Air France

Complimentary ashtrays from Air France

March 16, 2009Harriet BaskasFree Stuff, History, SouvenirsAir France, ashtrays, Boeing tour, Future of Flight

Each year, more than 100,000 aviation fans make their way north from Seattle to Mukilteo to visit the Future of Flight Aviation Center and take a tour of the Boeing commercial jet assembly plant.

The tour is mighty impressive, and so is the Aviation Gallery, which features the nose section of a Boeing 727, airplane engines and other airplane parts, and lots of interactive exhibits.

Until April 20^th, the Aviation Gallery is also home to an impressive exhibition of memorabilia from Air France, one of Boeing’s longtime customers. On display are luxurious table settings, multi-course in-flight menus and examples of gift items from the airline’s early years, such as these complimentary ashtrays and this cool lunchbox set.

Ready for cell phones on airplanes?

February 22, 2009Harriet BaskasCell Phones, Wi-FiAir France, Ryanair

Air France gave it a test run last year and now Ryanair is going full speed ahead with in-flight cell-phone service.

Here’s a report from CNN about one of the first (press-heavy) flights. Wish I’d been there just to see the cell-phone costume in person.

Free chocolate from Air France; free cookies in Columbus

January 28, 2009Harriet BaskasArt, Free StuffAir France, Brushstrokes in Flight, Chinese New Year, Port Columbus International Airport, Roy Lichtenstein, Year of the Ox

To celebrate the Year of the Ox, which began on January 26th, Air France is giving each passenger on flights to China, Singapore and Vietnam a “Hong Bao,” or red envelope.

Red symbolizes luck, and in China and other Asian countries it is customary to give red envelopes filled with money on the New Year.

Air France is handing out red envelopes through January 28th, but instead of money, the envelopes are filled with chocolate coins.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, Ohio, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are commemorating 50 years of passenger service at Port Columbus International Airport (CMH). Festivities include free cookies for all Delta and United passengers on Thursday, January 29th.

While you’re at Port Columbus International Airport, check out Brushstrokes in Flight, this 26-foot tall sculpture by the late Roy Lichtenstein.

Air France turns 75. See the home movies.

October 2, 2008Harriet BaskasHistoryAir France

Air France has been gearing up for October 7^th, which will mark the airline’s 75^th anniversary.

As part of the celebration, the airline has been posting some great archival material on its website.

Included are 10 short videos about the airline’s history. Set to jaunty music, each video combines images from the past and the present. Some are a bit dry, but “Life on Board,” “Pilots” and “Flight Attendants” are sort of fun.

Air France Pope-plane

September 12, 2008Harriet BaskasCelebrities, EventsAir France, Pope Benedict

The Pope has popped over to France to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Bernadette’s vision of the Virgin Mary.

Lots of folks are pretty excited about this trip, including the folks at Air France. That’s because on Saturday and Monday (September 13th and 15th, 2008) Air France will be transporting Pope Benedict XVI to Lourdes and then flying him home to Rome.

For the event, the airline has rearranged an Airbus A321 with 3 cabins for the Pope, his delegation, and the more than 70 journalists going along for the ride.

Air France says the crew – two pilots and eight flight attendants – will change on each flight, so that the largest number of staff will get to travel with the Pope.

Here’s the itinerary: on Saturday September 13th, the aircraft will take off from Paris-Orly at 4:30 pm and land at Lourdes-Tarbes at 5:50 pm. On Monday September 15th, the aircraft will depart from Lourdes at 1 pm to reach Rome-Ciampino 1 hour and 50 minutes later.

This isn’t the first time a Pope has flown on Air France: Jean Paul II took two flights on an Air France Airbus A310. In September 1996, he travelled from Reims to Rome, after commemorating the 1,500^th anniversary of the baptism of Clovis, and from Paris to Rome in August 1997, after the World Youth Day held in France.