Air France will launch nonstop flights between San Diego and Paris on May 3, 2027. The new service will give travelers a direct link between Southern California and the French capital. It will also offer more ways to reach other parts of Europe.
The airline will run three flights each week. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service will use an Airbus A350 aircraft. It will link San Diego International Airport with Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The new route marks a major step for travel between the two cities. It will also expand the range of international flights from San Diego. Air France will become the eighth international airline to serve the airport.
The airport authority said San Diego is the largest market in the United States without a nonstop flight to Paris. Demand for travel between the two cities has grown in recent years. This year, demand rose by 14% compared with 2025.
The new service aims to meet this rising need. It will also make trips to France easier for people in Southern California. Travelers will no longer need to make a stop in another city before reaching Paris.
Atif Saeed, president and chief executive of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, said demand for travel between San Diego and Europe keeps rising. He said the new flight would give travelers easier access to Paris and other parts of Europe.
Saeed also said the route could help build stronger ties between Southern California and France. Direct flights can make it easier for business leaders to meet, share ideas and explore new markets. They can also support trade and other business links between the two regions.
The service is expected to help both leisure and business travelers. Paris draws visitors for its art, food, history and famous sights. It also serves as a key gateway for trips to other European cities.
Nicolas Hénin, senior vice president for North America at Air France-KLM, said San Diego has strong potential for growth. He said the airline sees rising demand for flights across the Atlantic Ocean.
Hénin said the new route would give people in Southern California more travel choices. It would also offer easier access to Paris, Europe and places beyond through the airline’s wider network.
He added that the route shows the airline’s confidence in the San Diego market. It also reflects its plan to improve links between North America and Europe.
The new flight will become San Diego International Airport’s 90th nonstop destination. It will also raise the total number of nonstop European destinations served by the airport to four.
The other three destinations are Amsterdam, London and Munich. These links give travelers direct access to major European cities. The Paris route will add another key option for people who travel for work, holidays or family visits.
San Diego officials also expect the new service to support tourism and local jobs. More direct flights can make a city easier to reach for overseas visitors. This can help hotels, restaurants, shops and other local firms.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he had seen the value of global links during trips to other cities. He also pointed to his recent visit to Paris as an example of how such ties can create new chances for both sides.
Gloria said the new flight means more than easier travel. He expects it to bring more visitors to San Diego, support the tourism sector and open new doors for local businesses.
He also said the route could strengthen economic ties between San Diego, France and the wider European market.
The launch comes as airlines seek to meet demand for long-distance travel. For San Diego, the new Paris link will expand its direct reach into Europe. For travelers, it will offer a simpler way to reach the French capital and connect to more places across the continent.
With flights set to begin in May 2027, Air France’s new service is poised to add a key link between San Diego and Europe.
