Air France is launching CANAL+ on board its long-haul flights
Johannesburg | Air France and CANAL+ have announced an unprecedented new partnership. From 1 May 2025, the airline will be offering privileged access to a selection of CANAL+ programmes on all its long-haul flights. Customers will soon be able to watch CANAL+ Creation Originale series, must-see programmes, comedy shows, documentaries and children's shows during their trip. All this content will enhance Air France's entertainment offer, which also includes a large number of movies.
By teaming up with CANAL+, a leader in audiovisual creation in France, Air France is continuing to promote French savoir-faire throughout the world. This is a strong commitment on the part of Air France, which devotes 30% of its entertainment offer to French productions, with its selection of films and TV series.
Very soon, Air France customers will be able to enjoy episodes of recent or iconic CANAL+ Creation Originale series during their flight, such as The Embers, Of Money and Blood and Versailles. Flagship shows such as En Aparté and comedy shows with Laura Felpin, Roman Frayssinet and many others will also be available. Captivating documentaries on travel, discovery and sport, as well as children's content, will round off the variety of shows on offer. From June 2025, the selection will be enhanced with content from CANAL+ Africa, such as the series Niabla and the documentary series Enquête d'Afrique.
In total, around 100 CANAL+ programmes will be available at the time of launch in French, subtitled and adapted for the deaf and hard of hearing. This selection will be renewed with twenty new programmes every month.
"We are proud to be showcasing CANAL+ programmes on board our flights. Renowned throughout the world for their creativity, I'm sure they will appeal to our customers and promote French culture. They also enable us to offer more up-to-date content on board our flights," said Fabien Pelous, SVP Customer Experience at Air France.
"We are delighted with this unique partnership, which will enable Air France passengers to enjoy an exclusive entertainment experience on board its long-haul flights. We are particularly honoured that Air France has chosen CANAL+ to create its first and only dedicated media space, reinforcing our commitment to promoting French, and soon African, audiovisual creation throughout the world," added Christophe Pinard-Legry, CEO of CANAL+ France in charge of Business activities.
Over 1,500 hours of in-flight entertainment
In all Air France long-haul cabins, customers have access to a large high-definition screen offering over 1,500 hours of on-demand entertainment. In the most recent cabins, the anti-glare screen offers 4K quality and is equipped with a Bluetooth connection for connecting personal headphones or earphones. In addition, the airline is gradually rolling out a new touch-sensitive graphic interface on its 38,000 screens, available in 12 languages and allowing passengers to choose their programme more easily.
Carefully selected, Air France's film selection is adapted to everyone's tastes and cultures, and is available in the original version or in several different languages. The airline offers more than 310 films of all genres, from the most classic to the most recent, showcasing French cinema as well as world cinema and the biggest American blockbusters. It also offers series, reports, documentaries, music, podcasts, destination guides and children's programmes. There's also a section dedicated to well-being, where young and old alike can try their hand at meditation or seated yoga during their trip. Finally, an interactive map and an on-board camera allow users to follow the flight path and watch the take-off and landing from their seat.
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
For over a century, KLM has been a pioneer in the airline industry. KLM is the oldest airline still operating under its original name and aims to be the leading European network carrier in customer-centricity, efficiency and sustainability. The KLM network connects the Netherlands with all of the world's key economic regions and is a powerful engine driving the Dutch economy.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is part of the Air France–KLM Group. KLM is also a member of the global
SkyTeam Alliance, which has 19 member airlines.
ABOUT CANAL+
Founded as a French subscription-TV channel 40 years ago, CANAL+ is now a global media and entertainment company. The group has 26.9 million subscribers worldwide, over 400 million monthly active users on its OTT and video streaming platforms, and a total of more than 9,000 employees. It generates revenues in 195 countries and operates directly in 52 countries, with leading positions in Pay-TV in 20 of them. CANAL+ operates across the entire audio-visual value chain, including production, broadcast, distribution and aggregation.
It is home to STUDIOCANAL, a leading film and television studio with worldwide production and distribution capabilities; Dailymotion, one of the world's largest short-form video streaming platforms; Thema, a production and distribution company specialising in creating and distributing diverse content and channels; and telecommunication services, through GVA in Africa and CANAL+ Telecom in the French overseas jurisdictions and territories. It also operates the iconic performance venues L'Olympia and Théâtre de l'Œuvre in France and CanalOlympia in Africa.
