VINCI Airports and the French Aeronautical Federation renew their partnership for three years
● Positive results over the last three years: consideration of the association model, significant events such as the Electric Tour and the Young Pilots Air Tour
●Three priorities for 2026-2028: optimizing cooperation between flying clubs and airports, accelerating the energy transition, and promoting aviation to the public
VINCI Airports, a committed player in French general aviation with 21 flying clubs hosted on its network of airports in France, and the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA), which federates 600 French flying clubs, have been pursuing a cooperation based on concrete actions since 2020.
Valérie Vesque-Jeancard, Deputy Director France of VINCI Airports, and Kevin Dupuch, President of the FFA, signed a new partnership agreement for the period 2026-2028 on February 9, 2026 at the Aero Club of France. This new agreement confirms the commitment of both partners to work together to improve welcomeness at airports, raise public awareness, and support the energy transition of light and sport aviation.
Two events exemplify the spirit of the first six years of collaboration. The joint organization of the VINCI Airports Electric Tour in 2024 demonstrated the operational viability of electric aircraft by connecting several airports in the VINCI Airports network in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble, and Clermont-Ferrand airports). That same year, hosting the Young Pilots' Air Tour in Dinard and Clermont-Ferrand, a veritable summer school for young pilots, helped to inspire vocations in piloting and to promote careers in aviation to the public.
Beyond these flagship events, the partnership has profoundly transformed the relationship between the airport management and flying clubs. The collaboration has evolved from a traditional airport management-user relationship to a constructive and regular dialogue on shared topics, such as noise management and aviation promotion initiatives.
Through the 2026-2028 agreement, the partners intend to continue and deepen the areas of collaboration already undertaken.
Regarding the sector's energy transition, VINCI Airports and the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA) will continue to work together with the rest of the industry, particularly airlines and aircraft manufacturers, to accelerate the advent of the low-carbon aircraft. VINCI Airports is deploying the necessary infrastructure at its airports, such as providing Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and installing charging stations for electric aircraft, which are already operational at six airports in the French network. For its part, the FFA continues its strong commitment to promoting electric aircraft and is working to encourage their adoption within its flying clubs.
The two partners will also continue their joint actions to promote aviation, its professions and its innovations to the regions and the public through events and one-off operations, allowing them to highlight the scale of the sector in France and the possible opportunities.
Kevin Dupuch, President of the French Aeronautical Federation: “The renewal of this partnership with VINCI Airports is a continuation of our shared approach aimed at better integrating light and sport aviation into its environment. Together, we are working to revitalize local communities, foster vocations, and support the environmental transition. The social value of light aviation, a unique model in Europe, is thus recognized and sustainably preserved.”
Valérie Vesque-Jeancard, Deputy Director France of VINCI Airports: “Through this second renewal of our agreement with the FFA, we want to give light and sport aviation all the space and visibility it deserves on our platforms, as a training ground for the pilots and aeronautical technicians of tomorrow. Beyond raising awareness of this sector of excellence for our country and inspiring vocations, we jointly want to highlight, better welcome, and promote electric light aviation, because we share with the FFA the conviction that light aviation is a fantastic laboratory for inventing the sustainable aviation of tomorrow.”
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting its stakeholders’ transition.
For more information: www.vinci-airports.
Founded in 1929, the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA) plays a key role in the development of light and sport aviation. It brings together more than 600 affiliated flying clubs and nearly 50,000 members. The Federation acts as a liaison between public authorities, the French civil aviation authority, and the light and sport aviation community. The largest federation of private pilots in Europe and second largest in the world, it also represents 2,200 instructors, 2,500 aircraft, and nearly 460,000 flight hours per year. For many years, the French Aeronautical Federation has been working on the concept of the flying club of the future to best prepare for the energy and societal transition necessary to ensure the continued activity of French flying clubs.
