On 21 January 1976, Air France operated its first commercial Concorde flight to Dakar and Rio de Janeiro. Fifty years later, the airline is celebrating this iconic legacy and symbol of excellence in French aviation by launching an exclusive collection of merchandise that will soon be available on shopping.airfrance.com. The airline will also premiere a special documentary retracing the history of this French aviation legend on its YouTube channel starting January 21, 2026, at 7 a.m.
The White Bird takes to the skies
On Wednesday 21 January 1976, at 12:40pm, the Air France Concorde, registration F-BVFA, made its first commercial flight to Rio de Janeiro, with a stop-over in Dakar. After a flight time of just 7 hours and 26 minutes, Air France inaugurated its supersonic era, which would continue for 27 years, until 2003. With a cruising altitude of around 60,000 feet – twice as high as other long-haul aircraft – passengers were able to admire the Earth’s curved horizon through the windows.
With a seat capacity of 100, the Concorde reached a cruising speed of Mach 2.02, or 1,350mph. Its sleek, unique and instantly recognizable silhouette featured a wingspan of 84 feet, a length of 204 feet, and a height of 37 feet.
A genuine technological showcase and masterpiece of innovation, the Concorde is a legendary aircraft that embodies Air France’s aeronautical excellence. This pivotal chapter in the airline’s history has left a lasting technological and cultural imprint. A symbol of Franco-British expertise, it remains today a major reference of Air France’s identity – a precious heritage and an endless source of inspiration shaping innovation and the contemporary customer experience.
“Concorde Air France: They Made the Legend Fly”
Tune in to the Air France YouTube channel from January 21 at 7 a.m. to discover an exclusive special documentary about the Air France Concorde. Featuring testimonials from airline employees who helped keep the “Oiseau Blanc” flying, as well as Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM and President of Air France, this exceptional documentary offers nearly 40 minutes of immersion into the legendary aircraft.
Concorde, the pinnacle of aviation luxury
From its inaugural flight in 1976, the Concorde stood out for its excellence. The service reflected the ambitions of the supersonic, with champagne and fresh Périgord truffle pastries by Lenôtre a classic choice. On board, every detail counted in delivering a luxury travel experience. The narrow cabin was an ultra-modern reminder of the golden age of prestige aviation.
Air France initially worked with French industrial designer, Raymond Loewy, in charge of fitting out the first version of the supersonic jet, including the décor for the lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle with furniture designed by Le Corbusier, the cabin interior featuring seats in various colours, lighting, and pristine, sleek tableware, and meal tray. In 1985, and subsequently in 1988, Pierre Gautier-Delaye created two difference styles of cabin interior, the first version featuring tulip red, blue and beige livery, and subsequently a décor of yellow and grey shades. In 1994, Andrée Putman gave the Concorde interior a new, contemporary look, updating it for the modern era. The White Bird remained more than ever the emblem of luxury in the sky. The “goddess” of design unveiled her new interior, based on her idea of adding headrest covers and fitting a carpet with a black and white geometric pattern. She also redesigned the meal tray to resemble a small, delicately pleated, corrugated cardboard box. The result was an elegantly-designed white porcelain service, with a delicate blue border, comprising a range of tableware items fromappetizer dish to coffee set.
Particular attention was paid to the uniforms worn on board the Concorde. In 1976, to celebrate this new era of supersonic travel, fashion designer Jean Patou and his artistic director Angelo Tarlazzi designed a uniform exclusively for stewardesses on board the Concorde. The blouse dress was patterned with navy blue and beige strips, the alternating colours creating an optical effect evocative of the airline’s logo. In 1985, to celebrate Concorde’s tenth anniversary, Nina Ricci designed a new uniform for the stewardesses. The slate blue, navy blue or pearl grey crepe dresses were designed to stand out against the new décor of the aircraft, designed by Pierre Gautier-Delaye. These classic dresses were enhanced by a scarf worn around the neck or as a belt.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first commercial flight, Air France also honors the memory of the victims of the tragic accident of July 25, 2000, and extends its thoughts to their families and loved ones.
Air France Legend – a new Concorde anniversary collection
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s inaugural flight, Air France is launching an anniversary collection that pays tribute to this icon of French aviation and to the pioneering vision that marked an entire era. Inspired by the aircraft’s clean lines and supersonic performance, the collection’s distinctive graphic identity expresses movement, speed, and precision. Blending heritage with modernity, this visual identity magnifies a pioneering aircraft – symbol of elegance, innovation, and dreams.
Model aircraft, silk scarves, shawls, notebooks, and keyrings feature among the ten exclusive items, some of them limited editions, to gradually go on sale as from February 2026 on shopping.airfrance.com.
