Due to a "structural drop in demand," Air France will be leaving Paris-Orly airport in 2026 and centralizing its operations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, with the exception of flights to Corsica.
Six routes departing from Paris-Orly will be discontinued: three to overseas destinations (Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, and Saint-Denis de La Réunion) and three within mainland France (Toulouse, Marseille, and Nice). However, flights operated under the Public Service Delegation (DSP) to Corsica will be maintained.
"The rise of video conferencing, reduced business travel within the domestic sector, and a shift towards rail travel (...) have led to a structural drop in demand for Air France's point-to-point domestic network," explained the French airline. It further specified, "Between 2019 and 2023, the traffic reduction on domestic routes from Paris-Orly is at -40%, and even -60% for day-trip round trips."
As part of this transition, Air France would increase frequencies to Toulouse, Marseille, Nice, Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, and Saint-Denis de La Réunion from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, "thereby facilitating international connections and strengthening connectivity for regions and overseas territories," assured the French airline. Regarding Corsica, "Air France will honor its commitments and has submitted a joint application with Air Corsica for the renewal of the DSP from 2024 onwards," aiming to "participate in a sustainable service" to the "Island of Beauty."
The approximately 500 employees of Air France currently based in Orly will each be offered "an equivalent position at Roissy Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle." As for employees based in provincial cities, considering the redeployment of some frequencies currently operated from Paris-Orly to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, "the impact of this transition on employment in Toulouse, Marseille, and Nice would be limited and managed solely through mobility or voluntary departures. The bases for flight crews in these cities would be maintained," clarified Air France.
A process of information and consultation with the representative staff bodies will commence shortly, along with negotiations with representative trade unions, to define measures to support all employees affected by this transition.
Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group, will take over operations to Toulouse, Marseille, and Nice from Paris-Orly, starting in the summer of 2026. The low-cost carrier will become the "reference operator of the Air France Group from Paris-Orly Airport. Transavia will continue its development trajectory, notably through the ramp-up of its new fleet composed of Airbus A320neo family aircraft." In essence, Transavia will reinforce its role as a domestic point-to-point carrier, while Air France will use Toulouse, Marseille, and Nice as feeder points to its Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub to fill its international flights.
Informed of the discontinuation of service to Nice as of yesterday, Éric Ciotti, the deputy of Alpes-Maritimes, expressed "anger" and stated he had "contacted the Prime Minister" regarding the matter. He added, "If Air France no longer wishes to serve Nice, it can relinquish its slots to other companies that will provide a better service than what will be offered."
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