Air France is set to double down it’s investment into London via some exciting news that has been revealed over the last week or so.
The French carrier is looking to bolster their position at the key UK hub in order to capture more passenger traffic and transfer traffic as well.
Such news also involves London Gatwick as well as Heathrow, of which the carrier has provided long-term operations into for quite some time.
This strategy seems to have the Spring 2026 period in mind for such launch plans, which comes in good timing for the busy Summer 2026 period.
Air France Expands London Presence with New Gatwick Flights!
Earlier this month, Air France revealed that they would be expanding their footprint in London with new flights to London Gatwick from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
It is understood that these new services will commence on March 29 next year, and operate on a twice-daily basis.
This joins the already established Heathrow flights, which currently operate six times per day, increasing to seven over the course of this Winter period.
It means ultimately that nine flights per day into London from Paris will be serviced by the French carrier.
The scheduling for the new flights to Gatwick are as follows:
- Departures from Paris-CDG to London Gatwick at 9:20am (arrival 9:30am), and 3:45pm (arrival 3:55pm)
- Departures from London Gatwick to Paris-CDG at 10:30 (arrival 12.40pm) and 5:10pm (arrival 7:20pm).
Air France also confirmed that the Airbus A220 will be utilised to provide these flights into Gatwick as well.
This news also means that the French carrier will be providing up to 300 weekly flights to six destinations in the UK starting from the end of March, which is a significant operation in itself.
New Lounge Space at Heathrow Is Coming…
On top of the new flights to London Gatwick, Air France has also revealed, just this week, that a brand new lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 will be opening in Spring 2026.
It is understood that this new space will be reserved for La Premiere, Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus passengers, as well as eligible passengers who are flying with KLM & SkyTeam Partner carriers.
Air France has partnered up with SGK Brandimage for the design of this lounge, and will have a surface area of 750 square metres, and has capacity to seat 150 people.
On offer also will be dining areas showcasing French cuisine, as well as a spacious bar for those who wish to get their wine and champagne fix.
Furthermore, it is also understood there will be a dedicated spa and relaxation area, as well as spaces for working will also be available.
The airline has said that the launch of this new lounge will represent “a strategic airport on Air France’s medium-haul network”.
A Significant Investment from the French Carrier…
Overall, the doubling down on investment into London by Air France is pretty significant.
The Paris-Heathrow route is one of the most popular on the carrier’s operational roster, particularly with the amount of daily flights it operates.
With the carrier carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers each year to the UK capital, it is no wonder that the carrier is making this significant investment, particularly around the customer experience side of things as well.
A lot of business is conducted between London and Paris, so it makes sense that a lot of flights operate on that route.
In conclusion, Air France’s latest announcements underline a clear and deliberate commitment to strengthening its presence in the London market.
By expanding flight operations across both Heathrow and Gatwick, introducing modern Airbus A220 aircraft, and significantly increasing overall capacity into the UK, the carrier is positioning itself to capture greater point-to-point and connecting traffic ahead of the busy Summer 2026 season.
Coupled with the opening of a premium new lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4, designed to elevate the passenger experience for its most valued customers, these developments reinforce London’s strategic importance within Air France’s medium-haul network.
Altogether, the airline’s dual focus on network growth and customer experience signals a long-term investment that should further enhance its competitiveness and appeal in one of Europe’s most vital aviation markets.
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