Air France has unveiled the first new destination of its flight schedule for the Summer 2026 season between April and October 2026—and it’s one for the high rollers and lovers of desert landscapes.
Starting on 15 April, the French flag carrier has flown a direct service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Las Vegas, Nevada, operated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Flights are operated with Airbus A350-900 aircraft, departing Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1:40 pm, and arriving in Las Vegas at 3:35 pm. Coming the other way, the service takes off from Las Vegas at 5:50 pm, touching down at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1:05 pm the following day.
“We are proud to connect Las Vegas directly to Paris and our global network, offering travellers seamless access to destinations across Europe and beyond while delivering the elegance and service that define the Air France experience,” said Nicolas Henin, general manager of North America at Air France-KLM.
Las Vegas is also served year-round by that partner airline, KLM, with up to seven weekly flights from Amsterdam-Schiphol. Some may find the Air France route choice surprising, while the longevity of long-haul routes amid the current Middle East jet fuel crisis remains in doubt. However, larger carriers have been consolidating routes and hedging against the rising costs.
Yesterday, on both sides of the Atlantic, we inaugurated our new direct service between Paris-CDG and Las Vegas (Nevada)!
— Air France Newsroom (@AFnewsroom) April 16, 2026
This #AirFrance's 19th destination in the United States will be offered 3 times a week and operated by Airbus A350-900. pic.twitter.com/clIXKEZTcG
In addition, questions have been raised about consumer appetite for travel to the US, amid a “Trump Slump” in demand provoked by the US leader’s controversial foreign policies and immigration crackdowns. Yet, Las Vegas is Air France’s 19th US destination, as well as its 26th in North America. The carrier also serves Atlanta, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Montreal, Minneapolis, New York JFK, New York Newark, Orlando, Ottawa, Phoenix, Quebec City, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, and Washington D.C.
In a press release, Air France described Las Vegas as “an oasis of extravagance in the heart of the desert.” The city, long known as the world’s entertainment capital, is synonymous with gambling culture, but last year’s tourism arrivals and MICE data caused concern among stakeholders who will no doubt be hoping the additional connectivity provided by the Air France flights will provide a boost to visitor numbers.
The city is also a gateway to California, Arizona, and Utah and, Air France points out, can be “the perfect starting point for exploring legendary sites such as the Grand Canyon or Death Valley. A destination where urban exploration meets outdoor adventure.”
