Travelers flying through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport can now turn their layovers into mini-vacations. Air France and Extime Travel have launched Paris Stopover, a program allowing passengers to leave the airport for one to four nights to explore the city or nearby areas before continuing their journey.
Passengers book the Stopover option on Air France’s website when purchasing their ticket, selecting either their outbound or return flight. They then choose a package from Extime Travel, which includes transfers, a four- or five-star hotel in central Paris or at Disneyland Paris, and activities tailored to their stay duration. Extime Travel handles all logistics.
Currently, two packages are available: Paris Must-See, featuring landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, and a Disneyland Paris option aimed at families. The partners plan to expand offerings with higher-tier options and themed excursions, including cultural, culinary, and festive choices, as well as itineraries highlighting communities near the airport.
The program targets a significant market: half of Air France’s arrivals at CDG are connecting passengers. A 2026 Pégase Chair study found that 81% of these travelers expressed interest in leaving the airport during layovers. Interest was even higher among Brazilian (92.3%) and Indian (90%) passengers, with the latter benefiting from France’s recent removal of airport transit visa requirements.
Travel advisors should note that the program is available to passengers in all cabins, from Economy to La Première, but requires a minimum 27-hour connection and booking with the Stopover option. Packages can be reserved with Extime Travel up to 48 hours before departure, subject to availability.
Paris Stopover is the first major initiative from Connect France, a partnership between Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP formed in June 2025. Its goal is to enhance CDG as a hub and leverage France’s status as the world’s most-visited country. While Icelandair and Turkish Airlines have offered similar programs at smaller hubs, Air France and Groupe ADP claim CDG is the first major European hub to provide a packaged tourist experience between flights.
This strategy mirrors approaches in other industries, where companies transform wait times into opportunities. For example, airport hotels have long capitalized on layovers, offering travelers a chance to rest and recharge. Paris Stopover extends this concept, turning a potential inconvenience into a memorable experience.
