Air France is marking 15 years of seasonal direct flights between Paris and Cape Town, the airline said in Cape Town on 3 November 2026, describing the route as a vital link between South Africa and Europe. The service launched in November 2011 with three weekly flights and has grown steadily since, responding to rising demand from international visitors to South Africa and South Africans travelling abroad for the summer holiday season.

The last two years have recorded the highest passenger volumes in the route’s history, which Air France attributes to booming global demand for Cape Town as a summer destination. To accommodate this demand, the airline has increased capacity to five weekly direct flights for the 2026/2027 summer season.

“Reaching 15 years of operating this seasonal route is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of. Cape Town has become an important destination in our seasonal network, and the demand we’ve seen over the past two years speaks to its enduring appeal among international travellers,” said Joris Holtus, General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria and Ghana at Air France-KLM. “At the same time, the route is just as important for South Africans looking to travel to Europe and beyond during the festive and summer holiday period. Being able to connect these markets through our Paris hub is a key part of how we serve our customers and strengthen the links between South Africa and the rest of the world.”

Air France says the route supports the Western Cape’s tourism industry while giving South African travellers a direct connection to Paris, with onward access through Paris-Charles de Gaulle to its wider European and international network.