Air France Transitions to Seasonal Service for Paris-Manila Flights
Air France will pause its direct flights connecting Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) from May to October 2026. This temporary halt comes just over a year after the airline reintroduced the route after a two-decade absence from the Philippines.
The Paris-Manila flights will be suspended from May 4 to October 12, 2026, aligning with the European summer season. According to AeroRoutes, which tracks international airline schedules, this change effectively turns the route into a seasonal service.
Currently, Air France operates the route three times a week, with an average flight duration of around 14 hours. The flight AF224 departs from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Manila every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday until May 2026. The return service, AF223, runs from Manila to Paris on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
This decision is significant, considering Air France’s return to the Philippine market. The airline celebrated its first nonstop flight to Manila International Airport on December 8, 2024, marking the first direct link to the country since 2004. This route was the first direct air connection between Europe and the Philippines to resume following extensive disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Air France had announced its three-times-weekly service in September 2024. The operations utilize an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which features 34 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 266 economy seats.
The Paris-Manila route was halted in 2004 after Air France merged with KLM. Nonetheless, Air France continued its presence in the Philippines through a codeshare agreement with KLM, which kept flights to Manila operational.
Are you planning to travel on this route or curious about this seasonal change?
