The French carrier Air France is to double its frequency from Cork Airport for summer 2020.

It will fly two daily services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle from April to October next year.

The airline will operate a new early morning flight from Cork and a late evening service from Paris.

These new flights will complement the existing Cork to Paris-Charles de Gaulle daily schedule.

The expansion plan for the additional 36,000 seats during summer 2020 by Air France is a seen as a significant boost for inbound and outbound tourism for Cork and the greater Munster region.

Cork Airport's managing director Niall MacCarthy said: "We are really thrilled to see the doubling of frequency of Air France's summer 2020 service between Cork and Paris.

"Paris is now firmly established as Cork's third most important long-haul hub after Heathrow and Amsterdam.

"We welcome Air France's expansion in Cork as one of the biggest airlines in the world and a growing business partner for Cork Airport, since it first established operations in Cork Airport in May 2018."

Benedicte Duval is general manager of Air France-KLM UK & Ireland: "As a result of the strong passenger numbers on our Cork to Paris route, we are delighted to be in a position to add a second daily flight for summer 2020.

"The twice daily service on the route will offer more choice, with the improved schedule allowing more passengers from the South of Ireland take advantage of our worldwide connections via Paris.

"From a business travel perspective, the addition of a new early morning flight to Paris and a return flight later in the evening means that those doing business in the French capital can now conveniently travel over and back in one day," she added.

Passenger numbers this year through Cork Airport will reach 2.6 million - its fourth consecutive year of growth.