After nearly two decades of absence, Air France will make its comeback to London Gatwick Airport with a new twice-daily service to Paris Charles de Gaulle beginning on March 29, 2026. The airline, which last operated from Gatwick in 2007, will utilize modern Airbus A220 aircraft for all flights on this route. This expansion follows Air France’s recent recognition as the Best Airline in Western Europe at the 2025 Skytrax Awards.
Air France returns to Gatwick after 19 years with twice-daily Paris flights using modern A220 aircraft.
The carefully designed flight schedule includes morning departures from Paris at 9:20, arriving at Gatwick at 9:30, and afternoon flights departing at 15:45, landing at 15:55. Return flights from Gatwick will depart at 10:30 and 17:10, arriving in Paris at 12:40 and 19:20 respectively. These timings are strategically planned to facilitate connections to Air France’s global network of nearly 170 destinations across 73 countries. Passengers will also benefit from multiple transport options available from Gatwick to central London.
Gatwick Airport, located 28 miles south of London, offers convenient access to central London via the Gatwick Express train service, which reaches Victoria station in just 30 minutes. The airport is accessible within one hour for approximately 15 million people.
Air France’s new service joins other recent additions to Gatwick’s growing network, including Jet2’s new base with 29 routes, Air Arabia’s twice-daily Sharjah flights, and Condor’s three daily Frankfurt services. The increased competition will benefit from increased slot availability when Gatwick begins using its Northern runway more extensively.
In addition to the regular Gatwick service, Air France will operate 12 special flights between Paris CDG and Cardiff from February 13-16, 2026, coinciding with the Six Nations Championship rugby event. This temporary service will provide direct travel options for rugby fans attending the France-Wales match. These dedicated flights demonstrate Air France’s commitment to sporting events and help meet the high travel demand during tournaments.
London Gatwick’s Chief Commercial Officer has welcomed Air France’s return, highlighting the strong demand for slots at the airport and the benefits of increased choice for passengers. The addition supports Gatwick’s sustainable growth program, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 and includes a £2 billion investment for Northern Runway capacity expansion. Passengers will enjoy refined dining options with complimentary champagne on all of Air France’s long-haul connections from Paris.
