On May 15, Air France launched an exclusive charter service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Nice (NCE), becoming the sole non-stop connector from the U.S. West Coast to the French Riviera. An additional flight is slated for May 22.
The inaugural flight, AF 41, utilized an Airbus A350-900, registered as F-HTYC and christened “Saint Denis de la Réunion”. The aircraft departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 13:19 local time and touched down at Nice – Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) at 09:23 the following day, concluding a journey of eleven hours and three minutes.
Boosting Connections for Cannes Film Festival Attendees
This charter service, which aligns with the Cannes Film Festival schedule, offers attendees a direct flight to the world’s most renowned film festival. Air France has also planned special flights from New York (JFK) to Nice (NCE) aboard Boeing 777-300ERs in mid-June, catering to passengers attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
For the summer season of 2023, demand for North America-Côte d’Azur flights has surged, bolstering tourism in the French Riviera. From May to October, Nice (NCE) will be linked with Montreal (YUL) through daily flights. Between April and October, New York (JFK) will have three daily operations.
Moreover, Delta Air Lines recently commenced service to Atlanta (ATL), providing travelers an unprecedented access to North and Latin America.
Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, commented on the expansion: “The amplified network to and from North America benefits both local residents and our region, opening numerous opportunities for leisure and business travel and fostering interactions between our two countries. This renewed and even greater confidence from the airlines perfectly illustrates our strategy of maximizing direct connectivity for local residents and flight routes that enhance the quality of tourism our region pursues.”
Remarkable Growth in Transatlantic Flight Capacity
According to data obtained by Aviacionline via Cirium, by summer 2023, Nice – Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) will offer 12,876 weekly seats to and from North America. Five airlines will offer transatlantic flights, representing a nearly 70% increase in capacity compared to 2019 levels.
Key Airlines Offering Transatlantic Flights from Nice
- Air Canada: Four weekly flights on Airbus A330-300s from Montreal (YUL).
- Air Transat: Three weekly flights on Airbus A321neo from Montreal (YUL).
- Delta Air Lines: Two daily flights on Boeing 767-400ER from New York (JFK) and Atlanta (ATL).
- La Compagnie: Daily flights on Airbus A321LR from New York/Newark (EWR).
- United Airlines: Daily flights on Boeing 767-300ER High J from Newark (EWR).
