Air France is sharpening its focus on the French Riviera, adding direct links from the United States to Nice timed to some of the world’s most high-profile events. For summer 2026, the airline plans special nonstop flights from New York and Los Angeles to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, aligning schedules with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the broader festival and motorsport season along the Mediterranean coast. The move reinforces both Nice’s rising status as a transatlantic gateway and Air France’s ambition to capture premium leisure and business demand during peak weeks.

Seasonal Nonstops From New York to Nice for Cannes Lions 2026

At the heart of Air France’s 2026 Riviera strategy are temporary nonstop flights between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and Nice, operated around the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The carrier has confirmed that in June 2026 it will once again deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for these special rotations, offering a four-cabin layout that includes the flagship La Première first class suites, as well as business, premium economy and economy cabins. These flights sit on top of the airline’s already dense New York schedule via Paris, giving travelers a rare opportunity to avoid a connection and arrive directly on the Riviera.

The 2026 schedule calls for departures from New York on June 20 and 21, with corresponding returns from Nice on June 25 and 26. In practice, that allows marketers, agency executives and media professionals attending Cannes Lions to fly directly into Nice at the start of the week and return to the United States as the festival wraps up. Flight timings are set to support overnight eastbound travel, maximizing time at the event while offering daytime westbound services back to New York.

By concentrating lift around these specific dates, Air France is tailoring capacity to a tightly defined but high-yield traveler base. Cannes Lions remains a marquee gathering for the global advertising and technology industries, and demand for premium cabins between New York and the French Riviera during the festival is consistently strong. A nonstop option reduces transit time, trims the risk of missed connections and delivers passengers much closer to Cannes than a traditional Paris routing.

To complement its New York strategy, Air France is also planning seasonal nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Nice that line up with the Monaco Grand Prix and the wider Cannes festival period. Building on services already introduced in 2025, the airline is using its long-haul Airbus A350-900 aircraft on this West Coast route, configured with lie-flat business class seats, a dedicated premium economy cabin and a high-density but modern economy section. For travelers based in California and the broader western United States, the route removes the need to connect in Paris or another European hub during one of the busiest travel windows of the year.

These Los Angeles flights are timed to deliver guests directly into Nice in the days leading up to the Formula 1 weekend in Monaco and the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. The return segments typically depart after the racing and red-carpet activity slow, allowing travelers to pair several Riviera events within a single trip. For Hollywood executives, film distributors, talent representatives and high-net-worth leisure travelers, the ability to fly nonstop from California to the Côte d’Azur represents a significant upgrade in convenience.

Operationally, the choice of the A350-900 reflects Air France’s broader fleet modernization push. The aircraft offers improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and a quieter cabin compared with older widebodies, while delivering the kind of onboard product that event-focused travelers increasingly expect. For the airline, matching a new-generation aircraft to one of its most prestigious seasonal routes helps showcase both its environmental positioning and its premium service credentials to an influential audience.

Nice’s Emergence as a Transatlantic Gateway

The United States to Nice market has grown rapidly over the past several years, with both European and American carriers adding capacity. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, already France’s second busiest after Paris, has steadily accumulated direct services to major North American cities. Routes to New York and Atlanta have been joined by nonstop links to Philadelphia, Washington and Montreal, and Boston is scheduled to join the network from May 2026 operated by Delta Air Lines. This expansion has turned the Riviera into one of Europe’s most connected sun and culture destinations for U.S. travelers.

Air France’s decision to mount special event-driven flights from New York and Los Angeles fits neatly into this broader transformation. Rather than leaving the long-haul Riviera market primarily to partners and competitors, the French flag carrier is now using Nice as a complementary stage to its powerful Paris hub. While the new U.S. services are limited in duration and targeted at high-demand weeks, they reinforce the airport’s role as a viable alternative entry point into France for leisure and premium segments alike.

For local authorities and tourism stakeholders, each new transatlantic connection deepens economic ties with North America. The influx of visitors during events such as the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lions brings significant spending to hotels, restaurants, transport providers and cultural institutions throughout the region. Air France’s seasonal nonstops are expected to further enhance that effect by making it easier for short-stay visitors to maximize their time on the ground instead of in transit.

Capturing Premium Demand Around Riviera Events

Major events on the French Riviera present a distinctive demand profile that airlines are keen to capture. The Monaco Grand Prix attracts corporate hospitality programs, sponsors and private travelers willing to pay a premium for flexibility and comfort. The Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lions draw film professionals, brand leaders, technology founders and creative agencies from around the world, many of whom prioritize nonstop routes, high-quality onboard products and flexible ticketing options. Air France’s direct U.S. flights to Nice have been designed with this clientele in mind.