CANAL+ has also significant equity stakes across Africa, Europe and Asia, namely in MultiChoice (the Pay-TV leader in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa), Viaplay (the Pay-TV leader in Scandinavia) and Viu (a leading OTT platform in Southern-Asia).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Business
an hour ago
- Gulf Business
Update: These UAE, international carriers suspend Mideast flights amid Iran-Israel-US tensions
Image: AI generated/ For illustrative purposes only Israel's strikes against Iran have prompted As the crisis entered a new phase following the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites, some airlines moved to cancel flights to hubs like Dubai and Qatar's Doha. Below are some of the airlines that have cancelled their flights to and from the region: AIRBALTIC Latvia's airBaltic said that all flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30 had been cancelled. AEROFLOT Russia's Aeroflot said that it had cancelled flights between Moscow and Tehran, and made changes to other routes in the Middle East. AIR EUROPA The Spanish airline said that it has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv until July 31. AIR FRANCE-KLM Air France said that it had suspended its flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. Air France KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on June 22 and June 23. KLM said that it had cancelled all its flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least July 1 and added that some flights to, from or via Beirut until June 29 may be disrupted. DELTA AIR LINES The US carrier said that travel to, from, or through Tel Aviv may be impacted between June 12 and August 31. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES The carrier said that it had cancelled its regular flight schedule for EL AL and Sundor through June 23. Additionally, flights scheduled to depart through July 15 have been closed for new bookings until security situation becomes clearer. ETIHAD AIRWAYS It said that it had cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Amman until June 20 and between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until June 30. EMIRATES FLYDUBAI Flydubai said that it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria until June 30. IAG IAG-owned British Airways said that its flights to Tel Aviv remain suspended until July 31 and flights to Amman and Bahrain are suspended up to and including June 30. The British carrier was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights on June 23 after cancelling routes to and from those airports the day before. IAG's low-cost airline, Iberia Express, had previously said that it had cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv until June 30. ISRAIR The Israeli airline said that it had cancelled all its flights from and to Israel until June 30. ITA AIRWAYS The Italian Airline said that it would extend the suspension of Tel Aviv flights until July 31, including two flights scheduled on August 1. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa said that it had suspended all flights to and from Beirut until and including June 30 and to and from Tel Aviv and Tehran until and including July 31. Flights to and from Amman and Erbil are cancelled until and including July 11. The German airline added that it would also refrain from using airspace of the countries concerned until further notice. PEGASUS The Turkish airline said that it had cancelled flights to Iran until June 30 and flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan until June 23. QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways said that it had temporarily cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Syria. RYANAIR Ryanair said that it had cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30. SINGAPORE AIRLINES The Asian carrier on June 22 cancelled flying from Singapore to Dubai following a security assessment. The flight was set to resume on June 23. TAROM Romania's flag carrier said that it had suspended all commercial flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until June 24. TUS AIRWAYS The Cypriot airline cancelled all its flights to and from Israel scheduled until June 24 (inclusive). Flights scheduled for departure between June 25 and June 30 are currently closed for sale, pending further developments, it said. UNITED AIRLINES The US carrier said that travel to and from Tel Aviv may be affected between June 13 and August 1. Flights to Dubai between June 18 and 25 may also be affected. WIZZ AIR Wizz Air said it had suspended its operations to and from Tel Aviv and Amman until September 15. The Hungarian airline will also avoid overflying Israeli, Iraqi, Irani and Syrian airspace until further notice.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Acsa ramps up national airport infrastructure upgrades and capacity projects
Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has launched a comprehensive infrastructure maintenance and capital investment programme across its entire airport network, aimed at enhancing operational reliability, improving the passenger experience, and future-proofing South Africa's aviation hubs. The company is rolling out maintenance and refurbishment projects at all nine of its airports, including upgrades to critical services such as ablution facilities, sewerage systems, fire escapes, and safety protocols in high-traffic areas. OR Tambo leads with passenger facility upgrades At OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), one of the flagship initiatives underway is the phased refurbishment of ablution facilities. The work, covering male, female, baby-change, and accessible amenities, began in December 2024 and is scheduled for completion by December 