A new daily Nice-New York JFK route from May 6, 2027, operated by American Airlines on a next-generation Airbus A321XLR with 155 seats. This is the airline’s second US route from Nice, following Nice-Philadelphia (PHL) launched in 2024.
Four direct connections now to New York, making Nice Côte d’Azur Airport the best-connected French airport to New York outside Paris, with 8 routes to the United States in total.
Ten long-haul flights to North America, confirming Nice as the leading airport in France outside Paris and the primary French gateway to the North American continent.
An unprecedented deployment of the Airbus A321XLR, a next-generation aircraft that American Airlines is the first US carrier to bring into service, featuring 20 Flagship Suite® seats, 12 Premium Economy seats and 123 Main Cabin seats.
A second US route for American Airlines from Nice
After two successful summers on the Nice-Philadelphia route launched in 2024, American Airlines is strengthening its presence in Nice with a second connection to the United States. The new Nice-New York (JFK) flight will launch on May 6, 2027, and will be operated on an Airbus A321XLR with 155 seats.
According to Franck Goldnadel, President of the Executive Board of the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur: “The launch of this new route between Nice and New York (JFK) by American Airlines reflects not only the growing appeal of the North American market for the Côte d’Azur, but also the renewed confidence of the airline, which has been operating a route between Nice and Philadelphia since 2024. More than ever, our mission is to connect our region directly and sustainably to the world’s major capitals.”
A signal of the transatlantic momentum
On the American Airlines side, José A. Freig, Vice President of International Operations and Commercial Partnerships, underlines: “Since we launched our first flight to Nice in 2024, customer feedback has been extremely positive. By adding a second flight to the Côte d’Azur, we are offering even more opportunities for these long-awaited summer getaways. We are also delighted to expand the deployment of our new Airbus A321XLR, brought into service in summer 2026, to offer our customers an enhanced flight experience on their transatlantic journeys.”
The A321XLR is a next-generation aircraft, deployed for the first time by American Airlines, the first US carrier to operate it. It features 20 Flagship Suite® seats, 12 Premium Economy seats and 123 Main Cabin seats, with high-speed Wi-Fi and a complimentary seatback entertainment system, including Bluetooth connectivity.
Nice, the leading French gateway to North America (outside Paris)
With this announcement, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport brings its long-haul network to 10 routes to North America, including 4 to New York, and 8 routes to the United States.
The announcement is part of a continuous strengthening of transatlantic connections. In May 2025, United Airlines inaugurated its Nice-Washington Dulles direct route, the first direct connection between the Côte d’Azur and the US federal capital, renewed in summer 2026 with four weekly frequencies. In May 2026, Delta Air Lines inaugurated the Boston-Nice route, the seventh route to the United States from Nice, operated three times a week on an Airbus A330-300. In June 2026, La Compagnie announced the extension of its Nice-New York Newark route through the 2026/2027 winter season, a first for a direct connection between Nice and New York beyond the summer season.
This momentum is supported by structural investments on the airport side. The Terminal 2 extension, inaugurated on April 13, 2026, added 23,058 sq m, 6 new boarding gates and 36 check-in desks, raising annual capacity from 14 to 18 million passengers. In 2025, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport handled 15.23 million commercial passengers, up 3.2%, with scheduled long-haul traffic growing by 5.8%.
A dynamic that lastingly fuels the economic, tourism and investment appeal of the Côte d’Azur by strengthening direct links with major US hubs.
Source: Press release Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur
Nice Côte d’Azur Connectivity
- Air Canada launches a new direct Nice – Toronto route from June 16, 2027, bringing to 3 the direct connections between Nice and Canada
- American Airlines launches a daily Nice-New York JFK flight in summer 2027: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport brings its direct connections to New York to 4
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport prepares for the arrival of electric air taxis with Joby Aviation, Blade, Heli Sécurité and Monacair
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport Connected to New York for the First Time in Winter Thanks to La Compagnie
- Delta Boston–Nice: direct route inaugurated in May 2026
- Twin Jet new routes Nice–Olbia and Nice–Menorca summer 2026
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport Terminal 2 extension: 23,000 sq m and capacity increased to 18 million passengers
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport summer 2026: a record network of 130 destinations
