Charles de Gaulle airport was inaugurated just 50 years ago, on 13 March 1974. A futuristic project and icon of brutalist architecture, this monumental infrastructure would over the years become the European Union’s leading gateway. In 1996, Air France set up its global hub in this veritable city, where travellers from across the globe cross paths every day. Today, the airline accounts for more than half the airport's traffic, connecting Paris to over 200 destinations in almost 100 countries worldwide.