PARIS — Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP have launched the first major initiative under their Connect France partnership, introduced at the 55th Paris Air Show.
The new program is aimed at streamlining the connecting experience for travellers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), where nearly half of Air France’s 140,000 daily passengers transfer between flights.
Connect France’s debut feature is the Short Connection Pass, a system designed to prioritize passengers with limited time to make their onward connection. The service is being introduced during the busy summer travel period, offering an automatic solution for passengers navigating short transfer windows – without requiring any action on their part.
To support the program, Groupe ADP has implemented a dedicated route through the airport complete with newly redesigned multilingual signage to better direct passengers making connections. While Air France’s flight schedule is already optimized to facilitate efficient transfers, the system is intended to support passengers when unforeseen delays or short transfer times create added pressure between flights.
When a connecting itinerary meets certain thresholds – such as a 45-minute transfer from a flight arriving from Toulouse to an onward flight to New York JFK departing from a different terminal – the Short Connection Pass is triggered automatically.
Passengers are alerted by text message and email upon arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The communication notifies them that they are eligible for priority access at security and border control checkpoints due to their shortened connection window. This functionality will soon be expanded to include alerts via the Air France mobile app and WhatsApp.
At the checkpoints, boarding passes are scanned, and Groupe ADP’s service provider is automatically notified of the short connection. Travellers are then granted expedited access, allowing them to reach their gate faster and reduce the risk of missing their next flight.
The system is powered by real-time data sharing between Air France, Groupe ADP and its service provider. This includes estimated walking time through the airport, expected wait times at security screenings and the updated departure time of the passenger’s next flight.
“Supporting our customers and making their journey easier is a top priority. Air France’s hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport is already the most powerful in Europe in terms of available connection opportunities,” said Alain-Hervé Bernard, Executive Vice President of Operations and Cargo at Air France. “Thanks to this joint initiative with Groupe ADP, we are further strengthening its appeal and reaffirming our ambition to position Paris-Charles de Gaulle among the world’s leading hubs.”
