Paris and Province: The Sad Saga of Air Travel’s Downward Spiral!
Air travel on domestic routes from Paris is still in a sad state, remaining 30% below pre-Covid levels, despite the return of business travel. Recent declines in passenger numbers suggest a bleak future, compounded by upcoming airline cuts including the end of the Air France shuttle at Orly in 2026 and EasyJet’s closure in Toulouse.
Air travel continues to nosedive for routes between Paris and other cities. You’d think the return of business trips would fill those empty seats, but alas, the trend seems to be going the opposite way! According to the latest updates from Bruno Trévidic, major internal flights in France are stuck in a post-Covid slump. Despite air traffic almost bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, flights connecting Paris with regional capitals are still lagging behind, dragging down the average by a hefty 30% compared to the good ol’ days of 2019. In fact, these crucial routes have been dropping passengers faster than a clumsy waiter drops plates – recently reporting a further decline after hosting 16.3 million passengers back in 2019. And folks, Buckle up; the flight landscape is changing with the unfortunate farewell of Air France’s Orly shuttle scheduled for summer 2026, alongside EasyJet’s recent decision to shut down its Toulouse base. Talk about turbulence!
Ever since the pandemic waltzed onto the scene, air travel has taken a dramatic turn. The return of business travel was supposed to kick airline seats back into gear. Instead, regions like Paris and its neighboring cities are facing a drought of flyers. Even with most of the pre-Covid traffic resurrecting, those charming domestic flights are still floundering, unable to hit the levels of enthusiasm we saw in 2019. The reasons? A mix of travelers shunning the planes, new competition from trains, and perhaps a general feeling that traveling by air has become a bit too much of a hassle. With major airlines reconsidering their strategies – like Air France with their imminent Orly closure – it’s evident that the skies are getting cloudy for these domestic flights.
In a nutshell, if you thought post-pandemic air travel would soar like a phoenix, think again! Flights between Paris and regional hubs are still coming in for a landing, and not a soft one at that. With traffic down by 30% and airlines making some rather drastic changes, it looks like we’re witnessing a slow-motion air travel train wreck where fewer passengers mean more empty seats. So, if you’ve got a love for flying, it might be time to invest in a good train schedule instead!
Original Source: www.lesechos.fr
