Air Cote d’Ivoire Debuts Paris Route with A330neo, Shaping West Africa’s New Long-Haul Gateway

September brings a transformative milestone for West African aviation as Air Cote d’Ivoire prepares to launch its inaugural European service—a daily connection between Abidjan and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) starting September 18. This marks both the government-owned carrier’s first step into long-haul operations and a bold move to position Abidjan as a key regional hub for transcontinental travel.

The new route, operated with the airline’s brand-new Airbus A330-900neo, not only opens a direct bridge between Côte d’Ivoire and France but also intensifies competition across one of the region’s most strategic aviation corridors. Reservations have now opened, and the service will run daily, offering West African travellers and business leaders more flexibility and connectivity than ever before.

The flagship A330neo—Air Cote d’Ivoire’s first widebody aircraft—successfully completed its maiden flight in early August and is slated for delivery on August 29. With a total of 242 seats across four cabins—First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy—the aircraft promises an upgraded, world-class onboard experience tailored to diverse market needs. This cabin diversity is expected to appeal to both premium and value-conscious travellers, as well as to the strong West African diaspora in Europe.

The acquisition of the A330neos is backed by robust financial support, with \$76.6 million in loans from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and additional funding from the West African Development Bank. This investment underlines regional confidence in Air Cote d’Ivoire’s vision to not only serve Paris but also extend its long-haul reach to future destinations such as New York, London, Geneva, and Washington, as highlighted by government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly.

Paris–Abidjan is already a fiercely contested route, with Air France operating double-daily flights using Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, while Corsair offers nine weekly roundtrips from Paris Orly with its own A330neo fleet. Air Cote d’Ivoire’s entry adds a new dynamic, especially as the carrier will leverage its comprehensive regional network—spanning 29 nonstop routes (22 of them international)—to feed traffic into its Abidjan hub. This regional connectivity is a strategic asset, allowing Air Cote d’Ivoire to funnel passengers from across West Africa into its new long-haul offering, further strengthening Abidjan’s role as a gateway for both business and leisure travellers.

Founded in 2012, Air Cote d’Ivoire has steadily built a reputation for reliability and regional leadership, operating a fleet of 12 narrowbody aircraft, including A319s, A320s, and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprops. The addition of the A330-900s signals a new era of ambition and competitiveness—not just for the airline, but for West Africa’s aviation sector as a whole.

For the African travel industry, this move carries several important implications. Firstly, Air Cote d’Ivoire’s entry onto the Abidjan–Paris sector will likely drive improvements in product quality and pricing, benefiting both corporate and leisure travellers. The arrival of a new, modern widebody with a four-class configuration introduces greater choice for travellers, while the expansion of regional feeder routes through Abidjan may stimulate demand for both intra-African and intercontinental travel.

Secondly, the airline’s investment in long-haul capability positions Côte d’Ivoire as a potential future hub for connecting West Africa with Europe and North America. As more African carriers expand their fleets with next-generation widebodies, competition with foreign airlines on key city pairs will intensify. This is particularly relevant for travel professionals seeking to offer clients better connectivity, streamlined itineraries, and increased schedule options across multiple continents.

Looking ahead, Air Cote d’Ivoire’s strategy reflects a broader trend: African airlines are increasingly seeking to capture value at both ends of the travel spectrum, from regional short-haul to long-haul international services. The ability to connect secondary and tertiary cities in Africa to major world capitals is set to reshape travel patterns, business opportunities, and tourism flows for years to come. The carrier’s plans to expand beyond Paris to cities like New York, London, Geneva, and Washington, enabled by the A330-900neo’s range and efficiency, point to a future where African airlines play a more central role in global aviation networks.

For African travel professionals, the launch of Abidjan–Paris flights with a new-generation aircraft is a compelling opportunity to develop bespoke products, cross-sell regional tours, and cultivate relationships with diaspora markets. As Air Cote d’Ivoire sets its sights on further international expansion, the airline’s evolution will serve as a bellwether for West African aviation, influencing investment, partnerships, and the competitive landscape for years ahead.