When European airlines are considered, Air France has the third-highest number of flights to the US this year, behind British Airways and Lufthansa. Across the whole of 2026, the French flag carrier plans an average of 26 daily departures, up from 24 last year.

Helping the development is the start of a new route from Paris CDG to Las Vegas, which will take off in April. While Air France has previously flown to Sin City for the Consumer Electronics Show, it’ll be its first time it has done so on a regular basis. But, that is not among its most ‘surprising’ or ‘unusual’ routes to the US.

Paris CDG To San Diego

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At 4,951 nautical miles (9,169 km) each way, this is Air France’s longest route from the French capital to the US. According to Cirium Diio data, two round-trip flights are planned this year. Flights will leave from Paris CDG on April 17 and 22, and depart from San Diego for Europe on the same days. The 292-seat Airbus A350-900 will be used.

Do not misunderstand. Air France has had such services to the Californian airport since late 2018. It had two round-trip flights in 2018, two in 2023, four in 2024, and plans two in 2026. They exist to bring convention attendees to the city. This year, it appears to be driven by demand to attend the American Association For Cancer Research.

Of course, the leg to San Diego on April 17 and back on April 22 will be full of event-goers. They are bookable in the usual way for regular passengers too. To help generate revenue, the positioning legs—from the US on April 17 and to San Diego on April 22—are also bookable, although they’re likely to be very unpopular. Still, passengers may also choose to fly in one direction with KLM, which has served San Diego from Amsterdam since May 2025, and the other with its French sibling.

Then There’s CDG To New Orleans

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Air France has flown to Louisiana on multiple occasions in the past, most recently in 2022. As with San Diego, this is not about normal service. Only British Airways has regular flights from Europe. Instead, it is for the American Society of Hematology, which will be in New Orleans between December 12 and 15 this year.

Flights will operate in both directions on December 11 and December 15, with both services bookable by the event-goers and the public. The four-class, 312-seat 777-300ER is scheduled, not the 472-seater. Still, the smaller version also has the dreaded 3-4-3 layout in economy.

Flights will leave CDG at 1:10 pm and arrive in New Orleans at 5:00 pm local time. Returning, they’ll go at 7:20 pm and arrive home at 11:15 am the next day. The positioning legs will almost inevitably have extremely light loads. Nonetheless, Air France must be confident that the total revenue for the time-limited service will cover the operating costs at the very least.

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What About Nice To The US?

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While Nice has regular flights to the US with American, Delta, La Compagnie, and United, Air France operates too—but only very briefly. It has done so on multiple occasions in the past. As with flights from CDG to San Diego and New Orleans, those from Nice are also bookable normally.

On May 11, it’ll take off from Los Angeles at 2:00 pm and arrive in the Côte d’Azur at 10:35 am the next day. The return flight will leave on May 25, departing from Nice at 1:35 pm and arriving in California at 4:30 pm local time. It is, of course, for those attending the Cannes Film Festival, with the 312-seat 777-300ER deployed.

Then there’s New York JFK. Targeting traffic for the Cannes Lions Festival, special services will leave the Big Apple on June 20 and 21. Flights will depart at 6:30 pm and arrive at 6:20 am+1. On June 25 and 26, they will leave for the US at 12:00 pm, arriving at 3:00 pm local time. The 312-seat 777-300ER will be used.