United’s New Route Makes the French Riviera More Accessible to Americans

Saying “bonjour” to the French Riviera just got easier.

United Airlines recently launched new service to France’s Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) from Washington, D.C. (IAD). Best of all, the service operates four times a week and adds 30 percent more seats to the region compared to previous years, according to the airline.

The new flight will operate from Washington, D.C. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The airline has assigned a Boeing 767-300 for the service, which runs seasonally now through Sept. 24. Travel + Leisure spotted flight availability throughout the summer season, with one-way fares starting at $439. 

“We are excited to launch this further expansion of our route network from France to the U.S. and United’s first-ever service from Nice to Washington D.C.,” Grégoire Dutoit, a sales manager at United, said in a statement to T+L. 

Nice has previously been described as “must-visit” and the “coolest place to be” in the French Riviera region by T+L. The region is home to famed lavender fields and the Cannes Film Festival, which brings global celebrities flocking to the area. The quaint corner of the French Riviera recently welcomed Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, which features luxury accommodations with sweeping views of the coast. There’s also Hôtel du Couvent, a 17th-century convent that underwent a $100 million renovation and features medieval-modern accommodations, along with a large underground spa. 

NCE is also a convenient entry point to Côte d’Azur area, which is roughly 1.5 hours away.

What’s more, this new route makes Monaco more accessible to travelers, as Nice is a quick 29-minute drive (traffic-permitting) from the independent city-state. The area is famously home to Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix as well as other tourist events.

The U.S.-to-Nice route comes as United continues to expand its international route map, including new flights to popular destinations in Asia like Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. United is also enhancing its footprint in Europe, as the carrier recently announced new year-round service connecting San Francisco (SFO) and Paris (CDG).