French flag carrier Air France (AF) has announced two new long-haul routes to the United States for the summer 2027 season. San Diego (SAN) will return to the airline’s route network, while Nashville (BNA) will become a new destination. Both cities will be served by the Airbus A350-900 three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
While the two airports are set to gain services to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Air France will discontinue its flights to Denver (DEN) at the end of the current summer season.
Nashville’s Continued Growth
Nashville International Airport (BNA) has experienced a period of rapid expansion, driven in part by the city’s population growth and increasing demand for international travel.
Aer Lingus and Icelandair are among the carriers that have introduced transatlantic services to Nashville in recent years. British Airways has maintained a presence in the market since launching flights in 2018, when the airport’s international expansion began gaining momentum. The airline has since upgraded its service to the Airbus A350-1000, reflecting the development of the route.
Air France’s planned service to Paris will add another European connection to Nashville’s growing international network. The route will also give SkyTeam, the airline alliance to which Air France belongs, a greater presence in the city’s long-haul market.
Will San Diego Stick?
San Diego (SAN) presents a different case, given Air France’s previous attempts to establish a lasting presence in the market.
The airline first introduced services to San Diego in late 2018, but its schedule remained limited. In April 2026, Air France operated two round trips under flight numbers AF302 and AF303. The planned return will introduce a more consistent schedule, with three weekly flights to the French capital.
Whether the service will remain in the airline’s network over the long term remains to be seen.
Despite being California’s second-largest city, San Diego International Airport has a relatively limited selection of long-haul international services. Its European connections include Amsterdam (AMS), London Heathrow (LHR) and Munich (MUC), while Tokyo Narita (NRT) provides a link to Asia.
With the addition of Air France’s Paris service, San Diego will gain another direct connection to Europe. The airport’s transatlantic network has also expanded in recent years, with Amsterdam among the destinations added to its schedule.
End of Denver
Air France’s new San Diego service will operate under flight numbers AF58 and AF59, the same numbers currently associated with its Denver flights.
However, the airline will discontinue its Denver service at the end of the current summer season, bringing its operations to the Colorado city to an end.
The decision comes as United Airlines prepares to introduce its own Denver–Paris Charles de Gaulle service. United’s established presence at Denver International Airport could give it an advantage in attracting connecting passengers, particularly those travelling through its domestic network.
Competition from United, alongside differences in fares, connectivity and customer loyalty, could make the Denver route more difficult for Air France to sustain. The introduction of United’s service provides an additional consideration as Air France reshapes its US network for the 2027 summer season.
