It's a sea serpent resurfacing… and this time, it might just go all the way. The Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport could have a direct flight connection to New York as early as the first half of 2027. This information, revealed by Lyon Décideurs and confirmed by the president of the CCI Lyon-Métropole, Philippe Valentin, during a press conference, marks a new milestone in a matter that's been exciting Lyon travelers for many years.
According to the mentioned information, discussions are currently underway with Delta Airlines to bring this transatlantic route back into service. If the schedule is respected, the first flights could take off as early as next year, without needing to go through Paris or another European hub.
<A "cursed" route that has already vanished... three times
If there's a connection that really lives up to its nickname, it's this one. The direct line between Lyon and New York has had several lives... and just as many premature ends. The first service was provided by Air France and American Airlines in the early 1990s, followed by another attempt by Air France in the early 2000s. Then, in 2008, Delta Airlines also tried to revive the route.
Each time, the outcome has been the same: the route eventually disappeared. Since then, travelers from Lyon wanting to reach the United States have had to make a connection, most often via Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle. If the project comes to fruition this time, it would mark the fourth attempt to keep this route, which has become almost legendary, alive.
Shanghai also in Lyon's sights
Ain't-Exupéry
But New York isn't the only target set by the Lyon airport. A direct connection to Shanghai is also part of the grand ambitions supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and the airport management.
According to Philippe Valentin, this project has been actively progressing for nearly three years. The goal is clear: to provide the many regional businesses with direct access to the Chinese market without having to pass through Paris. The president of the CCI is particularly optimistic, explaining that the project is garnering real interest from both the French and Chinese sides, which hints at a possible opening as early as 2027.
Source: Lyon Décideurs