Air France transports up to 140,000 passengers daily across the globe — and to make those journeys even smoother, the airline is doubling down on innovation and digital upgrades.
From the moment you book to the time you land, Air France is rolling out new tech and smart solutions to better meet passengers’ needs.
The airline has just introduced five fresh innovations aimed at making travel more seamless and comfortable from start to finish:
1. A priority service for short connections at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
In August 2025, Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP introduced a new priority system at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, designed to assist passengers facing tight layovers. This new initiative, known as the Short Connection Pass, aims to streamline the transfer process for customers with limited time between flights.
While Air France already structures its flight schedule to support smooth connections for passengers and their baggage, delays or unforeseen disruptions can sometimes reduce the available transfer time. That’s where the Short Connection Pass comes in.
Whenever a traveler’s layover falls below a specific threshold — for example, under 45 minutes between a flight from Toulouse (Terminal 2F) and a connection to New York-JFK (Terminal 2E Hall K) — a priority protocol is automatically activated. There’s no need for passengers to make a request.
Here’s how it works:
- Upon arrival of their inbound flight at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport — if not before — customers receive an SMS and an email informing them that, due to the short time available to reach the boarding gate of their next flight, they are eligible for priority access at security checks and border control. This message will soon also be sent via a notification in the Air France mobile app and a WhatsApp message.
- When customers arrive at security checks and border control, their boarding passes are scanned and Groupe ADP’s customer service staff are automatically notified of the short connection. They then offer priority access.
The aim is to reduce delays at key checkpoints and help passengers reach their next gate on time, even with a short layover.
This new system, known as the “Short Connection Pass,” marks the first major milestone of the Connect France partnership launched by Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP in June 2025.
2. Easier connections thanks to WhatsApp notifications
Since February 2025, Air France has been providing step-by-step guidance via WhatsApp for select flight connections at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports.
To use this service, passengers must opt in to receive WhatsApp notifications during check-in. Once they land, they get a message with a link to a personalized information page, offering essential details like:
- The boarding gate for their connecting flight
- Estimated transfer time
- Walking time
- Steps to follow in the airport
The feature is currently in its testing phase, with nearly 2,000 connecting passengers using the service each month.
3. Dedicated assistance for passengers with reduced mobility travelling in wheelchairs
Air France has always been dedicated to making travel easier for everyone, especially passengers with reduced mobility. Their well-known SAPHIR service supports travelers with disabilities throughout the booking and trip preparation process. In 2024 alone, over 690,000 passengers with disabilities flew with Air France.
In celebration of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the airline introduced a new system allowing passengers who use wheelchairs to keep them for as long as possible during their journey. Since March 2025, those with manual wheelchairs can keep theirs right up until boarding and receive it immediately after landing, giving them greater independence and comfort. Air France plans to extend this service to electric wheelchairs by the end of the year.
Additionally, a special tag lets passengers mark the wheelchair’s lifting points, ensuring airline staff handle it with extra care.
4. A new tool for online document submission
Instead of typing in passport details during online check-in, customers can now just scan their passport or ID card with their smartphone camera. The system automatically reads the information and adds it to the booking. Since this feature launched in March 2025, over 3 million documents have been processed.
Passengers can also save their documents to their profile, so they don’t have to enter the details again for future trips. This not only saves time but also helps reduce errors.
5. Real-time flight tracking on iOS
Since December 2024, iOS users have had access to a handy new feature that shows all their flight details right on their iPhone lock screen or Apple Watch, starting four hours before takeoff.
Important info like boarding gate, departure time, and a countdown to arrival are always visible—no need to open or refresh the app. Plus, this information stays available even without an internet connection until an hour after landing. Each day, between 70,000 and 90,000 passengers use this convenient feature.
For further information or to make a reservation, you can visit www.airfrance.co.za.
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