Paris to Phoenix: Air France Launches New North American Route
Nonstop flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle will begin this May
Photo: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Courtesy of Paul Cuoco / Unsplash
Air France will launch nonstop flights from Paris to Phoenix starting May 23. This new service is part of the airline’s ongoing expansion efforts in North America, which includes direct flights from Paris to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) that started in November.
Moreover, Air France has recently announced the resumption of nonstop flights to Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) starting May 13, providing more options for travelers who want to explore the United States.
The French flag carrier’s new 3x weekly service from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) brings the number of U.S. destinations Air France serves to 17.
Photo: Air France, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Boeing
Once launched, Phoenix will become Air France’s 22nd North American destination, adding to popular destinations like New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), and Toronto (YYZ).
It will also be the first direct connection between Phoenix and Paris and only Phoenix’s fourth nonstop service to Europe. American Airlines and British Airways connect PHX with London Heathrow (LHR), while German carrier Condor will resume service to Frankfurt (FRA) on May 18.
Air France will operate its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route, which has a total capacity of 279 passengers with 30 business class suites, 21 premium economy seats, and the remaining 228 seats in economy class.
“Air France is thrilled to announce a direct link between Arizona and Paris with our newest, nonstop route coming in May,” said Boaz Hulsman, Vice President of Commercial, North America at Air France-KLM.
“Becoming the 22nd North American gateway for Air France next summer season, this new service symbolizes our commitment to enhancing the transatlantic travel connection. We look forward to soon providing passengers from Phoenix with an experience embodying the best of French elegance.”
Photo: Business Class, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Air France.
The Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, also approved of the new route and expressed her excitement about the new leisure and economic opportunities it will bring the city’s residents.
“Adding nonstop service to Paris is a major milestone that demonstrates our commitment to providing convenient and efficient travel options to and from Phoenix,” said Gallego. “As our city continues to grow and become a destination for booming industries, I’m confident that direct service to Paris will unlock exciting possibilities for exploration and new business opportunities.”
As a bonus for sports fans in Arizona, the new service to Paris will arrive just in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which are set to commence in the French capital on July 26 this year.
Flights are available throughout the year, departing from Paris at 10:10 AM local time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They arrive in Phoenix at 12:10 PM. On the return journey, the flights depart from Phoenix at 2:10 PM and land back in Paris at 9:15 AM the following day.
