(PARIS, FRANCE) Air France has launched the Short Connection Pass at Paris Charles de Gaulle, a fully automated, real‑time priority system for travelers with tight transfers. The program, developed with airport operator Groupe ADP, rolled out in early August 2025 and is fully active as of August 14, 2025.
With up to 140,000 passengers daily moving through CDG—nearly half making connections—the airline is targeting fewer missed flights and a calmer transfer experience at one of Europe’s busiest hubs.
How the Short Connection Pass works
The Short Connection Pass is designed to be hands-off for travelers and proactive in the background. Eligibility is automatic: when a traveler’s transfer time drops below a set threshold—such as 45 minutes for some domestic‑to‑international connections—the system flags the passenger for accelerated handling.
Key operational points:
– Eligibility is determined automatically using live operations data; passengers do not need to sign up, request help, or show proof.
– The system continuously blends live data on walking times, checkpoint wait times, and updated departure times so guidance adjusts as the situation changes.
– When a passenger is flagged, they receive SMS and email messages on landing explaining their priority status at security and border control.
– At the checkpoint, scanning the boarding pass alerts staff and the passenger is sent through dedicated lanes.
Digital wayfinding is already integrated:
– Since February 2025, travelers who opt in receive a personalized link on landing showing the next gate, estimated walking time, and step‑by‑step directions.
– For iPhone users, real‑time flight information appears on the lock screen starting four hours before departure; Air France says between 70,000 and 90,000 people use this feature each day.
The Short Connection Pass also ties into wider accessibility upgrades, including improvements to the airline’s SAPHIR service so passengers who use wheelchairs can remain in their own chair up to the aircraft door.
Step‑by‑step for travelers
- Book connecting flights through Air France at CDG.
- If your transfer time is below the set threshold (for example, 45 minutes), the system automatically enrolls you.
- On arrival at CDG, check your SMS and email for your priority notice.
- Go to security and border control and scan your boarding pass.
- Staff will recognize your Short Connection Pass status and send you to priority lanes.
- If you opted into digital guidance, follow the link for your next gate and walking time.
No passenger action is required; the system uses live data to recalculate walking times, checkpoint wait times, and departure shifts, updating priority decisions in real time.
Background and the Connect France alliance
The launch is the first major result of “Connect France,” an alliance announced by Air France‑KLM and Groupe ADP at the 55th Paris Air Show in June 2025. The initiative aims to make Paris a stronger global hub through shared digital tools and closer day‑to‑day coordination.
- The Short Connection Pass follows a successful pilot and reflects a broader digital transformation strategy that began in late 2024.
- Air France frames the launch as the most important operational change at CDG this year and a key piece of its digital push.
Impact, feedback, and analyst view
Air France expects the Short Connection Pass to:
– Reduce missed connections by moving at‑risk travelers more quickly through bottlenecks.
– Cut knock‑on delays and rebooking costs.
– Protect the airline’s schedule and lower confusion for connecting passengers at CDG.
Early traveler feedback is mixed:
– Many welcome a clear, automatic path through CDG’s chokepoints, especially when connecting windows are tight.
– Others note the program’s impact still depends on staffing levels at border control and security, which vary by time of day.
Industry analysts see the system as a logical step for a major European hub and note potential to replicate the concept at other airports and airline groups. Within the Connect France framework, similar systems could spread, with pilot work already under way elsewhere.
Roadmap and future enhancements
Planned updates include:
– Broadening notifications beyond SMS and email to the Air France app and WhatsApp so more passengers see their priority status immediately on landing.
– Continuously adjusting connection time thresholds and how live data feeds into decisions to fine‑tune the balance between speed and fairness.
– Expanding accessibility features in SAPHIR, including allowing travelers to stay in their own wheelchair up to the aircraft door.
Accessibility and border rules
The program includes a dedicated accessibility track. Enhancements to SAPHIR are part of the same push, improving mobility consistency for passengers who need it.
Important note on visas and documents:
– The Short Connection Pass streamlines airport movement but does not replace border rules.
– Some travelers may still need an airport transit visa depending on nationality and itinerary. For official information on French airport transit visas, see the government portal: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F21915.
– Passengers should continue to carry proper travel documents for their destination and any transit points.
Operational flexibility and final notes
Air France emphasizes the system is about real‑time decisions rather than fixed labels:
– If conditions improve (shorter lines, closer gates), the system can ease priority where it’s not needed.
– If conditions worsen, it can expand priority access to more travelers.
Air France and Groupe ADP say the Short Connection Pass reflects their shared focus on operational excellence and clearer communication with customers. For assistance and updates, passengers are directed to Air France’s official channels, including corporate.airfrance.com, and airport service desks at CDG. Groupe ADP posts airport information at parisaeroport.fr.
For a hub long known for tight transfers, the launch marks a notable shift. With the Short Connection Pass now live and adjustments underway, all eyes will be on this first season of operations to see how many connections it saves—and how much calmer the journey through CDG becomes.
This Article in a Nutshell
Air France’s Short Connection Pass, active August 14, 2025 at CDG, auto‑prioritizes tight transfers using live data. Travelers flagged for sub‑threshold connections receive SMS and email, scan boarding passes, and access dedicated priority lanes. Digital wayfinding and SAPHIR accessibility tie in, aiming to cut missed connections and calm peak transfer flows.
