Air France is turning up the volume on transatlantic travel for the coming summer, unveiling a reinforced New York schedule with up to 11 daily connections and a set of limited-run flights tailored around the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. For leisure travelers and business delegates alike, the airline’s latest moves combine sheer capacity with carefully timed, event-focused routes linking Paris, New York, Los Angeles and the French Riviera.
New York Becomes the Beating Heart of Air France’s Summer Network
This summer, New York will stand at the center of Air France’s North American ambitions. The carrier plans to offer up to 11 daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and the New York area, divided between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International. The ramp-up reflects both strong demand for transatlantic travel and New York’s strategic importance as a gateway for Europe-bound passengers from across the United States.
On the Paris to New York-JFK route, Air France intends to operate up to six daily flights, four of them using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft equipped with the airline’s La Première first-class suites. These services will be complemented by up to three additional daily flights operated by partner Delta Air Lines as part of their transatlantic joint venture, creating a dense shuttle-style corridor between Paris and JFK at peak times.
Across the Hudson, Newark Liberty International Airport will also see a notable boost. Air France currently flies once daily between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Newark, but from June 1 through October that schedule is slated to double to two daily flights. The route will be operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft, bringing the carrier’s latest long-haul cabins and improved fuel efficiency to New Jersey’s primary international gateway.
What “11 Daily Flights” Really Means for Travelers
For passengers, the headline figure of “up to 11 daily flights” translates into a level of scheduling flexibility that is rare even on such a well-trodden transatlantic corridor. With multiple departures spread across the afternoon and evening from Paris and staggered arrival times in New York, travelers can fine-tune their itineraries around meetings, onward domestic connections or preferred arrival windows.
On the eastbound leg from New York to Paris, the variety of evening and late-night departures will be particularly attractive to frequent business travelers who prefer to work a full day before boarding an overnight flight. Arrival in Paris early the following morning offers access not only to the French capital but also to Air France’s extensive European and long-haul network, with same-day connections to destinations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The increased flight density also provides a degree of operational resilience. In the event of disruptions, misconnects or weather-related delays, having more daily frequencies between the same cities can make it easier for airlines to rebook passengers and limit lengthy layovers. For travelers, that often translates into shorter recovery times when plans go awry and better odds of reaching onward destinations on the same day.
Event-Focused Nonstops: New York and Los Angeles to Nice
Beyond core business routes, Air France is building on its long-standing ties with the global creative and entertainment industries through a set of special services connecting the United States directly with the French Riviera. Timed to coincide with centerpiece events in Cannes and Monaco, these flights are designed as one-stop solutions for industry professionals, brand teams and high-end leisure travelers heading straight to the Côte d’Azur.
In May, the airline will once again operate special nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Nice that align with the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. For 2025, the westbound service departs Los Angeles on May 12, with the return from Nice on May 26, operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft equipped with the carrier’s latest-generation cabins across all classes. The schedule is crafted so that travelers arrive in Nice just as the festival begins and depart shortly after the close of both the film festival and the race weekend.
June brings New York into the picture, with exclusive flights between JFK and Nice designed specifically around the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2025, Air France will operate flights from New York-JFK to Nice on June 14 and 15, with return services from Nice on June 19 and 20. These services use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, offering La Première suites, a substantial business-class cabin and a broad selection of premium economy and economy seats suitable for both corporate groups and individual travelers.
Cannes Lions: Direct Access for the Global Creative Industry
For thousands of creative professionals, marketers, media executives and brand leaders, Cannes Lions has become a fixed point in the annual calendar. Held in June on the Croisette, the festival draws participants from virtually every continent for a week of awards, talks and networking. Air France’s decision to operate dedicated JFK–Nice services around the event is a direct response to this concentrated demand.
By flying straight into Nice rather than routing through Paris or another European hub, delegates can sharply cut down on total travel time and avoid domestic transfers within France. Arrival into Nice places them less than an hour by car or train from Cannes, with ample time to settle in before the festival opens. The timing of the return flights allows for a full festival experience, including the final award ceremonies and last-minute meetings, before heading back to New York.
These flights are likely to be particularly appealing for agency and brand teams traveling together. A single nonstop service simplifies group logistics and minimizes the risk of lost luggage or missed connections, while the choice of cabins makes it easier for companies to mix premium and economy seating according to seniority, policy or budget constraints.
