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Air France is preparing to withdraw from one of its long-standing domestic corridors, announcing the end of its routes from Paris-Orly to Nice, Marseille and Toulouse by March 2026. The move marks a significant shift in the airline’s strategy and reflects profound changes in how business and leisure travellers move across France.
The decision follows several years of declining demand. Between 2019 and 2023, domestic traffic from Orly dropped by 40%, with same-day business trips falling by 60% — once the backbone of these routes. Even the traditionally busy Paris–Nice line experienced a notable decrease, with passenger numbers down almost 15% between 2019 and 2024, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
These trends are widely attributed to the rise of remote work, increased reliance on video conferencing, and companies’ growing commitment to sustainable travel policies. Together, they have sharply reduced the frequency of in-person meetings and business flights, prompting Air France to rethink its network priorities.
Beginning in April 2026, all Air France domestic operations will be consolidated at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. To compensate for the loss of Orly flights, the airline will increase frequencies between CDG and Nice from eight to twelve daily services. Still, the switch may not appeal to all travellers, given CDG’s more distant location and less convenient transport links compared with Orly.
For passengers who prefer departing from the southern Paris airport, alternatives will remain. Transavia, the low-cost arm of Air France–KLM, will inherit roughly half of the freed-up slots at Orly, while easyJet will continue to operate from the airport as well. Air France will maintain only its public-service routes to Corsica from Orly.
As travel habits evolve, the restructuring underscores a broader transformation in France’s domestic aviation landscape — one where flexibility, sustainability and shifting business needs increasingly dictate the future of air travel.