Air France will go from 7 to 10 weekly flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Santiago between 15 December 2026 and 4 March 2027, flying all of them with 292-seat Airbus A350-900s. That brings capacity to 5,840 weekly seats, about 876 more per week in each direction, an increase of roughly 43%, El Aéreo reported with airline data. Aviación News confirmed the figure of up to ten weekly flights in the company's European winter plan.
The three extra flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, on top of the daily service. Today the route is flown with a Boeing 777-200ER, chosen because of runway restrictions and its cargo performance. The airline has not confirmed whether the extra frequencies will continue after 4 March.
View the data as a table
| Weekly flights | 10 |
| Seats per week | 5,840 |
| More capacity | +43% |
Air France flights to Santiago in summer 2026-2027
| Item | Until 14 December 2026 | 15 December 2026 to 4 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Santiago | Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Santiago |
| Weekly flights | 7 (daily) | 10 (daily + Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) |
| Aircraft | Boeing 777-200ER | Airbus A350-900 (292 seats) |
| Seats per week and direction | No figure published | 5,840 (about 876 more) |
Source: El Aéreo, 3 November 2026, and Aviación News. Check schedules and fares on the airline's website before booking: they can change.
In the same plan, Air France raises capacity to South America by 3%, led by Brazil: two daily flights to Rio de Janeiro from 21 December and two extra weekly frequencies to Salvador from 18 January 2027. Santiago's increase is far above the regional average.
- 15 Dec 2026Santiago: from 7 to 10 weekly flightsExtra flights Tue, Thu and Sun, with A350-900.
- 21 Dec 2026Rio de Janeiro: two daily flights
- 18 Jan 2027Salvador: two extra weekly flights
- 4 Mar 2027End of the 10-flight period to SantiagoNo confirmation it will continue.
Why Air France is betting on Santiago in high season
The extra flights match the months when most French travellers visit Chile. According to foreign tourist arrival data from the Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, December 2025 (8,466), February 2026 (8,375) and January 2026 (8,371) were the three months with the most French tourists in the past year. Between January and August 2026, 41,779 arrived, 6.3% more than in the same period of 2025.
View the data as a table
| French tourists | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 77,129 |
| 2017 | 83,758 |
| 2018 | 87,197 |
| 2019 | 87,085 |
| 2020 | 24,090 |
| 2021 | 3,987 |
| 2022 | 34,076 |
| 2023 | 62,779 |
| 2024 | 66,900 |
| 2025 | 65,691 |
| Year | French tourists | Year | French tourists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 77,129 | 2021 | 3,987 |
| 2017 | 83,758 | 2022 | 34,076 |
| 2018 | 87,197 (record) | 2023 | 62,779 |
| 2019 | 87,085 | 2024 | 66,900 |
| 2020 | 24,090 | 2025 | 65,691 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. France is Chile's third-largest European market, after Spain and Germany. See our pages on French tourists in Chile and European tourists by country.
What changes for travellers flying between Paris and Santiago
- More dates in high season: with 10 weekly flights there are three days with two departures, giving more options around Christmas, New Year and February.
- A newer aircraft: the A350-900 replaces the 777-200ER on all Santiago flights during the period.
- Connections in Paris: the Charles de Gaulle hub links to the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Asia; Air France plans up to 725 daily flights to about 170 destinations this European winter.
- On arrival in Santiago: options to get from the airport to the city are in our airport transfer guide.
This adds to other airlines strengthening their Chile flights for summer, as we covered in new air routes to Chile for summer 2026-2027. For context on the country's main airport, see Santiago airport passengers in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many flights does Air France operate between Paris and Santiago?
Seven a week (one daily), rising to 10 a week between 15 December 2026 and 4 March 2027, with extra flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Which aircraft does Air France fly to Santiago?
Currently a Boeing 777-200ER. During the 10-flight period, all will be 292-seat Airbus A350-900s.
How many French tourists visit Chile?
65,691 in 2025 and 41,779 between January and August 2026 (+6.3%). The record was 2018, with 87,197.
