The French Riviera gained a new direct connection to the United States this summer as Delta Air Lines launched a nonstop service between Boston and Nice, placing the region within reach of one of America's largest cities without a European hub connection.
The Boston to Nice route launched on May 16, operating three times a week on an Airbus A330-300, as part of what Delta described as its biggest transatlantic schedule in the airline's history.
Delta's summer 2026 European expansion includes seven new routes from Boston, New York and Seattle, with Nice joining Madrid, Olbia, Porto, Malta, Rome and Barcelona on the list of new destinations.
The service is framed as a seasonal summer route, timed to the peak months when tourism to the French Riviera is strongest. There is no confirmed continuation into the 2026-27 winter timetable at this stage, meaning travellers seeking off-season connections will still need to route through Paris or Amsterdam.
For the Riviera's significant American expat and tourist community, the route removes a frequently cited friction point: the need to connect through a busy European hub on journeys between the Côte d'Azur and the east coast of the United States. Boston's Logan Airport is itself a major connection hub, allowing passengers from across the country to reach Nice via a single stop.
The service arrives at a moment of broader transatlantic growth at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, with Nice's direct New York route continuing year-round alongside the new Boston connection.
Whether the Delta service returns next summer will likely depend on how well the seats fill during the current season.