Air France Ends 80-Year Presence at Paris Orly Airport

On March 28, 2026, Air France officially ceased all flight operations at Paris Orly Airport, marking the end of an 80-year association that began with the carrier’s first flight to New York on June 24, 1946. The final Air France flight departing Orly, AF6231 to Nice, took off at 21:00, symbolizing the conclusion of a long-standing chapter for both the airline and the airport.

The decision came as a result of persistent financial losses on routes served from Orly. Air France's General Director for France, Henri Hourcade, explained that despite attempts to adapt to market conditions by reducing flight frequencies and introducing new pricing models, the increasing competition from high-speed SNCF train services and low-cost airlines made these routes unsustainable. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated a shift in consumer preferences away from short-haul flights toward digital alternatives and train travel, undermining flight profitability.

Orly Airport, France’s second busiest with over 33 million passengers in 2025, will now see no Air France flights, but the group's low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, will continue operations, currently holding a 33.2% market share at Orly. This strategic shift highlights Air France’s focus on adapting to changing transportation demands while maintaining a presence at Orly via Transavia.

This development marks a significant change for French aviation and the travel landscape around Paris, as Air France exits a major hub where it had operated continuously for eight decades.