Air France Act, a realistic decarbonisation strategy

05/22/2023

Apave has been working with Air France for over 15 years on the major health and safety issues related to its mission.
This relationship of trust has been built up over the years and positions Apave as a privileged partner for new projects requiring technical knowledge and skills.

INTERVIEW - Anne Rigail - Chief Executive Officer of Air France

What are Air France's commitments in terms of sustainable development?

Sustainable development is at the heart of our strategy. We have defined a decarbonisation path that is both ambitious and realistic, based on three pillars: fleet renewal, increased use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and the widespread adoption of eco-piloting practices. Called the Air France Act, this strategy should enable us to reduce our CO2 emissions per passenger/kilometre by 30% by 2030, in response to strong demand from our customers, partners and our employees.

You mentioned the renewal of your fleet. How many aircraft will you be receiving over the next few years?

Fleet renewal is the main way we can reduce our environmental footprint in the short term. We are investing more than 1 billion a year in the latest generation of aircraft, which emit on average 25% less CO2 than those they replace. Their noise footprint is also reduced by 34%. For its long-haul flights, Air France has ordered 38 Airbus A350s. 20 have already been delivered and 7 more are expected by the end of the year. For short- and medium-haul flights, the Airbus A220 has been selected, with an order for 60 aircraft. With 15 aircraft expected each year between now and 2025, this is the fastest fleet entry in the history of Air France.

With the upturn in air traffic, have you started recruiting again?

This summer, we will be back to a flight schedule close to that of 2019. We have been preparing for this for several months, and we are planning to recruit almost 2000 recruitments between now and the end of the year. Pilots, mechanics, IT engineers, the opportunities are numerous and can be found on the recruitment website: https://recrutement.airfrance.com/

Air France is the largest private employer in the Île-de-France region, and we are constantly working to improve the quality of life at work. We are also committed to promoting gender diversity at all stages of professional life and giving women access to positions of responsibility.

Our missions

We carry out technical and regulatory inspections in the following areas: electricity, lifting, pressure, handling of boarding bridges and freight bridges, etc., and provide professional training in the specific areas of airport security and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

In 2021, the Ile-de-France Environment Consultancy Unit was asked, for the first time, to carry out a soil and subsoil pollution diagnosis on former aircraft hangars at the Air France Industries site. This assignment led to a number of other one-off ICPE (Installations Classées Protection de l'Environnement) consultancy assignments.

At the same time, Apave carried out an asbestos diagnosis in the car parks reserved for Air France, and its subsidiary CAMAS provided specific training in airport security.

In 2022, Apave was commissioned to carry out an audit of the storage tanks. This will be followed in 2023 by general ICPE consultancy services:

Assistance with the drafting of notification files for modifications to installations (hangars, premises used for other purposes, etc.)
Occasional environmental impact assessments following partial closure of facilities or equipment (conversion of hangars)
Computer simulation and modelling of heat flows following an aircraft and hangar fire
Assistance with the drafting of management documents for areas at risk of fire and/or explosion (ATEX zoning; DRPCE).

Find out more about the Apave services for aeronautic

Zoom in

Through its subsidiary Air France Industries, Air France maintains and overhauls its aircraft and their subassemblies, and also manages their airworthiness (i.e. throughout their life cycle, it ensures that they are always airworthy in accordance with the manufacturer's requests and regulatory requirements). Air France does the same with a number of other customers. It also trains aircraft mechanics.

To carry out these missions, Air France holds European EASA Part 147, Part 145 and Part CAMO approvals, all subject to OSAC oversight, as well as American FAR145 and Canadian TCCA approvals.

OSAC inspectors in charge of the Air France customer carry out inspections of operating procedures, documentation and on the ground according to a 24-month regulatory cycle. To date, 214 aircraft are operated by Air France and 1,100 mechanics hold an aircraft maintenance licence (Part 66) issued by OSAC.

We are involved in a wide range of issues, from equipment lifespan and carbon footprint to process improvement and innovative inspections. We are a 360° player

Thomas Counioux

Director of the Transport sector line at Apave

The figures

30 sites

covered by Apave in France and the French overseas territories for regulatory inspections and occasional professional training on airport and freight sites

+ More than 45

Apave experts with badges

Apave at the Paris Air Show 2023

Apave and all its subsidiaries will be on stand B163 in Hall 2.

Apave will also be welcoming its customers to its chalet at the foot of the slopes.

Discover the programme:

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