Transportation

For Central Texas travelers, getting to Paris is about to become considerably simpler.

Delta Air Lines plans to launch the first nonstop flight connecting Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in March 2027, giving Austin-area residents their first direct air link to the French capital and another major gateway into Europe.

The route is also a milestone for Delta. It will be the airline’s first transatlantic service from Austin, reflecting both Austin’s growing international profile and airlines’ increasing interest in connecting Central Texas directly with global destinations.

Daily summer-season service is scheduled to begin March 27, 2027, aboard an Airbus A330-900neo. Delta says the roughly 10-hour nonstop flight will depart Austin in the afternoon and arrive in Paris the following morning.

For families planning European vacations, Austin businesses with overseas relationships and residents accustomed to beginning international trips with a connection in another U.S. city, the significance is fairly straightforward: Paris will soon be one flight away.

Austin Gets Its First Nonstop Flight to Paris

The new Austin to Paris nonstop flight will be the only direct air connection between Central Texas and Paris, according to the announcement.

Once travelers reach Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Delta’s partnership with Air France-KLM will provide connections to destinations throughout Europe and beyond, including cities in Africa and India. Delta says passengers will have one-stop access to nearly 70 destinations through the partnership. 

That puts destinations such as Rome, Barcelona and Athens within easier reach for Central Texas travelers while also making Paris itself more accessible for vacations, study abroad, business trips and visits with family.

Ghizlane Badawi, chief executive officer of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, called the route an important step in the airport’s international growth.

“We are thrilled to partner with Delta Air Lines to launch Delta’s first transatlantic service from Austin with this new nonstop connection to Paris,” Badawi said.

“This is a significant milestone for AUS and another important step in expanding Central Texas connectivity to the world. Non-stop service to Paris, with convenient connections across Europe and beyond, will provide our community with greater access to global destinations while creating new opportunities for business, tourism and cultural exchange. We are grateful to Delta for its continued investment in Austin and for its partnership in expanding our region’s global connectivity. This new route reflects the strength of the Central Texas market, the growing demand for international travel, and Austin’s continued rise as a globally connected destination.”

What the Paris Route Means for Austin’s Economy

The impact extends beyond vacation travel.

France already has a substantial economic connection with the Austin region. According to Opportunity Austin, 27 French companies have announced new or expanded operations in the region since 2004, with more than 3,300 existing local jobs tied to French companies.

For companies working across aerospace and defense, life sciences, advanced technology and clean energy, eliminating a connecting flight can make moving employees and meeting international partners easier.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the route could strengthen those business connections while giving local residents easier access to Europe.

“This is an incredible moment for Austin as our city continues to strengthen its place on the global stage,” Watson said. “This route will not only make travel to Paris and destinations across Europe more convenient for Austinites, but it will also create new opportunities for economic vitality and strengthen connections between local businesses and the French economy. I’m proud of the work our airport team and partners are doing to expand Austin’s global connectivity and open new doors for our community.”

Susan Davenport, president and CEO of Opportunity Austin, pointed to the potential for the flight to deepen an economic relationship that already exists.

“Direct air service between Austin and Paris is more than a new flight, it is an investment in the economic relationship between two globally recognized centers of innovation and industry,” Davenport said.

“France is already one of The Austin region’s most important European partners, with 27 companies announcing new or expanded operations here since 2004 and more than 3,300 existing jobs tied to French companies. This connection will make it easier for companies to build relationships, move talent and capital, and pursue new opportunities across the Atlantic. As The Austin region continues to strengthen its position in aerospace and defense, life sciences, advanced technology and clean energy, direct access to France will help accelerate the momentum we are already seeing between our two markets.”

For residents, those numbers help explain why a new international flight can matter even to people who never book a ticket. International connectivity can play a role in corporate recruitment, tourism, conventions and companies’ decisions about where to establish or expand operations.

Delta Is Expanding Its Presence at Austin-Bergstrom

The Paris announcement is part of a considerably larger Delta expansion in Austin.

Delta says that by summer 2027 it expects to serve about 30 destinations from Austin and operate more than 70 departures on peak days. The airline employs more than 900 people in Central Texas and recently opened an Austin flight-attendant base with more than 100 employees. It also plans a second, larger Delta Sky Club and future operations across 15 gates in the airport’s planned Concourse A. 

Delta Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Joe Esposito said the Paris service is one piece of that broader strategy.

“Austin's growth continues to create new opportunities for customers, and Delta is proud to grow alongside it,” Esposito said.

“Launching Austin's first nonstop service to Paris is a defining milestone, but it's just one part of our broader investment in the region. From expanded domestic flying to strong international connectivity through our partnership with Air France-KLM, we're making it easier than ever for customers to connect from Central Texas to destinations around the world.”

The aircraft scheduled for the Austin-Paris route, Delta’s Airbus A330-900neo, includes four cabin options: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort and Delta Main. Delta says the aircraft also provides additional cargo capacity, another potentially useful element for businesses moving goods between markets.

The route works in both directions.

While Central Texas residents gain easier access to France and the rest of Europe, travelers overseas will gain a direct pathway into Austin — something tourism officials see as increasingly important as the city attracts visitors for its music, food, festivals, technology sector and major events.

Visit Austin President and CEO Tom Noonan described the new service as another marker of Austin’s emergence as an international destination.

“This is a defining moment for Austin. Launching nonstop service to Paris connects our city to one of the world’s iconic capitals and means even more of the world will experience what makes Austin unmatched: our music, our food, and our creative energy,” Noonan said. “A fourth transatlantic route leaves no doubt that Austin is a truly international destination, and a milestone like this doesn’t happen without a partner like Delta betting big on our future. We can’t wait to welcome more international travelers to the Live Music Capital of the World®.”

That inbound travel can ripple into local hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, small businesses and visitor attractions — turning an airport route announcement into a development that reaches considerably farther than the terminal.

Paris Becomes a New Gateway From Central Texas

Paris remains one of the world’s most visited destinations, known for landmarks, museums, architecture, art, cuisine and centuries of history.

For Austin travelers, however, Charles de Gaulle Airport may prove just as important as a connecting point.

Delta and Air France offer onward connections from Paris, allowing travelers to reach numerous European destinations and markets farther afield without first routing through another U.S. airport. Delta says its Austin customers will be able to connect through Paris to destinations across Europe, India and Africa. 

That means the practical appeal of the route stretches well beyond travelers whose final destination is France.

It also adds another chapter to the rapid evolution of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as Central Texas’ population, economy and demand for international travel continue to grow.

What Austin Travelers Need to Know

Delta’s Austin-to-Paris nonstop service is scheduled to begin March 27, 2027, operating daily during the summer season between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Tickets went on sale following the Aug. 13 announcement and are now bookable through Delta. The airline’s current Austin-to-Paris information lists the Airbus A330-900 and approximately 10 hours of nonstop flying time. 

For Central Texans, the new route represents more than another destination on an airport departures board. It brings one of Europe’s major capitals closer to home while giving businesses, families and international visitors another direct connection to a region whose global reach continues to expand.

My Neighborhood News will continue following developments at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and other changes affecting travel, business and growth across Central Texas.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.