In a world where awareness of social and ethical issues is growing, the air transport sector is no exception. Air France, a major player in the industry, recently took a significant step forward in the fight against sexist and sexual violence in the workplace. This commitment, formalized in a new five-year agreement, aims to establish a respectful and safe working environment for all its employees, echoing the #MeToo wave that shook many industries in early 2025.
A historic agreement for a healthy working environment
Signed on December 12, 2025, this ambitious agreement binds Air France management to all representative trade union organizations, including Alter, CFDT, CFE-CGC, CGT, FO, SNPL, SPAF and Unsa Aérien. Its scope, extended over the period 2026-2031, bears witness to an affirmed determination to guarantee a working environment free from all forms of violence, whether sexist, sexual or moral, as well as all forms of harassment.
Strengthening existing systems
The agreement does more than simply restate principles; it strengthens and formalizes the systems already in place. Prevention, reporting of incidents, support for victims and disciplinary procedures have been consolidated to make them accessible to all categories of personnel, from pilots to ground staff, including cabin crew and managers. This effort follows on from an initial agreement dating back to 2020, but takes a new step forward by explicitly addressing gender-based and sexual violence, and extending the means of action.
Air France's response to accusations of sexual violence
This new agreement comes a few months after the broadcast of an investigation by Radio France's investigative unit in February 2025. This investigation had brought to light accusations of sexual assault and harassment within the company, involving in particular harrowing accounts from flight attendants, pursers and pilots. These testimonies depicted a corporate culture in which such behavior was, if not tolerated, at least known and insufficiently sanctioned, giving rise to a feeling of impunity among certain alleged perpetrators.
These revelations sent shockwaves through both public opinion and the company itself. The political authorities, including the government, Air France-KLM's reference shareholder, reacted firmly. The Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, summoned the company's management to demand explanations and concrete commitments aimed at eradicating these practices and providing better protection for employees.
Setting up a listening unit and a dedicated service
Back in February 2025, even before the agreement was signed, Air France's CEO had announced a series of reinforced measures. These included the creation of a an external, independent listening unit available 24/7 for all employees. A department dedicated to combating discrimination, harassment and sexist and sexual violence has also been set up, reporting directly to Human Resources. The new agreement signed in December will perpetuate these measures by clarifying reporting channels, guaranteeing confidentiality and defining the role of referents within the teams.
Training, awareness-raising and the key role of trade unions
The agreement gives pride of place to prevention. A significant part of the project is dedicated to raising awareness and training for all staff. Managers, pursers, station managers and supervisory staff are trained to better identify prohibited behavior, know what recourse is available and how to react in situations of harassment or violence.
The role of the trade unions, signatories to this agreement, has been strengthened. They are now actively involved in identifying high-risk situations, supporting victims and rigorously monitoring procedures. The aim of this collective commitment is to bring about a lasting change in the company's culture and make Air France a model in terms of well-being in the workplace.
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