Air France and long-haul companies that rely on regional passengers to fill their planes can breathe a sigh of relief. Air connections from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport or to Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon or Rennes escaped the ax of the European Commission in the context of the merger. they may be preserved, as between Lyons. and Marcel.
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Brussels has just ratified the 2021 French climate law instrument. This on the one hand prohibited domestic flights when there was a rail alternative of less than two and a half hours, while on the other hand it accepted diversions for Roissy connections. .
“The measure, ratified by the European Commission, will ban domestic air services, when they can be replaced by direct rail services, in less than two and a half hours, allowing to reach eight hours with sufficient frequencies and sufficient schedules. , that is, without the loss of the level of service related to the aircraft,” explained the General Directorate of Civil Aviation after the conclusion of the Commission. This choice must be reviewed after three years. At that time, the case of connecting flights will also be investigated, they said in Brussels.
Brussels’ decision, said Transport Minister Clement Bohn, “will allow new phases in an effective ban on airlines when there is an alternative of less than two and a half hours by train”. The climate law had already led to the cancellation of connections between Orly airport and Bordeaux, Nantes and Lyon.
Combining train ticket and plane tickets will therefore become an important service. But the initiative is not new. Twenty-five years ago, SNCF created a TGV service for passengers in Paris. Since then, the railway company serving Charles de Gaulle Airport has established partnerships with dozens of airlines (Air Caraïbes, Corsair, Qatar Airways, etc.) and especially with Air France, the leading carrier from CDG. Air France managers say some climate-sensitive customers prefer to travel short distances by train.
Domestic line service competitors have finally learned to work together, generally to the benefit of TGV, Air France and SNCF. They are creating a ‘digital’ service to make life easier for passengers – one booking, one e-ticket for the entire journey. Three million travelers reach Paris’ two airports by train each year, according to SNCF. The company aims to sell 600,000 combined train + air tickets annually within five years.
Source: Le Figaro
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