Central African Republic Faces Major Connectivity Setback as Air France Ends Paris–Bangui Route
The Central African Republic (CAR) is poised to experience a significant reduction in international air access following Air France’s decision to discontinue its direct Paris–Bangui service from February 2026. This move will sever the country’s only nonstop air connection to Europe, posing fresh challenges for business, tourism, and diplomatic exchanges between CAR and the broader international community.
Currently, the Paris–Bangui route operates just once a week, reflecting the fragile nature of CAR’s international air links. With its termination, travelers will be required to make connections via Yaoundé, Cameroon, utilizing services provided by a regional partner airline. This change means longer travel times, increased complexity, and likely higher costs for passengers seeking to reach European destinations from Bangui.
The implications for CAR’s tourism industry and wider economy are profound. Direct air routes are a critical driver of inbound tourism, facilitating business travel, international investment, and the flow of goods and services. For a landlocked country already facing significant logistical hurdles, the loss of direct access to a major European hub such as Paris further isolates CAR from key source markets. This disruption could hinder efforts to attract international visitors, deter business delegations, and complicate travel for the diaspora and diplomatic community.
For Africa’s aviation and tourism professionals, Air France’s decision underscores the vulnerability of markets dependent on a single international carrier. The shift towards regional connections through Yaoundé may offer some continuity, but it also places added pressure on regional operators to maintain reliable, quality service and seamless transfers for both passengers and cargo. There is now a pressing need for enhanced cooperation among African airlines and stakeholders to fill the connectivity gap and explore new route opportunities that could restore direct links with Europe.
This development also highlights a broader trend: the concentration of long-haul services in larger, more commercially viable hubs, leaving smaller markets increasingly reliant on regional feeder networks. As global airlines reassess route profitability and network strategy, African destinations with lower passenger volumes risk losing crucial international connections unless they can demonstrate growing demand, improved infrastructure, and stronger partnerships with both regional and global carriers.
The CAR scenario serves as a wake-up call for other African nations with limited direct connectivity to key overseas markets. Industry leaders must consider innovative solutions—such as joint ventures, codeshare agreements, and targeted marketing—to safeguard and expand international access. There is also an opportunity for African airlines to step up, leveraging new-generation aircraft and flexible business models to address underserved routes and unlock new flows of tourism and trade.
As the continent’s travel landscape evolves, the loss of the Paris–Bangui direct service is a stark reminder of the importance of connectivity for economic resilience and growth. For stakeholders in the Central African Republic and beyond, adapting to these shifts will require agility, collaboration, and a renewed focus on strengthening Africa’s position in the global aviation network.
