Aviramp returns to Normandy to support US veterans' landmark flight

World-leading aircraft boarding ramp manufacturer Aviramp will once again partner with Delta Air Lines and US charity Best Defense Foundation in 2026 to help welcome World War II veterans back to Normandy.

The Normandy Legacy Flight, now in its fifth year, will see around 25 veterans disembark from the aircraft by wheelchair for an emotional commemorative ceremony.

A dedicated Aviramp team will travel to Deauville to manage the ground handling and disembarkation of the veterans, arriving on Delta's non-stop charter flight from Atlanta on June 3 to mark the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Among the guests of honour will be Aviramp owners Graham and Lisa Corfield, who donated a step-free International ramp to Deauville Airport last year.

Graham said returning to Normandy for a second year felt even more significant.

"What they did on those beaches 82 years ago shaped the future of Europe and the rest of the world. To be able to help the surviving veterans return to commemorate the landings, remember their colleagues and honour the fallen is the greatest privilege for this company.

"Working with Delta, Best Defense Foundation and Michelin, Aviramp is focused on making sure veterans arriving in Deauville are able to disembark with dignity to be greeted by the crowds we know always give them such a warm welcome."

Delta's Normandy Legacy Flight brings together American World War II heroes and students for the trip to Normandy's beaches, helping to preserve first-hand accounts of the war while creating educational experiences for young people who will carry these stories forward.

Virginie Durr, head of the Normandy Legacy Flight programme for Delta said: “Every time I see a veteran step off the aircraft, I’m reminded that we are carrying so much more than passengers—we are carrying history.

“Aviramp’s gift allows us to care for them during their first moments back in Normandy – some for the first time since World War II – safely and with the dignity they deserve. We could not be more grateful to Graham, Lisa and the whole Aviramp team for making this possible.”

Delta chief executive Ed Bastian said: "At Delta, we are deeply committed to connecting cultures and communities around the world. As we approach America's 250th birthday, standing with and supporting our World War II veterans carries even greater meaning.

"This mission embodies Delta's values of service and connection and pays tribute to our history and the heroes whose sacrifices made global connection possible."

Donnie Edwards, president and co-founder of Best Defense Foundation, said: "Returning to Normandy is never routine. For our World War II veterans, it is a homecoming to the place where their courage changed the course of history and a reminder that they are not forgotten.

"We are grateful to stand alongside Delta Air Lines as we bring these heroes back to France surrounded by the camaraderie and care they deserve."

Best Defense Foundation provides caregivers for each veteran throughout the trip, including Delta team members. All volunteers receive specialised training and are paired one-to-one with veterans.

Aviramp is the global leader in its sector with more than 950 of its ramps now in use across the globe. Its boarding ramps and bridges are used when an aircraft is parked on a remote stand and offer a safe, dignified alternative to stairs and separate ambulifts for wheelchair users and those passengers with reduced mobility.

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