By aligning flight dates precisely with festival calendars, the airline can optimize aircraft utilization and pricing. Instead of maintaining a year-round transatlantic schedule to Nice that might struggle during shoulder seasons, Air France concentrates capacity when willingness to pay is highest. This strategy allows the carrier to operate four-cabin Boeing 777-300ERs and feature its most exclusive La Première suites on specific days, without diluting that product on lower-demand routes.

The event focus also complements Air France’s joint venture relationship with Delta Air Lines. Delta’s own services from U.S. cities such as New York, Atlanta and Boston supply daily connectivity into Nice across the summer, while Air France’s special flights add additional seats and premium options at the very top of the market. For travelers, this combination translates into a broader range of schedules, cabin choices and fare levels, especially when booking through shared loyalty programs and codeshares.

Onboard Experience: La Première, Business and Beyond

A key selling point of Air France’s U.S. to Nice flights is the onboard experience, particularly in premium cabins. The Boeing 777-300ERs scheduled for the New York to Nice services feature the airline’s latest La Première suites, introduced in 2025 and now rolling out across the long-haul fleet. Each suite combines a reclining seat with a separate chaise longue that converts into a full-length bed, with ample privacy, elevated dining and a curated set of French amenities. Although the number of suites is deliberately limited, the product is designed to appeal to top-tier corporate executives, entertainment figures and high-spend leisure travelers.

In business class, both the 777-300ER and A350-900 offer lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, upgraded entertainment systems and thoughtful details such as individual storage spaces and enhanced bedding. Premium economy cabins provide wider seats and greater legroom than standard economy, catering to long-haul travelers who value additional comfort without the cost of business class. Across cabins, Air France has invested in improved catering, often highlighting regional French specialties and wine selections that reflect the airline’s national heritage.

Connectivity is another differentiator on these 2026 flights. Air France is progressively equipping its long-haul fleet with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, with plans to expand coverage significantly by the end of 2026. For passengers heading to or from the Cannes Lions festival, where work often continues during the flight, the ability to stay online, hold virtual meetings or finalize presentations en route is an important benefit. Combined with modern cabin design and noise-reducing aircraft technology, the airline aims to make the transatlantic journey feel like an extension of the office or a quiet prelude to a busy week on the Riviera.

Strategic Fit Within Air France’s U.S. Network

The 2026 Nice operations come as Air France is strengthening its core transatlantic network, especially to New York. For the summer season, the airline and its partners plan to offer up to 11 daily flights between Paris and the New York area, split between JFK and Newark. Additional frequencies on the Paris to Newark route will be flown with Airbus A350-900 aircraft, giving travelers more options and supporting strong business and leisure flows between the two cities. Against this backdrop, the nonstops to Nice are a carefully targeted extension rather than a stand-alone initiative.

By leveraging aircraft and crews already positioned for the busy Paris to New York corridor, the airline can redeploy capacity temporarily to the Riviera without undermining its flagship routes. The New York to Nice flights are scheduled on dates that complement, rather than conflict with, peak demand across the wider network. This approach reflects a broader industry trend in which carriers increasingly adjust capacity dynamically around major global events, from sporting tournaments to cultural festivals.

For U.S. travelers, the result is a more diversified set of options when planning trips to France. Those whose itineraries revolve around Paris can continue to rely on frequent service into Charles de Gaulle, while travelers bound for the Mediterranean have a mix of nonstop and one-stop paths via both Air France and its partners. The seasonal nature of the Nice flights also leaves room for future adjustments. If demand continues to grow, Air France could consider expanding the number of dates, tweaking aircraft types or exploring additional U.S. gateways for event-centric operations.

What Travelers Should Know When Booking 2026 Riviera Trips

Given the limited number of flights and the popularity of the events they serve, prospective passengers are advised to plan early for 2026 Riviera travel. Inventory in premium cabins, including La Première and business class, is likely to be heavily sought after by corporate accounts and frequent flyers tied to the film, advertising and luxury sectors. Even in economy, the appeal of avoiding a connection in Paris or another European hub means that nonstop New York and Los Angeles flights to Nice will command strong interest.

Travelers should pay careful attention to dates, as the Air France nonstops are concentrated around specific windows rather than operating daily throughout the season. Aligning arrival and departure days with the start and end of the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival or Cannes Lions can help ensure a smoother experience on the ground, with time built in for transfers, hotel check-ins and potential schedule changes. For those whose plans are more flexible, flying a day earlier or later than the main crowd can sometimes yield better fares or cabin availability.

Finally, the rise of Nice as a transatlantic gateway opens possibilities beyond the Riviera itself. From Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, rail and short-haul flights connect quickly to Provence, the Alps and other Mediterranean destinations. Travelers arriving on Air France’s 2026 U.S. services can combine marquee events with quieter side trips, pairing the spectacle of a Monaco race weekend or a Cannes red carpet with time in hilltop villages, coastal towns and wine country. As Air France expands its role in this evolving ecosystem, the airline is betting that more Americans will see the French Riviera not as a side trip from Paris, but as a primary destination in its own right.