlines.
This process will take place in a dedicated area that essentially functions as a miniature airport. Here, athletes’ luggage will be checked in a day before departure, securely transported to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and stored until it is ready to be loaded onto the aircraft. On average, each Olympic athlete travels with four pieces of luggage, including oversized items such as kayaks, vaulting poles, gymnastics hoops, and racing bikes.
On the day of departure, athletes will be transported to the airport by shuttle bus, following a special route that leads them through a dedicated terminal directly to their boarding gate. Similar arrangements will be made for the departure of Paralympic athletes and delegations on September 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2024, ensuring that all participants enjoy a seamless travel experience as they return home from the Games. Paralympic Athletes Begin Arriving in Paris Ahead of the Games As Olympic athletes depart Paris, the city is now welcoming the arrival of Paralympic athletes, just 19 days before the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
This weekend alone, nearly 200 accredited athletes are arriving on around fifteen flights, marking the beginning of a steady influx of competitors. Air France is poised to play a significant role in these arrivals, expecting to transport more than one in three (35%) of the Paralympic athletes traveling to Paris for the Games. In preparation for this, all Air France operational teams, along with SAPHIR, the airline’s dedicated service for passengers with disabilities, have been hard at work for months.
They have been meticulously preparing to handle the increased demand, which includes managing an exceptionally high volume of wheelchairs and specialized sports equipment. On average, Paralympic athletes using wheelchairs travel with two—one for daily use and another specifically designed for competition. As the Paralympic Games draw closer, Air France remains committed to providing seamless travel experiences for these world-class athletes, ensuring that their journey to Paris is as smooth as possible.
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