Nashville airport lands a new direct flight to Paris on Air France
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Nashville's airport is expanding its international portfolio next year with a long-sought direct flight to Paris, officials announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The new flight, which launches May 14 on Air France, represents a major new destination in Europe. It arrives during a period of intense growth at BNA.
Between the lines: This will be Nashville's most centrally located European destination. Other direct flights from BNA go to England, Ireland and Norway.
- BNA leaders have been pushing for a Parisian flight for years.
✈️ State of plane: Flights from Nashville to Paris-Charles de Gaulle will operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday.
- Flights from Nashville will depart at 6:55pm and arrive in Paris at 10:15am the following day.
- Return flights will leave Paris at 2:10pm local time and arrive in Nashville at 4:40pm.
The big picture: BNA, which reached 115 nonstop destinations in June, is in the midst of a massive and sustained growth spurt.
- The airport served a record 26.7 million passengers during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, up 7.7% from the previous year.
- Multibillion-dollar expansion efforts underway now are designed to make room for up to 40 million annual passengers in the future.
What they're saying: "This is a significant milestone for BNA and Middle Tennessee, expanding our global connectivity and creating new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange," airport authority CEO Doug Kreulen told the Nashville Business Journal.
One fun thing: The Paris-to-Nashville flight will honor the airport's new namesake Dolly Parton. The route's flight number, AF046, is a nod to Parton's birth year, 1946.