Summary The Boeing 707 replaced Air France's outdated fleet and cut flight times in half. Flying on the 707 was a luxurious and premium experience, akin to modern-day first-class travel. The 707 paved the way for modernization, leading to the order of more jets like the Caravelles and the legacy of the 747.
The Boeing 707 is the aircraft that propelled the American planemaker into the jet age; this long-range narrowbody airliner was one of the most famous early long-haul airframes. Air France was one of its leading operators; let's examine why the 707 played such an essential role within the airline's long-distance network. What was the role of the 707 in the fleet? The entry into service of Boeing's flagship product of the 50s was no small affair for the national airline of France; it was their first step into the jet age.
This meant offering quieter, smoother, and faster rides across the network. The role of the 707 was to replace the carrier's aging fleet of lockheed constellation and super constellation . The 707 almost halved the time needed to fly across the pond from 14 to 8 hours; this is almost as fast as modern-day jets, which take around seven hours to fly from Europe to the US and Canada's East Coast.
What was flying with Air France like back then? Flying on jet services in the 1950s resembled Concorde in the 1970s. It was considered a premium experience, even in economy class. Above is a selection of photos of the service in the 1950s and 1960s, with the 747 on t.