Aware of its social and societal responsibilities, Air France is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that only skills count in the workplace: fighting against all forms of discrimination is essential to progress and to ensure equality, respect and tolerance.
The world celebrates Pride Month this June and it is an opportunity for Air France to promote its commitment to inclusion and diversity as well as the awareness-raising actions it is carrying out to promote an inclusive work environment in which all employees can be themselves.
The last few years have been marked by several highlights:
- In 2019, the airline signed the association l’Autre Cercle’s LGBT+ Commitment Charter, which fights against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- In 2020, Air France took part in l’Autre Cercle’s second barometer on the inclusion of LGBT+ people in the workplace in France. This survey questioned, at national level, more than 1,200 LGBT+ people representative of the metropolitan population and nearly 17,000 employees working in organizations that have signed l’Autre Cercle’s LGBT+ Commitment Charter. At Air France, over 600 employees took part in this survey. Nearly 90% of them said they were satisfied with Air France’s diversity policy against discrimination.
- In October 2020, Air France purser Lou Andréa Colliaux was named as l’Autre Cercle’s Role Model in the “LGBT+ Leader” category. l’Autre Cercle’s Role Models are 95 professionals who have distinguished themselves with their actions in favour of the inclusion and visibility of LGBT+ people and are divided into four categories: LGBT+ directors, directors supporting the LGBT+ cause, LGBT+ leaders and young LGBT+ graduates.
- In 2021, Personn’ailes is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Set up in 2001, Personn’ailes is the first LGBT+ and gay friendly association set up by a French airline.
In 20 years of joint work between Air France and Personn’ailes, a lot has been achieved. Today, STD-HIV prevention is available to all, transitional paths are supported, LGBT+ phobia is denounced and dealt with as soon as it is confirmed by the Human Resources division, and “diversity” advisors exist in each department of the company. LGBT+ visibility is no longer a subject but a daily reality. And working groups are organized on issues related to parenthood, in particular as part of the renegotiation of the gender equality agreement.
Wouter Vermeulen, General Manager Southern Africa Air France-KLM, affirms that Air France-KLM remains committed to being a brand that is both inclusive and diverse. “At Air France-KLM, it is incredibly important for our staff to be themselves in an environment that is safe and inclusive. As well as for our passengers to know they fly an airline that values and pursues equality, respect and tolerance. This Pride Month, we celebrate our LGBT+ staff and passengers and will be flying the rainbow flag proudly.”