Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

TRAVEL NEWS

New direct flight from New York to French Riviera as tourists return

A new daily flight will connect the French Riviera to New York this summer, as American tourists begin returning to France.

Published: 3 May 2022 08:46 CEST

New direct flight from New York to French Riviera as tourists return

A United Airlines Boeing 737 lands (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Going between the United States and the South of France just got a lot easier this summer with the addition of a new nonstop route between New York and Nice, on the French Riviera.

Over the past two years travel between France and the US has been heavily restricted, but now that both the US and France have lifted the majority of Covid-related restrictions, tourism is expected to resume this summer.

READ ALSO Everything you need to know about travel between France and the USA

The new route from United Airlines, which was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic, opened on Saturday, reports French daily Ouest-France.

Daily flights between Nice and New York will continue until September 6th.

This route is in addition to the pre-existing daily Delta airlines flight, which connects the two cities already.

United Airlines sales director for France, Grégoire Dutoit, told BFMTV’s regional station that the new route “will not only bring Nice closer to New York” but also “connect Nice to more than 85 destinations on the American continent.”

Dutoit said it is possible United Airlines will continue the route throughout the year.

United also extended the amount of time allowed to redeem flight credits through to December 31st 2023, for tickets purchased between May 2019 until the end of this year.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

How would a 'youth mobility scheme' between the UK and EU really work?

Across the 27 countries of the EU, people of all ages can move countries to work, study, spend a long visit or chase the possibility of love – and all this is possible thanks to EU freedom of movement.

That freedom no longer extends to the UK. As a result of Brexit, a UK national who wants to move to an EU country, or an EU citizen who wants to move to the UK, will need a visa in order to do so.

However, a new ‘mobility scheme’ could re-create some elements of freedom of movement, if the EU and UK can come to an agreement.

The European Commission on Thursday announced proposals for a ‘youth mobility scheme’.

Who would benefit?

First things first, it’s only for the youngsters, older people will have to continue with the time-consuming and often expensive process of getting a visa for study, work or visiting.

The Commission’s proposal is for a scheme that covers people aged 18 to 30.

Their reasoning is: “The withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in decreased mobility between the EU and the UK. This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges.

“The proposal seeks to address in an innovative way the main barriers to mobility for young people experienced today and create a right for young people to travel from the EU to the UK and vice-versa more easily and for a longer period of time.”

How would it work?

We’re still at an early stage, but the proposal is to allow extended stays – for young people to be able to spend up to four years in the EU or UK – under a special type of visa or residency permit. It does not, therefore, replicate the paperwork-free travel of the pre-Brexit era.

The Commission states that travel should not be ‘purpose bound’ to allow young people to undertake a variety of activities while they are abroad.

Under the visa system, people must travel to a country for a specific purpose which has been arranged before they leave – ie in order to study they need a student visa which requires proof of enrolment on a course, or if they intend to work they need a working visa which often requires sponsorship from an employer.

The proposal would allow young people to spend their time in a variety of ways – perhaps some time working, a period of study and then some time travelling or just relaxing.

It would also not be subject to national or Bloc-wide quotas.

It seems that some kind of visa or residency permit would still be required – but it would be issued for up to four years and could be used for a variety of activities.

Fees for this should not be “excessive” – and the UK’s health surcharge would not apply to people travelling under this scheme.

Are there conditions?

Other than the age qualification, the proposal is that young people would have to meet other criteria, including having comprehensive health insurance, plus financial criteria to ensure that they will be able to support themselves while abroad.

The visa/residency permit could be rejected on the ground of threats to public policy, public security or public health.

Will this happen soon?

Slow down – what’s happened today is that the European Commission has made a recommendation to open negotiations.

This now needs to be discussed in the Council of Europe.

If the Council agrees then, and only then, will the EU open negotiations with the UK on the subject. The scheme could then only become a reality if the EU and UK come to an agreement on the terms of the scheme, and then refine the fine details.

Basically we’re talking years if it happens at all, and there’s plenty of steps along the way that could derail the whole process.

Don’t start packing just yet.

Url copied to clipboard!