According to Aviation Week’s *Aviation Daily* (14 October), Air France plans to inaugurate two seasonal U.S. routes—Paris Charles-de-Gaulle to Nashville (BNA) and to San Diego (SAN)—for the Summer 2027 schedule. The expansion, revealed in an internal network planning note seen by the publication, will bring the carrier’s U.S. network to 22 destinations and marks the first time a SkyTeam airline will link France directly to Tennessee. Nashville is experiencing a boom in French FDI, notably in healthcare technologies; a nonstop flight is expected to cut door-to-door travel times by four hours compared with current one-stop options via Atlanta or New York. San Diego, meanwhile, hosts major aerospace contractors aligned with Airbus supply-chains, providing French SMEs greater same-day connectivity for just-in-time shipments. Both services are slated to operate 5 times weekly with Airbus A350-900 aircraft featuring the new business-class seat that converts into a 2-metre lie-flat bed. Subject to U.S. Department of Transportation approval, ticket sales could open as early as March 2027, giving corporate travel buyers ample time to load the flights into self-booking tools for next-year budgeting cycles. The move underscores France’s growing transatlantic demand: DGAC data show traffic between France and the U.S. rose 11 % year-on-year in summer 2026, surpassing 2019 levels for the first time. Airport operator Groupe ADP welcomed the announcement, noting that additional long-haul frequencies strengthen Paris-CDG’s hub status ahead of the 2027 slot-coordinator reform.
Source: Aviation Week – Aviation Daily
