Discover Airlines Near Agreement on New Nonstop International Flight: Nashville to Frankfurt

As many Nashvillians plan their travels, a nonstop flight to Europe is already an option thanks to British Airways’ direct flight between Nashville and London, which began in 2018.

A second flight across the pond is now within sight.

According to a briefing provided to board members of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, Discover Airlines has proposed a nonstop flight between Nashville and Frankfurt, Germany, the site of Discover’s headquarters and the airport which serves more destinations than any airport in the world.

“Nashville is indeed an interesting destination with growing tourism appeal, which aligns well with Discover's network strategy,” Discover Airlines director of corporate communications Leonie Bueb said.

The final decision still must come from Lufthansa — Discover’s parent company — on whether to approve the route, which would begin service in May 2025.

International travel through Music City continues to gain traction by the day, with more than 4,300 travelers departing Nashville for an international flight or arriving at BNA from such a route during the airport’s recently completed fiscal year. That represents an annual total of nearly 1.6 million international travelers, a 12% increase from the 2023 fiscal year.

“We're trying to find somebody else to give us additional supply, because the demand is definitely there,” airport executive Josh Powell said last month.

That additional supply would come at a benefit to Nashville’s travelers: greater supply means more competition among the airlines, which in turn can lead to lower prices for travelers.

An even greater supply could be on the way in future months, as the airport has resumed talks with Aer Lingus regarding a potential nonstop flight connecting Nashville to Dublin, and BNA is also targeting flights to France and Iceland.

The Nashville Stars know that travelers from all around the world are arriving in Nashville at a record pace, and the Stars look forward to welcoming baseball fans from across the globe when Major League Baseball arrives in Music City.