Last updated: 9:00 PM ET, Tue September 23, 2025
WHY IT RATES: The Air France Foundation unveiled new initiatives at Palais de Tokyo, including a fundraising platform to support selected projects for vulnerable children. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor
On September 8, the Air France Foundation hosted a special event at the Palais de Tokyo, where it presented its major upcoming initiatives in France and abroad, attended by members of the Foundation’s Board, partner associations overseeing the implementation of projects, and volunteer employees. During the event, the Foundation announced the launch of a fundraising platform for making contributions to projects selected and supported by the Air France Foundation.
A mission unchanged in purpose, and a renewed ambition
For over 30 years, the Air France Foundation has been working to improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people through its support of non-profit projects in France and worldwide. Its work focuses on three key areas – facilitating access to education and employment, raising awareness of environmental issues, and humanitarian aid initiatives. For the period covering 2025-2026, 36 projects have been selected to receive the Foundation’s support. For 80% of these projects, this involves renewing the existing partnership, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring its actions have long-term impact.
To guide its actions and promote its initiatives, the Foundation relies on its administrators, including astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who began his career as a pilot at Air France. “As a former Air France employee, I have always felt a strong connection with the company, and even more so with the Foundation that is very close to my heart. I have always sought a deeper purpose in all that I do, and I found this by working with associations, especially the one that matters most to me, the Air France Foundation”, said Thomas Pesquet.
One of the Foundation’s distinctive features — using Flying Blue Miles to fund concrete actions
Historically, the Foundation funds its activities through contributions from Air France and Servair, as well as donations from Air France customers in the form of Flying Blue Miles. These miles are then converted into concrete actions carried out by associations – sending school supplies, transporting sick children to hospital, or providing educational assistance in isolated areas.
Donations can be made directly on the Flying Blue website – https://www.flyingblue.com/en/mileshub/donate
Starting September 2025, the Air France Foundation is launching a new online fundraising platform for making one-time or recurring donations by credit card. The goal is to give everyone,travellers and non-travellers alike, the opportunity to support projects selected by the Foundation. Each donation generates a tax receipt, qualifying donors for an income tax deduction.
A powerful community of committed Air France employees
The Foundation’s strength also lies in the dedicated involvement of Air France employees from all sectors of the company. In 2024, more than 5,000 employees, pilots, cabin crew, cargo agents, aircraft mechanics, customer service agents and administrative staff based in France and across the world participated in local on-the-ground initiatives, fundraising, or mentoring programmes.
“Since it was set up in 1992, the Air France Foundation has supported over 1.5 million children and young people who are sick, disabled or in great difficulty worldwide”, stated Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France. “Its mission is made possible thanks to the extraordinary dedication of partner associations, administrators and Air France employees. This outstanding collective effort, together with the generous support of a growing number of donors, will allow the Foundation to pursue its vital work.”
SOURCE: Air France press release.
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