NETWORK AIRLINE
Air France: pilot interview prep
The essentials
- Group
- Air France-KLM (group CEO: Benjamin Smith)
- CEO
- Anne Rigail, since December 2018
- Hub
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle
- Alliance
- SkyTeam (founding member, 2000)
- Fleet
- 229 aircraft at 31/12/2025: 120 long-haul, 107 medium-haul, 2 freighters
The fleet
- Long-haul: Airbus A350-900 (renewal under way, A350-1000s ordered), Boeing 777-200ER/300ER, Boeing 787-9, and the last A330-200s (retiring early 2027)
- Medium-haul: A320 family and A220-300, A320neo and A321neo arriving
- Cargo: Boeing 777F
Key dates
- 1933: Air France founded on 7 October, through the merger of several French airlines.
- 1976 to 2003: Concorde operations, alongside British Airways.
- 1997: merger with Air Inter.
- 2000: co-founder of the SkyTeam alliance.
- 2004: combination with KLM, creating the Air France-KLM group.
- 2018: Anne Rigail becomes the first woman to lead Air France.
Good to know
- Fleet renewal: A350 on long-haul, A220 and A320neo/A321neo on medium-haul.
- Transavia is the group's low-cost brand in France.
- In 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter over AF447 (2009): a current topic to be aware of.
How to prepare
- Know the group structure (Air France, KLM, Transavia) and the role of the CDG hub.
- Be able to talk about the fleet and its renewal.
- Prepare a motivation specific to Air France: network, long-haul, career path.
Questions to prepare
- Why Air France rather than another airline?
- What do you know about Air France's fleet and how it is changing?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years at Air France?
- What do you think of Air France's place in the Air France-KLM group?
Recruitment
Campaign closed Cadet programme (training funded by the airline)
2026 campaign open from 15 June to 31 July, now closed.
Varied profiles: graduates, science students, career changers. Full conditions on the recruitment site.
The cadet campaign usually opens once a year: start preparing the tests now for the next one. Always check the airline's website before applying.
Public information checked on 15 October 2026. Leadership and fleets change: double-check before your interview. Sources: 1, 2, 3.
In the app: the full guide, its mind map, a 5-question quiz on Air France and tracking of your preparation.