Onboard Experience: La Première and Next-Generation Cabins
The New York expansion and Cannes-focused services are also a showcase for Air France’s latest premium products. On select New York-JFK flights, the airline deploys Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with its new La Première suites. Spanning five windows along the fuselage, each suite combines a reclining seat with a separate daybed that converts into a fully flat bed of approximately two meters, creating a private environment closer to a rail sleeper cabin or boutique hotel room than a traditional first-class seat.
The suites are equipped with large 4K screens, individual tablets for controlling the seat and in-flight entertainment system, universal power outlets and wireless charging pads. A floor-to-ceiling curtain completes the sense of seclusion. For the carrier, La Première functions as both a brand halo and a revenue driver in high-end markets such as New York and Los Angeles, where demand for ultra-premium travel remains strong among corporate executives, entertainment figures and high-net-worth individuals.
Further back in the aircraft, Air France continues to roll out updated business, premium economy and economy cabins, particularly on its Airbus A350-900 fleet operating to Los Angeles and on select North American routes. The new business class suites come with sliding doors for added privacy, direct aisle access for every passenger and seats that convert into full-flat beds. Premium economy features wider seats with greater recline, while the latest economy cabins include ergonomic seating, improved legroom and upgraded entertainment screens.
Network Strategy: Connecting the U.S. to the Mediterranean and Beyond
Air France’s intensified focus on New York and the French Riviera is part of a broader network strategy centered on reinforcing high-demand transatlantic corridors while selectively deploying seasonal or event-driven capacity. By consolidating frequencies on the Paris–New York axis, the airline strengthens its position in one of the world’s most lucrative long-haul markets and supports connections from secondary U.S. cities via joint venture partner Delta Air Lines.
At the same time, the special flights to Nice act as targeted tools that allow the airline to capitalize on short but intense spikes in demand linked to major events. The Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Lions all bring in heavily international crowds within tight windows, creating a travel profile that aligns well with one-off or limited-series services. Rather than committing to year-round U.S.–Nice flights, the airline can focus capacity where and when it is most profitable.
For travelers, this means more direct options at the very moments when congestion and demand in the traditional hubs tend to peak. During festival periods, connecting through Paris can involve busy lounges, full flights and scarce award availability. Direct services to Nice from Los Angeles and New York bypass much of that pressure and bring passengers closer to their final destination.
What Travelers Should Know Before Booking
Because many of the Cannes-related services operate on just a handful of days each year, availability is limited and fares can climb quickly as event dates approach. Travelers interested in flying directly to Nice from New York or Los Angeles during the festivals should monitor schedules and open bookings as early as possible, particularly if they plan to travel in business class or La Première, where capacity is most constrained.
Flexible travelers might consider combining the special flights with regular Paris services in one direction. For example, flying nonstop to Nice ahead of the festival, then returning via Paris and onward to New York or Los Angeles can offer additional options on preferred travel dates. Loyalty program members may also find select opportunities to redeem miles on these event flights, though the combination of high demand and limited inventory means that award seats will generally be scarce.
Given the seasonal uptick in traffic, travelers should also build in extra time at the airport, especially on peak departure days from New York or on festival closing days from Nice. While the increase in frequencies helps ease some congestion, security, check-in and baggage handling can still be under strain when multiple long-haul departures cluster within tight time frames.
Positioning for the Future of Premium Transatlantic Travel
Looking ahead, Air France’s expanded New York schedule and its dedicated Cannes routes point toward a future in which major airlines use a blend of high-frequency trunk routes and finely tuned event services to capture demand at both ends of the market. The airline’s continued investment in La Première and refreshed premium cabins underscores its belief that there is still room for differentiation at the top of the cabin hierarchy, even as competition from other European and U.S. carriers intensifies.
The moves also reflect the enduring draw of France as both a business and leisure destination. New York remains one of the most important entry points to Europe for North American travelers, while the Riviera continues to capture global imagination as a playground for film, creativity, motorsport and luxury tourism. By tightening the connections between these nodes, Air France is betting that its combination of schedule, product and event alignment will resonate with travelers planning their summer journeys.
For passengers, the message is clear. Whether the goal is a high-stakes pitch on Madison Avenue, a red-carpet premiere in Cannes, a week of awards sessions at Cannes Lions or a quick transatlantic dash between meetings, the coming summer will bring more ways than ever to cross the Atlantic on Air France, with New York and the Côte d’Azur firmly in the spotlight.