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Summary:
- Airlines are ramping up schedules between multiple London airports and Paris (CDG and Orly).
- easyJet restarted Stansted to CDG in early March.
- Air France adds two daily Gatwick to CDG round trips from March 29, 2026.
- Eurostar remains the most convenient option, but last minute prices can climb above €200.
- Some flights, booked at the same time, can sit below €100.
If you’ve traveled between London and Paris even once, you already know the routine: you check Eurostar, you pick a time, and you’re done. It’s quick, comfortable, and you arrive right in the middle of the city without the airport dance.
In 2026, that habit may start to crack. Not because the train has suddenly become bad, but because airlines are coming back hard on one thing Eurostar can’t always control: the price you pay when you book late. And for a route this popular, that matters more than people like to admit.
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A route that’s suddenly crowded again
Eurostar has held the monopoly on the rail link under the Channel between London and Paris for 31 years. That monopoly isn’t disappearing, and Eurostar still dominates for obvious reasons. But airlines are no longer treating this route like a lost cause.
By spring 2026, there should be more than fifty flights every day between London and Paris, connecting five London airports to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly. That number alone tells you the mood has shifted: airlines are investing again, expecting demand to follow.
A few moves are especially telling:
- easyJet restarted Stansted to Paris Charles de Gaulle in early March, while continuing to serve Gatwick, Luton and Southend.
- Air France will add two Gatwick to Paris Charles de Gaulle round trips per day from March 29, 2026.
- British Airways already serves Paris from Heathrow.
- Vueling links Gatwick to Orly.
According to calculations mentioned in the reference piece, from April 2026 a typical Friday could see 27 flight rotations each way, compared with 18 Eurostar trains. The train remains the backbone of the route, but the flight option is becoming much harder to ignore.
The train feels better, until you book the day before
Ask most travelers what they prefer and they’ll say the train, often without hesitation. And honestly, that’s understandable. Eurostar is still the smoothest way to do London to Paris when everything goes right: center to center, no baggage carousel, no long queues, no shuttle buses.
But airlines aren’t trying to beat Eurostar on comfort. They’re aiming straight at a weak spot: last minute pricing.
The reference comparison is blunt. A one way Eurostar ticket booked the day before can cost €224 for the 6:01 departure, then €250 or €277 for later trains in standard class.
At the same time, the article points to a competing flight: an easyJet Southend to Paris Charles de Gaulle flight at €78, described as roughly a third of Eurostar’s price in that last minute scenario.
The source also notes that seven other flights were available for less than half the train price at that timing. That’s the kind of gap that changes habits, especially for people who travel on impulse.
Traveler’s note: If you’ve ever booked Eurostar late for a weekend trip, you know the feeling. The train is still the nicest option, until the price makes you pause.
Train vs plane: a real life decision
This isn’t about proving one option “better.” It’s about choosing what fits your trip.
Eurostar still wins on the classic travel experience: simple, comfortable, city center to city center. But flights win in other ways, especially when price and flexibility take over.
Here’s the practical comparison:
| What matters to you | Eurostar | Flights |
| City center convenience | Strong advantage | Airport transfers add friction |
| Comfort, especially for work | Often better | Depends a lot on airline and airport |
| Last minute pricing | Often expensive | Often more competitive |
| Departure options | Fewer, more fixed | Many times and airports |
| Route volume in spring 2026 | High | Also high, 50+ daily flights |
The other interesting detail in the source is about why Air France cares. Its goal is not only to compete with easyJet, but also to feed long haul flights through its Paris hub.
An analyst quoted in the article also points out something specific: Eurostar does not plan to restore trains departing from Kent, and the Air France Gatwick route helps fill a connectivity gap between the south coast and Paris.
Eurostar, when asked about the growing airline schedules, declined to comment.
A simple way to choose in 2026
A lot of people try to decide based on ideology: train good, plane bad. Real life doesn’t work like that. What matters is your timing, budget, and where you start your journey.
Pick Eurostar if you want the smoothest overall experience, a simple center to center trip, and comfort and space.
Look at flights first if you book late, want more departure times, live closer to an airport than to central London, or need to connect onward via Paris.
Mini checklist before you book
- Are you booking inside the last 24 to 48 hours? Compare prices immediately.
- Which London airport is realistic for you, not just “cheapest”?
- Add airport transfers into your total travel time, not as an afterthought.
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Eurostar is still the easiest option between London and Paris, and it will likely stay that way for most people. But in 2026, flights are no longer just an alternative you ignore. With more than 50 daily departures expected, airlines are rebuilding a serious presence on the route and targeting the moments when Eurostar gets expensive.
If you book early and value comfort, the train will probably keep winning your heart. But if you move fast, book late, or want more flexibility, the flight option is back on the table.
