EasyJet has formally opened its Lyon Saint-Exupery base in south east France as the carrier ramps up its French expansion.
The decision to pursue an aggressive French policy against incumbent flag carrier Air France, will see easyJet increase its fleet in the country from six to 20 aircraft and is part of a ”600m ($937m) investment across four years.
Passenger numbers are expected to rise as a result of the extra machines from 6m last year to 12m by 2011, as French customers start to feel the benefits in a country so heavily dominated by Air France.
Indeed, the news of extra services from a low-cost carrier also comes hard on the heels of speculation that Air France was possibly looking to review its domestic offering in the teeth of fierce competition from the country”s highly-efficient - and relatively cheap - TGV rail system.
EasyJet now claims to be France”s second largest carrier with a 6% market share and Lyon marks its third opening in the country after the two Parisian airports of Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Domestically, easyJet will serve Bordeaux, Biarritz and Toulouse, while five new European and North African flights will launch to Venice, Marrakech, Casablanca, Lisbon and Porto.
The airline operates 50 services from 14 French airports, while a further 23 new routes will start in the first half of 2008.
”There is a strong desire among consumers for more choice,” said easyJet chief executive Andy Harrison.
”With a lost-cost penetration that is half the European average, France's air transport market still suffers from a lack of affordable, direct air links and therefore offers huge opportunities for easyJet.”
”We will be employing French people and flying French passengers from France”s major airports on aircraft from Toulouse-based Airbus. No wonder we consider ourselves as the best French alternative to Air France.”
An initial two Airbus A319 aircraft will be positioned at Lyon.
EasyJet”s Lyon news comes as the Alpine town of Courchevel prepares to host the fifth French Low-Cost Forum featuring dozens of low-fare carriers from this Wednesday (9 April) to Friday.