Encouraged by the double digit growth registered on French routes last winter, Air Malta has announced that as from early 2009 it will introduce a new four times weekly service to Charles De Gaulle airport in north-east Paris. This service will complement the daily service offered by Air Malta to the other main Paris airport of Orly, which services the capital’s south. By servicing the capital’s two airports, Air Malta is expected to mirror its success in the London market where today it flies to the three main airports of the City.
“This is more good news for our customers and local hoteliers. With the new Paris service Air Malta is ensuring that it will offer the most convenient schedule to the Maltese Islands from both the Paris inner city area and also from the Parisian suburban areas known as Île de France, with a potential market of over 10.5 million people. Our clients will now have a choice of airports in Paris depending on their travel requirements,” announced Dr Brock Friesen, chief officer commercial of Air Malta. For summer 2009 the airline will be floating an additional 30,000 seats on Charles De Gaulle to complement its 60,000 floated seats on Orly. This summer it has added a third weekly flight on both Lyon and Marseille and in the first month these routes generated a 47 per cent and 96 per cent increase in passengers respectively.
“The French market has responded very well to both our and the MTA’s aggressive advertising campaigns in France. We have focused on the short break market segment and the extension of our traditional summer season to include off peak months. Last year our winter 2007/08 marketing efforts kicked off as from May and continued aggressively in the following months. Through this investment we registered an overall 25 per cent increase in passengers from France. The new airport and additional frequencies to Paris are expected to continue generating positive results for the airline to and from the French market.”
Air Malta is currently awaiting slot timings clearance from the airport authorities and expects to welcome the first bookings on this new service as from July.
This announcement comes at a time when other carriers operating the Malta route are contemplating whether to reduce or withdraw their services completely. Air Malta’s decision today is further evidence of the airline’s long-term commitment to the local tourism industry and the Maltese traveller, and remains the country’s sole strategic asset in providing route connectivity to over 40 destinations and beyond.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest airport serving Paris and the second busiest passenger airport in Europe after London Heathrow. The airport is 23 kilometres (14 miles) northeast of Paris and offers numerous transport links to the French capital city by road and rail. The airport is also considered as one of Europe’s main gateways to the United States and Far East. Air Malta will be analysing closely new potential partnerships with other carriers, giving Malta more accessibility to offline markets.
Paris CDG Airport has an integrated train system serving it. The TGV train service reaches central Paris in approximately 45 minutes, Disney World in 10 minutes and Lille and Brussels in an hour. Regular buses and taxis also operate from Paris CDG Airport, and road access from Paris is on the A1 via Porte de la Chapelle.