2025. Speaking at a stakeholder meeting with airline representatives on Thursday, 19 June, chief executive officer, Mpumi Mpofu, says many of the current projects are scheduled for completion between late 2025 and 2027, forming part of a sustained commitment to the industry's long-term operational capacity. "This programme is a strong signal of Acsa's recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic," says Mpofu. "It reflects our return to financial sustainability and our ability to reinvest in critical infrastructure that will serve the aviation industry and the broader economy for years to come." Major refurbishment and expansion priorities Alongside maintenance work, ACSA is advancing several major capacity and infrastructure enhancement projects across key operational systems. These include: • Jet fuel infrastructure at ORTIA: The installation of a new 20-inch jet fuel feeder line and implementation of Jet Fuel Redundancy Phase 1 to improve reliability and fuel supply security. Backup power generators at the airport are also being replaced. • Passenger loading bridges (PLBs): Structural repairs, system upgrades and canopy refurbishments on loading bridges, with project milestones expected between November 2025 and 2026. • Uninterrupted power supply (UPS): A phased replacement of UPS units at critical operational points, scheduled for completion in 2026. • People movers: Replacement and refurbishment of escalators and lifts to address operational inefficiencies. Several escalator upgrades are already complete, with the programme running through 2027. • Instrument landing and weather systems: Replacement of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) to enhance aviation safety and operational compliance, with completion targeted for the end of 2026. • Terminal and roofing works: HVAC system upgrades, roof waterproofing, sprinkler replacements and airside infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and passenger comfort. • Fuel systems and fire infrastructure: Extensive refurbishment of fuel meters, hydrants, and booster pumps to strengthen fire safety and fuel distribution reliability. Coordinating with industry stakeholders Acsa is engaging closely with government, airlines, and commercial partners to ensure efficient delivery of these infrastructure projects while minimising operational disruptions for travellers. The programme marks a notable investment phase for Acsa as it focuses on enhancing operational resilience and preparing its airports for increased demand and future growth. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Post
5 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Airspace Disruption Grounds Flights as Middle‑East Tensions Escalate
Commercial carriers are suspending flights across Middle‑Eastern airspace following the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, with empty skies appearing over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel as airlines divert or cancel services. Singapore Airlines described the situation as 'fluid', cancelling its Singapore–Dubai service after a security review, while British Airways and Air France‑KLM also halted flights involving Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Riyadh, indicating growing caution among global operators. Airspace closures have disrupted one of the busiest commercial corridors connecting Europe and Asia. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace off limits, carriers have been forced to reroute via the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia—adjustments that add flight time, crew costs and fuel consumption. FlightRadar24's tracking reveals entire swathes of no‑fly zones over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel, emphasising the scale of avoidance. Safe‑Airspace, an independent watchdog operated by OPSGROUP, warns that missile and drone activity amplified by the US strikes has increased risk for civilian aircraft. Though no specific threats have been aimed at civil aviation, the group highlights Iran's prior pledges to retaliate against US military installations in the region, raising concern that civilian flights might still face misidentification or collateral danger. ADVERTISEMENT Air India has already reported cancellations across the region, linking them to both this geopolitical strain and a deadly crash at home; its Boeing‑787 fleet is currently under enhanced inspections by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and flights remain trimmed by around 15 per cent into mid‑July. Likewise, American Airlines and United suspend routes to Qatar and Dubai, while Delta extends its pause on New York–Tel Aviv services through August 31. El Al and Israir have ramped up rescue operations, with Israeli airports offering up to 24 rescue flights per day from abroad, each limited to fifty passengers, aiming to reconnect tens of thousands of citizens stranded overseas. Israel briefly reopened its airspace for six‑hour windows to facilitate this movement. Airline industry analysts caution that these disruptions may persist. The closure of airspace over Iraq and Iran since 13 June has seen Saudi air traffic double and Afghan overflights rise nearly six‑fold as carriers seek new corridors. Elevated oil prices—driven by potential threats to the Strait of Hormuz—have further strained margins, coinciding with global airline stocks slipping as investors digest this complex mix of safety, logistical and financial challenges. Looking ahead, airlines must decide whether to maintain suspensions or resume operations as de‑escalation becomes a test of regional stability and market confidence. For now, the cost of avoidance is steep: longer flights, operational complexity and heightened exposure to geopolitical instability.
