French boutique airline La Compagnie announced on Thursday that it would be suspending operations until the president's travel restrictions lift. The entirely business class airline operates two routes, both from the French cities of Paris and Nice to Newark, New Jersey.
Despite Newark Liberty International Airport operating as an approved entry airport for the United States under President Trump's travel ban, passengers not approved to enter the country, including non-US citizens or permanent residents, would not be allowed to board flights originating in France.
The airline is one of the world's smallest with a fleet of only two Airbus A321neo aircraft exclusively operating the airline's transatlantic routes. XL Airways France, a sister airline operating low-cost, long-haul services from Paris, folded in 2019 with La Compagnie at risk to do the same as COVID-19 marches across France and continues to scare travelers from heading overseas.
La Compagnie expects to resume operations once the ban expires with one daily flight between Newark and Paris on April 15 while pushing back the launch of seasonal Newark-Nice service until June 1.