Neuer Low-Cost Carrier in Frankreich: Air Lib Express

[Gast Torben]

Es gibt schlechte Nachrichten für Easy-Jet, die ja eigentlich ab Paris-Orly expandieren wollen und dazu auf die Slots von Air Lib gehofft hatten. Folgenden Bericht habe ich heute in der ATWonline gelesen:

 

Air Lib plans low-cost domestic operation

Dateline: Friday March 08, 2002

 

Air Lib plans to launch a "lower cost" domestic service, Air Lib Express, serving six provincial towns at a one-way fare starting from eur29 ($25.58).

 

The service will start in late March or early April with 11 daily departures from Paris Orly to Nice, five to Toulouse, Marseilles and Perpignan, four to Toulon and three to Lourdes-Tarbes. Flights to Montpellier, Nimes, Bordeaux and Beziers could be added "if the concept proves to be successful," said CEO Jean-Charles Corbet. "We want to become the French low-cost airline." Tickets will be nonrefundable and the Saturday rule will not be applicable.

Corbet hopes to reduce costs by introducing Internet sales--although not exclusively--increasing aircraft utilization to 11 hr. daily and boosting the productivity of cabin crew, who will continue to benefit from commissions on sales onboard.

 

The carrier, born out of defunct merged airlines AOM and Air Liberte, intends to return about 10,000 yearly slots at Orly. "We can always ask for them back if necessary," said Corbet. Last month easyJet blasted Air Lib for not returning the slots it had committed under its restructuring agreement last year. EasyJet had hoped to base as many as seven aircraft at Orly but received only a fraction of the slots it requested (ATWOnline, Feb. 8).