Air France’s history dates back to 1933, when the French flag carrier was formed from the merger of five different airlines from the country’s early aviation industry.
The first route to the United States took off in April 1946, when a Douglas DC-4 piston airliner flew from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), with two refueling stops in Ireland and Newfoundland.
Over the next 80 years, the aircraft’s range capabilities have developed significantly, and by 2026, Air France will offer direct routes to 18 destinations in the United States
That number is expected to reach the 20-city milestone by 2027, as Air France has just announced the launch of two new routes to Nashville and San Diego next year from its main hub at Charles de Gaulle.
Air France to launch flights from Paris to Nashville and San Diego in May 2027
Flights from Paris to Santiago International Airport (SAN) will launch on May 2, 2027, with three flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flights to Nashville International Airport (BNA) will begin on May 14 and operate on the same day.
Both routes will use the airline’s new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which can seat 292 passengers, while the Nashville route will have flight number AF046 in honor of the route’s flight to the hometown of late country music star Dolly Parton.
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Announcing the new route, Air France said: “As a tribute to the iconic country music figure Dolly Parton, who is closely associated with Nashville, flights between Paris and Nashville will use flight number AF046 to commemorate 1946, the year the artist was born.”
Tickets for both flights can be booked on the Air France website and mobile app from 14 October.
Sky Black Photography, Bill Dickinson/Getty Images
Why is Air France investing in direct flights to Nashville and San Diego now?
Both flights are being launched against a backdrop of rising numbers of U.S. tourists traveling to France and growing interest in flying directly from secondary U.S. airports rather than connecting through larger hubs such as Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.
“Surrounded by long beaches and sheltered bays, the city is an ideal place to surf, stroll around Coronado Island or admire the scenery of La Jolla’s coast,” Air France also wrote of its Santiago route.
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Currently, no other airline, either in the U.S. or Europe, flies direct from Paris to Nashville or San Diego. The latter route AF058 will depart from Charles de Gaulle Airport at 10:10 a.m. and arrive in Santiago at 12:50 noon that day. Flight AF046 to Nashville took off at 2:10 pm and arrived in Nashville at 4:40 pm that day.
On the other hand, flight AF059 from San Diego to Paris will depart at 3:10 pm and arrive at 11:05 am. Flight AF047 will depart Nashville at 6:55 pm and arrive in Paris at 10:15 am the next day.
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