Air France will dedicate an Airbus A321 to transporting Pope Leo XIV during his first visit to France, operating three special flights between 26 and 28 September 2026.
The flights will link Paris-Orly, Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, Metz-Nancy-Lorraine and Rome-Fiumicino during the Pope’s visit, which runs from 25 to 28 September.
The aircraft will temporarily carry the name “Cité du Vatican”, displayed on its fuselage beneath the windows. The Vatican City State coat of arms will also appear beside the front left-hand boarding door.
A Dedicated Airbus A321 for the Papal Delegation
The A321 will be configured with two cabins to accommodate the Pope and his immediate entourage, a delegation of more than 70 people, and over 80 accredited international journalists.
Those travelling will include cardinals, bishops, senior officials, Holy See staff, security personnel and Swiss Guards.
Transavia, also part of the Air France-KLM Group, will operate an additional special flight from Paris-Orly to Lourdes for a delegation of cardinals, bishops and journalists covering the visit.
Air France’s Special Flight Schedule
The airline has announced the following services:
- 26 September at 17:45: Paris-Orly to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, departing from Orly’s honorary pavilion.
- 28 September at 07:40: Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées to Metz-Nancy-Lorraine.
- 28 September at 19:00: Metz-Nancy-Lorraine to Rome-Fiumicino.
The services carrying the Pope will have state-flight status, with dedicated arrangements including priority aircraft handling.
More than 100 Air France employees will support the operation across flight operations, cabin crew, maintenance, ground handling, security, protocol, catering and coordination.
Captain Clémence Coussonneau and her crew will operate the flights to Lourdes and Metz. A second crew will take over in Metz for the return journey to Rome. Coussonneau said preparations had been underway for several weeks.
Historic Poster to Be Presented Before Departure
Before the Paris-Orly–Lourdes flight, Air France will present Pope Leo XIV with an original collector’s poster by the artist Plaquet.
The gift recalls the airline’s promotion of pilgrimage travel around the Catholic Church’s 1950 Jubilee. Under then-chairman Max Hymans, Air France commissioned brochures and posters dedicated to Lourdes and Rome.
During Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to France in 2008, the airline presented him with the Lourdes poster, which Air France says has since been displayed at the Vatican.
Previous Papal Flights Included Concorde
Air France has transported popes on several previous occasions, using aircraft ranging from the Airbus A321 to Concorde.
On 2 May 1989, Pope John Paul II flew aboard an Air France Concorde from Saint-Denis de La Réunion to Lusaka, Zambia, during his African tour. The airline later operated his return flight from Reims to Rome in September 1996 using an Airbus A310.
In 2008, Air France carried Pope Benedict XVI between Paris-Orly and Lourdes, and subsequently from Lourdes to Rome, aboard an Airbus A321.
