Austin lands its first nonstop flight to Paris
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A Delta plane on the runway at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Delta Air Lines will launch seasonal nonstop service between Austin and Paris next year, giving Central Texas travelers a new direct connection to Europe.
Why it matters: The new summer route is part of a broader expansion by Delta in Austin. By summer 2027, the airline expects to serve roughly 30 destinations from the city and operate more than 70 departures on peak days.
Driving the news: The daily route between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport will begin March 27, 2027, aboard an Airbus A330-900neo, which seats up to 281 people and includes lie-flat Delta One suites.
- The airline also announced a new, daily nonstop service between Austin and San Diego beginning April 12, 2027, and plans to expand its service to Cancun beyond the winter season.
What they're saying: Delta's Scott Santoro says the airline sees strong demand for the route from business and leisure travelers in Central Texas, as well as from European travelers headed to Austin.
- "It's such a fast-growing city, and we have so much corporate and leisure demand — particularly in the premium cabins too — that Paris just made sense," Santoro tells Axios.
Catch up quick: Austin travelers currently have three nonstop options to Europe — London on British Airways, Amsterdam on KLM and Frankfurt on Lufthansa.
Between the lines: Delta has been building out its Austin operations on the ground.
- The airline says it has more than 900 employees in Central Texas, recently opened a base for more than 100 flight attendants and has plans for a second, larger Delta Sky Club as part of the airport's future expansion.
- In Austin alone, Delta has 500 Delta employees, a 250% increase from 2019.
- "Delta has been a catalyst in Austin's emergence as a global destination, and its new nonstop service to Paris is the latest example of its commitment to connecting our city with the world," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement.
What's next: The route is seasonal for now, but Santoro signals it could eventually become year-round.
- "You've got to try it first, see if it works," Santoro says. "We don't want to overcommit to the marketplace if it's not going to work, but I truly believe from a corporate demand, plus premium leisure, plus leisure, it'll be successful."