Air France Ends Operations at Paris-Orly, Concentrates Hub at Charles de Gaulle

Air France has officially ceased its operations at Paris-Orly airport as of March 28, 2026, marking a strategic redirection towards focusing its flights and international connections at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. The final Air France flight to land at Orly was a Nice-Paris service arriving at 21:55 on March 28. This decision, announced in autumn 2023, excludes flights related to Corsica, which are maintained under a public service delegation.

The move follows a significant decline in demand for shuttle flights between Orly and major French cities, a trend amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions limiting flights when train alternatives exist within 2 hours and 30 minutes. Henri Hourcade, Air France's commercial director, highlighted that day-return trip demand has decreased by over 60% since 2019, reflecting changing travel behaviors.

To compensate for the operational shift, Air France will increase its daily flights from Charles de Gaulle to Toulouse, Nice, and Marseille with 12, 12, and 10 rotations respectively. The airline will also centralize all overseas flights—including destinations like Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Saint-Denis de la Réunion, and Cayenne—at Charles de Gaulle to enhance international connections and improve accessibility for overseas territories.

Despite its exit from Orly, Air France will maintain a presence through its low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, which will operate from Orly with new routes commencing March 29, 2026. Transavia plans to offer fewer flights than Air France, with eight daily departures to Toulouse and Nice, and two to Marseille.

This operational realignment reflects Air France’s response to evolving travel patterns and regulatory environments, aiming to streamline its hub operations and better serve its international and domestic markets.