Air France has recently addressed circulating rumours regarding the closure of a sauna at its lounge in Terminal 2E of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airline took to social media to clarify that the facility was not closed due to alleged inappropriate behaviour by passengers, but rather due to low usage and a push for standardisation of services.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/air-france-baggage-counter-entrance-cdg-082126-37b4816c71a048a5b8a2d18e7a77c5d8.jpg)
On August 15, the travel blog Live and Let’s Fly reported that the sauna, which was said to include a private changing area and walk-in showers, had been shut down under dubious circumstances. The article suggested that the closure was related to misconduct by some guests, with a manager reportedly indicating that inappropriate activities had occurred within the sauna. However, the nature and detail of these claims quickly attracted attention online, leading to a wave of speculation.
In a follow-up visit, it was discovered that the sauna was indeed closed, with the door bearing a “staff only” sign and remaining locked. This led to further conjecture about the potential reasons behind the closure, fuelling a narrative of scandal that captured the imagination of social media users.
Such assertions gained traction on social platforms, particularly on an Instagram account named “@cursednews4u,” which is known for sharing humorous and meme-worthy content. A post from August 18 claimed that the Air France sauna was closed after being turned into a “sex den” by its users. The post quickly went viral, amassing almost 10,000 likes and over 46,000 shares, prompting an official response from the airline.
In their comment, Air France refuted the allegations, stating: “We would like to deny this information.” The airline clarified that the sauna was closed in September 2025 not because of any misconduct, but rather due to a lack of patronage and as part of their efforts to standardise the offerings across their lounges at the airport. They continued by emphasising that alternative relaxation features remain available for passengers, including complimentary 20-minute treatments from their partner, Clarins, alongside showers and resting areas.
This official denial caught some users by surprise, leading to a mix of humour and disappointment in the comments. One user quipped, “It’s even funnier that you bother denying this,” while another lamented the loss of what they described as the best part of the lounge, pleading for its return.
The decision to close the sauna highlights an interesting shift in airport amenities, as the offering of such facilities has become increasingly rare. Currently, Finnair is the only airline still providing a sauna experience, located within the Platinum Wing lounge at Helsinki Airport. The Finnish airline also engaged in some lightheartedness, jokingly announcing an in-flight sauna for its Airbus A350 fleet on April Fools’ Day 2025.
The incident speaks to broader trends in aviation and hospitality, where customer expectations and behaviours can significantly shape the services offered. While some passengers may have sought to use the sauna for unconventional purposes, the airline’s move to close it signifies a balancing act between maintaining unique amenities and upholding a standard of conduct expected within such spaces.
In conclusion, the closure of Air France’s sauna may be attributed to practical considerations rather than the more salacious rumours that have enveloped it. As more airlines look to optimise and standardise their service offerings, the fate of unique amenities such as saunas remains uncertain, leaving passengers to weigh their desires for comfort against the evolving landscape of airport lounges.