The group’s goals are founded on values shared by all personnel. It is corporate policy to ensure that the conduct of business complies with high standards of honesty, integrity and professional excellence.
By upholding these values the group will remain worthy of the trust placed in it by its customers, personnel, shareholders, suppliers and all of its partners.
The rules outlined below are not intended to take the place of, or to revise the laws and regulations in force, but rather to provide points of reference and guidance for the conduct of professional duties.
These ethical guidelines set forth the principles and standards common to the group as a whole, so that everyone in the group may refer to them under all circumstances.
Behavior outside the group
In all the countries in which the group operates, its personnel must uphold the laws in force. It may sometimes be difficult to understand the law in a legal and cultural environment very different from the context in which people have previously worked. In case of doubt, employees should immediately consult a superior or the legal department. Personnel working in a subsidiary jointly owned by a group company and a foreign company must uphold the law of the country in which the subsidiary is based, of the countries in which it is operating and of the country (or countries) in which its shareholders are based.
The group applies international conventions on combating corruption of public officials.
Use of business consultants or agents offers an effective means of developing group business, thanks to the skills they contribute. Fees stipulated in their contract must always correspond to a real service rendered and payment must comply with the relevant laws.
All personnel must take particular care to uphold laws on competition, the final destination of products after sale, labor and employment, safety, health and environmental protection.
- Behavior towards customers
Each employee must uphold the principles of fairness and integrity in their dealings with customers.
The business of the group concerns to a large extent air transport safety. No compromise, for whatsoever reason, can be tolerated in this field. Any situation that may seem questionable to an employee must immediately be referred to a superior or the Quality manager.
- Relations with shareholders
The group regularly provides shareholders with comprehensive, transparent information. It takes particular care to implement international guidelines and principles on corporate governance.
The group chooses suppliers on the basis of objective criteria in the sole interest of the group.
The group demands high performance and excellence from its suppliers to enable it to fully meet the expectations of its customers.
Under no circumstances will the group use suppliers involved in child or forced labor.
Group employees may under no circumstances damage its reputation, the integrity of its assets and its information systems.
Paid work of any type that personnel may have outside their job must not cause conflicts of interest with their duties inside the group.
Similarly, considerable caution is required with regard to the purchase of shares, directly or via an intermediary, in companies doing business with the group. Such restrictions do not apply to listed companies, unless confidential information is used which may be construed as insider trading.
Under no circumstances may group employees accept gifts or benefits, unless of a symbolic nature, from suppliers.
Similarly, no one may propose or award such gifts or benefits with a view to obtaining a contract.
No one should display the slightest indulgence with respect to active or passive corruption.
Today, more than ever, preserving the environment is an essential concern for all group employees, starting with product design and running through the whole industrial process.
- Political and religious activities
The group does not fund any political party whatsoever. Any political activities and religious practices in which personnel may be involved must remain exclusively outside the workplace and working hours.
Behavior inside the group
- Protecting the confidential nature of certain information
Everyone, in the course of their duties, has access to confidential information, which, even if partial, represents one of the group’s key assets and must not be divulged to the competition.
Similarly, employees may hold information concerning National Security. It is essential to bear in mind at all times the importance of protecting such information from third parties.
At the same time, in each group company, everyone must make sure the information required for the proper execution of work circulates normally inside or outside the company and that it is always accurate.
The safety and health of other people are prime objectives of all group employees.
As a matter of principle the group guarantees equal opportunity for all its employees. Recruitment and promotion are based exclusively on professional qualities, without any form of discrimination. The group undertakes to respect the dignity and private life of each of its employees.
Furthermore one of the group’s key values is to create the necessary conditions for everyone to achieve fulfillment in their professional life.
Hierarchical authority may not be used for any other purpose than ensuring the proper running of the company. It must be exercised with restraint and discernment, and must not lead to any form of abuse or harassment.
- Compliance with ethical guidelines
The group brings the contents of these ethical guidelines to the attention of each employee, requiring his or her compliance. In general, in the event of doubt about the appropriate conduct, it is up to each employee to immediately consult a superior or the group’s Legal Department.
Paris, May 11, 2005