Air France earns global recognition with World’s Best First Class Award from Skytrax

Air France was among the leading winners at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, held in London on September 18, 2026, earning multiple distinctions that highlight the excellence of its products and customer experience. Most notably, the airline’s La Première suite, introduced in 2025, was awarded the prestigious title of World’s Best First Class.

The carrier was also named Best Airline in Western Europe for the sixth consecutive year and received the World’s Best First Class Airline award for the first time, a recognition driven by the success of its redesigned La Première experience. In addition, Air France secured awards for Best First Class Airline Lounge Dining and Best First Class Airline Comfort Amenities. Reflecting its continued momentum on the global stage, the airline also improved its position in the Skytrax World Airline Rankings, climbing from 8th place in 2025 to 7th place in 2026.

Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM and Chair of the Air France Board of Directors, commented: “From the very beginning of the new La Première cabin project, we set ourselves one clear objective: to offer the world’s best First Class experience. This is an exceptional and entirely new product, rooted in our heritage and reflecting our unique vision of the French art of travel. It took three years to design these suites, which feature five windows for the very first time. Every detail has been carefully considered to offer our customers an experience worthy of a private jet. From the time they arrive at the airport through to their destination, Air France’s La Première is undoubtedly our highest expression of travel, and it is a great source of pride for all our teams to see it recognized by Skytrax today. I would like to thank all the teams who worked on this project and who bring this exceptional product to life every day, as well as our customers, who can now experience this cabin to more destinations and on more aircraft.”

Marking this prestigious recognition from travelers around the globe, Air France has unveiled a special documentary showcasing La Première. Narrated by Air France CEO Benjamin Smith, the nearly 35-minute documentary offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at La Première, the airline’s most refined travel experience. From arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and a fully personalized ground journey to settling into the new La Première suite aboard the Boeing 777-300ER, the film showcases every stage of the passenger experience and the exceptional attention to detail that defines it.

Throughout the documentary, La Première teams and dedicated cabin crew share personal stories and insights, highlighting the expertise, craftsmanship and commitment to excellence that have shaped this premium service for decades. Their perspectives are complemented by contributions from renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, who crafted the menu for the La Première Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Isabelle d'Ornano, founder of the French phytocosmetics brand Sisley. Both embody the spirit of French luxury and play a key role in enhancing the La Première experience.

The film also provides rare access to the Air France archives, tracing the evolution of the airline’s First Class offering over the past 70 years. From the earliest cabin concepts of the 1940s and the introduction of premium service aboard the legendary Parisien Spécial Super Constellation in the 1950s, to the lounge area of the Boeing 707 and the iconic red seats of the Boeing 747, the documentary highlights decades of innovation, elegance and French savoir-faire. Historic uniforms, menus and tableware further bring Air France’s rich heritage to life, illustrating how the airline has continually redefined luxury travel through the generations.