French domestic aviation is bracing for a significant shake up on one of its most emblematic routes. As Air France prepares to withdraw from Paris Orly airport, its low cost sibling Transavia is stepping in to take over flights between Orly and Nice. For travelers heading to or from the French Riviera, the move promises cheaper fares, a denser schedule tailored to both holidays and business trips, and a more seamless link between the Mediterranean and the heart of the capital.
What Exactly Is Changing on the Nice Orly Route
The headline shift is simple but far reaching. From 29 March 2026, Transavia France will launch regular flights between Paris Orly and Nice Côte d’Azur, replacing Air France on this domestic corridor. The new service is planned at up to eight flights per day, enough to enable comfortable same day round trips between the Riviera and the capital.
For years, Air France has operated one of its busiest domestic shuttle style links between Nice and Orly. That era is now ending as the flag carrier consolidates its Paris operations at Charles de Gaulle airport. Orly slots that once belonged to Air France are being reallocated to Transavia, the group’s low cost arm, which is tasked with keeping key domestic routes alive at lower operating costs and with a leaner product.
For travelers, the practical meaning is that flights numbered in the AF series will disappear from Orly Nice schedules and be replaced with Transavia operated services. At the same time, Air France will maintain and even reinforce capacity between Nice and Paris Charles de Gaulle, catering especially to long haul connections and premium traffic while Transavia focuses on point to point journeys.
Timetables Built Around Real Life French Travel Patterns
One of the biggest advantages of the new offer for vacationers is its frequency and spread across the day. Transavia plans up to eight daily flights in each direction on weekdays, with departures from Orly scheduled roughly every two hours from early morning until late evening. On typical weekdays, Orly to Nice departures are due around 07:00, 09:00, 11:30, 13:30, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 and shortly after 21:00, with matching morning and evening options from Nice.
That timetable matters because it allows travelers to fine tune their plans. Early birds can leave Nice at dawn and be in central Paris by mid morning, while those visiting the Riviera from the capital can arrive before lunch and make the most of their first day on the Promenade des Anglais. Late flights in both directions cater to long weekends, after work escapes and business trips that need a full working day in one city followed by a return flight in the evening.
The weekend pattern is slightly lighter but still robust enough to satisfy both sun seekers and city breakers. On Saturdays, several Orly Nice and Nice Orly rotations are scheduled through the day, with morning, afternoon and evening options. Sundays are designed around peak leisure flows and those heading back for work, with multiple mid afternoon and evening departures that let you stretch your stay in Nice or Paris almost to the last minute.
Cheaper Fares and a Different Kind of Service
Perhaps the most immediate benefit for tourists is the pricing. Transavia is launching the route with headline one way fares starting from around 38 to 45 euros, depending on the sales channel and promotional period. That is typically lower than the average domestic fares long associated with the Air France shuttle product, and more in line with what budget travelers expect from low cost carriers serving Mediterranean destinations.
Of course, the lower base fare comes with a different service model. Transavia operates on a classic low cost structure, which generally means seat selection, checked baggage and onboard catering are sold as optional extras. Passengers used to Air France’s domestic economy offering may notice the shift, but those already familiar with European budget airlines will find it similar to flying with easyJet or Ryanair, just under the Air France KLM umbrella.
At the same time, the airline is making a point of tailoring its product for this domestic corridor. Transavia has announced additional flexibility options for ticket changes, integration with the Flying Blue loyalty programme and other refinements aimed at travelers who make regular trips between Nice and Paris. Over time, this should make it easier to combine low fares with perks that appeal to frequent flyers and professionals.
Why This Matters for Your French Vacation
If you are planning a French holiday that combines Paris with the Côte d’Azur, this routing change could quietly transform your itinerary. The ability to fly directly between Orly and Nice on a low cost carrier means you can build open jaw trips with more freedom. For example, you might arrive in Paris, spend a few days exploring the city, then fly out of Orly directly to Nice for a seaside stay, before returning home from Nice or connecting elsewhere in Europe.
Orly’s location in the southern suburbs of Paris also makes it particularly convenient. With the newer metro connections and improved public transport links, traveling from central Paris to Orly can take around 25 minutes, which is considerably shorter than the transfer times often experienced to Charles de Gaulle. For vacationers staying on the Left Bank or in southern and central arrondissements, that ease of access can mean less time in transit and more time in cafés and museums.
On the Riviera side, Nice Côte d’Azur airport remains one of the most tourist friendly gateways in Europe. It sits right at the edge of the city, with tram and bus connections into the center and coastal train links to Cannes, Antibes, Monaco and Menton. Being able to step off a Transavia flight from Orly and quickly be on the beach or in the old town dramatically simplifies the classic Paris plus Riviera holiday, making it more feasible even for shorter breaks.
