Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is the main international airport of France and the second-busiest airport in Europe. It is located about 25 km northeast of central Paris. The airport opened in 1974 and was named after Charles de Gaulle, the former French president and leader of the Free French Forces. Today, CDG is a major global aviation hub, especially for long-haul international flights and connections between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It is also the main hub for Air France and the SkyTeam alliance.