Good news for Leeside Francophiles.

Air France has announced that it will commence its popular, daily seasonal service from Cork to Paris Charles de Gaulle early next year due to the high demand.

The service usually operates from the end of March through October, but the French flag-carrier will now commence operating the service early on March 3rd, 2025.

Air France has operated to and from Cork Airport since 2018, providing a direct, daily service to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The service provides access to the French capital along with onward connectivity to 169 onward destinations across the wider Air France worldwide network.

A boost for tourism

The earlier commencement of this key service follows positive engagement between Cork Airport and Air France.

“After the success of the route last year, we wanted to make the extra effort to bring it back even earlier to give the Cork local community and businesses even more options to reach Paris and the rest of the world via our hub in Charles de Gaulle.” said Jerome Salemi, General Manager of Air France-KLM (UK & Ireland).

Managing Director, Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy, Ambassador of France in Ireland, H.E. Céline Place and Honorary Consul of France in Cork and Kerry, Josselin Le Gall. Picture: David Creedon

“We are pleased to have worked with Cork Airport on making this possible and hope to have more opportunities such as this is the future.”

Tourism Ireland ranks France as the fourth-largest source market for inbound tourists to the island of Ireland. The greater Paris metropolitan area is home to an estimated 12 million people. In 2023, over 387,000 French holidaymakers visited Ireland, spending an average of 9.7 nights in the country.