Delta Air Lines is restarting a nonstop flight to Paris from Cincinnati\Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.
On Friday, Delta announced the comeback of its nonstop flight to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. Flights will begin departing again on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 6:05 p.m. Flights will operate three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, departing CVG at 6:05 p.m., the announcement states.
Delta plans to host a celebration at the gate on Tuesday, where the airline will offer music, snacks, and prizes for outbound travelers.
The announcement comes as carriers are taking measures to retain staff and pilots amid a shortage that has delayed and canceled flights due to a lack of staff. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called a meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airline carriers in June after widespread flight disruptions, including his own flight from Washington to New York, according to Associated Press reports.
While airlines admitted they are struggling with staff shortages, the FAA said some of the delays are also due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, particularly in Florida, which airlines have told media is a weak link in air travel right now. The FAA has since pledged more air traffic controllers to Florida locations, the AP reports.
Despite setbacks in air travel, CEO Candace McGraw said demand for overseas travel remains steadfast.
“Transatlantic travel and cargo demand from the Cincinnati region is very strong, and we’re excited that Delta is resuming this nonstop service as it supports this demand and our region’s economy,” the CVG chief executive officer said. “Prior to the pandemic, Delta had continuously served Paris from CVG for more than 30 years providing direct service to Paris and single connect service to more than 40 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. We’re grateful for the continued partnership.”