Air France has permanently shuttered the sauna at its flagship lounge in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2E, Hall L, after passengers reportedly misused the facility for sexual encounters. The airline made the decision to remove the amenity rather than continue managing ongoing behavioral issues.
The sauna had been a signature feature of Air France's premium lounge experience, offering business and first-class passengers a pre-flight wellness ritual. The closure marks a stark shift in how the carrier manages its lounge offerings and reflects broader challenges airlines face in maintaining standards within their premium spaces.
This move by Air France mirrors similar incidents at other international carriers. Airlines worldwide have increasingly grappled with passenger misconduct in premium lounges, from excessive alcohol consumption to inappropriate behavior in shared facilities. Most carriers respond by implementing stricter monitoring, time limits, or outright removal of amenities.
The decision affects frequent flyers and premium cabin passengers who valued the sauna as part of their journey through one of Europe's busiest hubs. Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2E handles millions of passengers annually, with the Air France lounge serving as a major amenity for the carrier's premium passengers connecting through the airport.
Air France has not announced plans to replace the sauna with alternative wellness amenities. The airline's lounge will continue offering its dining, shower, and business facilities, but passengers seeking pre-flight relaxation now lack access to one of aviation's more distinctive lounge features.
The incident underscores the tension between offering attractive premium amenities and maintaining facility standards. For travelers planning flights through Paris, the sauna closure represents one fewer perk when booking premium cabin fares or using elite frequent flyer status for lounge access. Other airports with similar Air France facilities remain unaffected at this time.