Air France resumes direct Manila-Paris flights after 20-year hiatus

Air France has resumed direct flights between Manila and Paris after a 20-year absence.

The inaugural flight, AF-209, departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on December 8, 2024. This marks the first direct flight between the Philippines and the European Union in two decades.

The resumption of the route is expected to significantly impact tourism and trade. Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco attended a send-off ceremony. French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel and Air France-KLM General Manager Femke Kroese were also in attendance.

“In 2023, France was the Philippines’ 14th top source of tourists, with more than 61,000 French nationals visiting our country,” Bautista said. “We’re confident that those numbers will significantly increase after tonight.”

As of December 5, 2024, France is the second-largest source market for Philippine tourism within the EU, with 55,267 arrivals recorded this year.

Ambassador Fontanel highlighted the broader implications of the resumed route. “Seeing from my perspective as Ambassador, it’s a milestone in the strengthening of our bilateral relationship,” she said. “We aim to increase our interactions, and we are already working on this.”

The direct flights will simplify travel between the two countries, providing easier access to French culture for Filipinos, while also making it more convenient for French tourists to experience the Philippines. The new route reduces travel time between Manila and Paris to approximately 14 to 15 hours.

Flight schedule

Air France will operate three weekly flights between Manila and Paris aboard an Airbus A350 XWB.

Flight AF-208 will depart from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 11:20 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 at 7:30 p.m. the next day.

The return flight, AF-209, will depart from NAIA Terminal 3 at 9:50 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 5:50 a.m. the following day.