The verdict of the 2026 World Airline Awards was announced this September 18th in London: Air France has won the award for the World's Best First Class, presented by the international rating organization Skytrax. Commonly referred to as the "Oscars of Aviation," this honor marks the first time the tricolor airline's new La Première cabin has reached the supreme rank of global air travel. This is a source of pride shared by Maison Dumas Paris, a partner and official bedding supplier to Air France for over three decades.
A historic triumph at the "Oscars of Aviation" for Air France
Organized annually since 1999, the Skytrax survey is the absolute benchmark for passenger satisfaction. For the 2026 edition, no fewer than 24.8 million votes from regular travelers representing more than 100 nationalities were tallied between September 2025 and August 2026.
At the conclusion of this global poll, Air France achieved a true harvest of distinctions:
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World's Best First Class, rewarding its brand-new suite inaugurated in the spring of 2025;
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Best Airline in Western Europe, a title retained for the sixth consecutive year;
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Best First Class Lounge Dining, distinguishing the creations orchestrated by multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle lounge;
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Best Onboard Amenity Kit, designed as a high-end leather goods case in partnership with the prestigious phyto-cosmetology house Sisley.
In the overall global ranking, Air France continues its progress by moving up one spot compared to 2025, now climbing to 7th place among the world's best airlines.
The new La Première suite: three years of design to reinvent the art of travel
Unveiled on the Boeing 777-300ER, the new La Première suite embodies the ambition stated by Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM and Chairman of Air France: "From the very beginning of the new La Première cabin project, we set ourselves a goal: to offer the best First Class in the world. An exceptional and completely unprecedented product, faithful to our heritage and our unique conception of the French art of travel."
Three years of rigorous work were necessary to shape this aerial sanctuary. For the first time in the history of commercial aviation, each private suite offers five windows, bathing the space in natural light while ensuring total privacy thanks to modular partitions. On board, the space consists of a generous armchair and a true daybed that unfolds into a completely flat bed over two meters long, recreating the exclusive ambiance of a private jet flight.
To accompany this announcement, Air France has also unveiled an exclusive 35-minute documentary tracing 70 years of history and expertise in first class — from the legendary lounges of the "Parisien Spécial" Super Constellation in the 1950s to contemporary standards of comfort.
Dumas Paris and Air France: over 35 years of history and shared standards
Behind the refinement of this award-winning suite lies a close alliance with the greatest jewels of French craftsmanship. While the gastronomy is entrusted to Alain Ducasse and the cosmetic well-being to Maison Sisley, the fundamental experience of sleep in flight and during layovers in the suite at Charles de Gaulle relies on the expertise of Dumas Paris.
A preferred supplier to Air France since 1990, Dumas Paris has long equipped the national airline's cabins with travel pillows, duvets, and mattress toppers. Today, as an official partner of La Première, the manufacturer of excellence supports the remarkable move upmarket of Air France's most exclusive product.
The La Première suite welcomes travelers with a bedding set specially designed to meet the demanding constraints of life on board without ever compromising on luxury:
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A Haute Literie mattress topper, placed delicately on the daybed to offer ergonomic support and an enveloping softness comparable to that of a land-based suite;
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A duvet with premium filling, ensuring ideal thermoregulation in the face of temperature variations in pressurized cabins;
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Exceptional pillows, adjusted to provide custom cervical comfort during long intercontinental crossings.
The comfort of 150 palaces and 5-star hotels invites itself between sky and earth
This signature of comfort is not a matter of chance. For generations, Dumas Paris has been shaping the nights of the most prestigious establishments on the planet: more than 150 palaces and 5-star hotels trust the House to elevate the rest of their guests. Dumas Paris is also a preferred supplier for many private aviation companies.
Through this bespoke partnership with Air France La Première, it is exactly this level of hospitality excellence and exceptional "sleep knowledge" that passengers find, whether 10,000 meters in the air in the heart of their private suite or during privileged layovers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
By hoisting La Première to the top of the global Skytrax ranking, Air France brilliantly demonstrates the power of artistic craftsmanship and French elegance. Dumas Paris is proud to write this historic chapter alongside the airline, and to prove day after day that the most restorative sleep in the world can also be enjoyed with your head in the clouds.
Photos: Air France (c)