Business Travelers and Bleisure Trips Benefit Too
Although the headline is about cheaper leisure tickets, the new schedule is clearly designed with business travel in mind. On weekdays, at least two Orly to Nice and Nice to Orly services are timed to arrive before 09:00, with others landing after 18:00. This pattern allows professionals to fly in early for meetings and return the same evening, a key feature of the former Air France shuttle concept that Transavia is keen to preserve.
To support this, the airline is focusing on a smoother airport experience at Orly. All Nice flights are planned to operate from Orly 2, with aircraft parked as close as possible to gate 2C. That clustering of gates shortens the walk between check in and boarding and reduces connection times inside the terminal. For travelers used to sprawling walks and bus transfers, this compact layout can be a meaningful quality of life upgrade.
Another noteworthy development is the planned opening of a dedicated lounge at Orly for Transavia’s higher value customers, targeted for April 2026. Coupled with more flexible change conditions on certain fare types and continued accrual of Flying Blue miles, it signals an attempt to bridge the gap between classic low cost efficiency and the expectations of frequent business travelers. For many, this can make the difference between viewing Transavia as a backup option and embracing it as their primary carrier on the Nice Paris corridor.
Competition, Capacity and Environmental Debates
The reshuffle of the Nice Orly route does not happen in a vacuum. EasyJet already serves the Nice Paris market with competitive fares, and there are multiple daily services linking Nice to Paris Charles de Gaulle. By positioning Transavia as the main operator on Orly, the Air France KLM group is trying to keep a strong presence on this strategic domestic link while adapting capacity to a post pandemic reality where business trips and same day returns have declined.
In practical terms, total frequencies on Orly Nice will be lower than at the peak of the Air France era, when up to a dozen or more daily flights were common on weekdays. The new ceiling of eight daily Transavia flights still represents a solid schedule, but it is better aligned with current demand patterns and cost structures. For leisure travelers, the impact will likely be minimal, as the remaining frequencies are spread sensibly across key times of day.
The change also intersects with ongoing discussions in France about the environmental impact of domestic flying. Since the pandemic, rail alternatives and new regulatory scrutiny have put pressure on short haul air routes. The continuation of Nice Orly flights through a low cost subsidiary rather than the national carrier may be read as a pragmatic compromise, preserving connectivity for the Riviera’s tourism and business communities while trimming excess capacity and encouraging some traffic to shift toward Charles de Gaulle and long haul hubs.
How to Use the New Flights in Your Trip Planning
For travelers, the best way to take advantage of the new Transavia service is to start planning early. Tickets for the Orly Nice route beginning on 29 March 2026 are already available, with the lowest promotional fares typically appearing for midweek and off peak departures. If your vacation dates are flexible, consider flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and avoiding major French holiday weekends, when prices tend to climb and planes fill quickly.
Think carefully about where you stay in Paris relative to Orly. Neighborhoods with fast access to Metro Line 14, which connects into the Orly transport network, are particularly convenient if you plan an early morning or late evening flight. Areas such as Saint Lazare, Châtelet, Gare de Lyon and the southern parts of central Paris can shorten your airport commute and make tight schedules less stressful.
On the Riviera, decide whether to base yourself in Nice or use it as a springboard to nearby resorts. The new Orly flights make weekend escapes to Cannes or Antibes more attractive, since you can land in Nice and be on a regional train or coastal bus within a short time. For longer trips, combining a few nights in Nice’s old town with day trips to hilltop villages or nearby beaches creates a balanced itinerary that pairs well with a few days in Paris at the start or end of your journey.
What to Expect When the First Flights Take Off
As 29 March 2026 approaches, expect a transition period in which Air France gradually winds down its Orly presence while Transavia steps up communication around the new route. Early adopters on the first flights are likely to be a mix of loyal Air France customers testing the new setup, budget conscious travelers attracted by the fares and regular commuters between Nice and Paris adjusting their routines.
Operationally, the experience should feel familiar to anyone who has flown Transavia on its existing routes from Nice, where the airline has been active since 2020. Single class cabins, paid extras, friendly but efficient service and quick turnarounds are hallmarks of the brand. What is new here is the domestic focus and the closer integration with the Air France KLM ecosystem, particularly for those making connections or using loyalty benefits.
For visitors planning a French holiday in 2026 and beyond, the key takeaway is that Paris and the Riviera remain tightly linked, but the way you fly between them is evolving. By embracing Transavia’s new Nice Orly flights, you can unlock more flexible itineraries, stretch your budget a bit further and smooth the logistics of combining two of France’s most iconic destinations in a single, unforgettable trip.