Air France brings back direct Paris - Cape Town flights

Travellers flying between Europe and Cape Town will have another nonstop option this southern summer as Air France brings back its seasonal service between Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

The route is scheduled to operate from 22 September 2026 until 27 March 2027, making it particularly useful for European travellers heading to Cape Town for a southern African summer holiday, a city break or onward travel through the region.

More flights during the peak season

Air France will initially operate the Paris - Cape Town route three times a week:

22 September – 31 October 2026

• Paris > Cape Town (Tue/Fri/Sun): depart 10:25, arrive 22:10
• Cape Town > Paris (Mon/Wed/Sat): depart 00:15, arrive 12:15

One important detail for travellers: despite the departure technically being just after midnight, passengers will need to be at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on the evening before the departure date.

From 01 November 2026, Air France's Cape Town–Paris service steps up to five flights a week, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and continuing on that pattern until the season ends on 27 March 2027. Confirmed timings so far cover the Cape Town–Paris direction: departure from Cape Town at 08:30, arriving in Paris at 19:20. Air France hasn't published a separate schedule for the return Paris–Cape Town leg, but as this is presented as a single five-weekly-frequency route rather than two independently timed services, it's likely the return flights operate on the same five days — most plausibly departing Paris in the evening for an overnight flight back to Cape Town. Travellers should check Air France's official timetable for the exact Paris departure time before booking.

Why the route matters for visitors to South Africa

The return of Air France's nonstop Paris–Cape Town service gives travellers from France and elsewhere in Europe a direct way to reach South Africa during the 2026/27 summer season, without having to connect elsewhere in Europe or through another African hub.

For visitors planning a Cape Town holiday, a Garden Route road trip or a wider Southern African itinerary, flying directly into Cape Town can make the start of the journey more convenient. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris is also one of Air France's major connecting hubs, offering onward connections across France, Europe and further afield for travellers continuing their journey after visiting South Africa.

The route also provides another option for South African travellers heading to Europe, while adding capacity during the busy summer tourism season, when demand for flights between Europe and Cape Town traditionally increases.

As always, flight schedules and frequencies can change, so travellers should check the latest details when making their booking.

Bottom line

Air France's seasonal nonstop Paris–Cape Town service returns on 22 September 2026, initially with three weekly flights before increasing to five flights a week from 01 November 2026. The route is scheduled to operate until 27 March 2027, giving travellers another direct link between the Mother City and one of Europe's biggest aviation hubs. 

 

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Air France extends Paris <> Cape Town seasonal route until May 2026!

Air France, the national airline of France, has announced the extension of its popular seasonal route between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town until 03 May 2026. Initially scheduled to conclude in March 2026, the nonstop service will now continue for an additional two months in response to strong passenger demand from both South African and international travellers.
Operated by Air France’s modern Airbus A350, the daily flights provide a comfortable and direct connection between Paris and Cape Town, with convenient onward links across Europe and beyond through the airline’s extensive global network.

Flight Schedule:

• Paris (CDG) > Cape Town (CPT): 18:30 > 06:45 (+1 day)
• Cape Town (CPT) > Paris (CDG): 08:50 > 19:20

This extended schedule allows travellers even greater flexibility to explore France’s capital city or enjoy Cape Town's summer season, making it easier than ever to plan unforgettable journeys between Europe and Southern Africa.

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Air France launches daily flights between Paris and Cape Town for 2025/2026 holiday season!

The flag carrier of France, Air France, is set to launch daily direct flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, further strengthening its footprint in Southern Africa. According to Wilson Tauro, Country Manager for Southern Africa at Air France-KLM, the daily service will be introduced during the peak holiday travel season.
The seasonal route is scheduled to operate from 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, with flights departing Paris at 18:30 and arriving in Cape Town at 06:45 the following morning. The return flight from Cape Town to Paris will depart at 08:50, arriving in the French capital at 19:20. The route will be operated using the Airbus A350, a state-of-the-art aircraft known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.
In partnership with its sister airline KLM, Air France offers up to 18 weekly flights to Cape Town, contributing to a combined total of 32 weekly flights to South Africa and to over 11,000 seats per week in each direction.

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Passengers will benefit from seamless travel between international long-haul flights and domestic routes, with the convenience of booking combined itineraries on a single ticket. The agreement streamlines the travel experience by reducing connection times and ensuring a consistent level of service, making it easier for travelers to explore destinations across South Africa.

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Air France and KLM currently operate up to 14 weekly flights to Johannesburg and 14 weekly flights to Cape Town on departure from their respective hubs at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in Amsterdam.

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The flag carrier of France, Air France, has resumed its seasonal flight service to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, South Africa. Effective today, 07 October 2024, the airline operates three weekly flights between Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Cape Town, with an additional flight scheduled to be added from November 2024, just in time for the busy holiday season. These seasonal flights operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays on board a Boeing Dreamliner 787-900 and are in addition to Air France’s existing daily flights between Paris and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) Johannesburg.

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Air France resumes flights between Paris <> Cape Town!

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• Paris 10:10 > 22:20 Cape Town on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays
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• proof of vaccination status
• a sworn statement certifying the absence of Covid-19 symptoms and of any contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19
• a negative PCR or antigen test taken less than 48 hours prior to departure (departure of first flight in case of connecting flights)

Unvaccinated travellers must present a compelling reason for travel and will have to quarantine for ten days.

UPDATE: South Africa has been removed from the scarlet red list. Vaccinated travellers can come to France provided they show their vaccination certificate and a negative PCR or antigen test (-48h). No quarantine required for vaccinated travellers. https://t.co/W7h0TK9zlj

— France in S. Africa (@FrenchEmbassyZA) January 6, 2022

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• Addis Ababa 23:45 > 05:45 Marseille (Tue, Thu, Fri)
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Air France to increase flights between Paris <> Nairobi!

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Kenya Airways (KQ) operated by Air France (AF):

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• Paris CDG – Birmingham
• Paris CDG – Brest
• Paris CDG – Clermont-Ferrand
• Paris CDG – Dublin
• Paris CDG – Gothenburg
• Paris CDG – Milan Malpensa
• Paris CDG – Nairobi
• Paris CDG – Oslo
• Paris CDG – Rennes
• Paris CDG – Stockholm Arlanda
• Paris CDG – Tunis
• Paris CDG – Vienna

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