Air France To End Paris-Denver Flights as United Prepares Daily Service

Air France is set to end its nonstop service between Paris (CDG) and Denver (DEN) later this year, ending its 5-year connection between the 2 cities.

Meanwhile, Chicago-based United Airlines is preparing to enter the market with a new daily, year-round service on that route. This marks a major shift in Denver, where United has one of its largest hubs.

Here’s what this means for U.S. travelers, as well as SkyTeam and Star Alliance loyalists.

Air France’s 5-Year Denver Experiment Comes to an End

Air France launched its Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Denver International Airport service in July 2021, initially operating the route seasonally. Eventually, it expanded the service to year-round operations in 2024, then returned to a seasonal schedule last year.

The route was launched as international travel began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the roughly 5-year period, Air France operated more than 900 flights between the 2 cities, connecting over 200,000 passengers.

Now, it appears as if Air France is completely removing its Paris-Denver flights from its 2027 flight schedule. The airline is currently scheduled to operate its remaining 2026 service through October 10, after which we don’t expect the route to return.

Air France had previously planned to resume flights on April 26, 2027, but the future inventory has now been entirely removed from Air France’s U.S. flight schedules.

United Enters the Paris-Denver Market

The timing of Air France’s withdrawal from Denver is noteworthy because United announced in August that it would launch its own daily nonstop Denver-Paris service, with flights scheduled to begin on May 27, 2027. United plans to operate the route using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

This new service will become United’s first-ever nonstop connection between Denver and Paris. The route is part of United’s broader expansion at Denver. Paris will join London, Frankfurt, Munich, and Rome as part of United’s European network from Denver.

What This Means for Travelers

For travelers, the end of Air France’s service does not mean the loss of nonstop flights between Denver and Paris. Instead, the market is essentially changing hands, with United preparing to provide the nonstop connection.

For SkyTeam travelers, losing a nonstop transatlantic option from Denver will sting for awhile.

United plans to have daily service between the cities, providing additional flexibility for travelers. That’s always a good thing. Hopefully, we will also see increased award availability for Star Alliance travelers.

United’s massive Denver hub could also provide valuable and convenient connections for passengers traveling from other parts of the U.S. Likewise, travelers arriving in Denver from Paris will be able to connect onward through United’s extensive domestic network.

Final Thoughts

Air France’s decision to end its Paris-Denver service closes a 5-year chapter between the 2 cities. The airline has carried over 200,000 passengers since its 2021 launch, but changing competitive conditions appear to have made the service less viable.

On the other hand, United will ensure that Denver keeps a nonstop link to Paris. The carrier has daily year-round flights on its schedule beginning on May 27, 2027.