theFrench airline Chalair will assume, a from January 1, 2027the regular lines that operate from Andorra-la Seu airport with four new destinations: Paris, Nantes, Nice and Lyonwhich will be added to the already consolidated flights of Madrid i Palma. The opening a France represents, according to the French ambassador, Nicolas Eybalinand the representative of French co-prince, Robert Mauria giant step in terms of improving connections with the Galician country and, in turn, with the rest ofeurope
“Placing the base of the plane at the Headquarters will solve problems in technical cancellations”
The deployment of the routes will be progressive. Paris will premiere in January with two weekly frequencies throughout the year, presumably untilOrly airportwhile nicealso with two frequencies, and Lyon, with one, will join only in the summer; Nantes will do so exclusively during the winter also with two trips. Madrid will gradually move to three weekly flights and Palma it will oscillate between two and three frequencies. One of the main changes will be that Chalair will have the permanent basis of one ATR-42 with 48 seats to the infrastructure of the Seu d’Urgellwith the possibility of using a ATR-72 of up to 70 seats in periods when there is more demand and with a spare plane located about two hours away. The Secretary of State for Mobility and Transport, David Forneassured that this basis will allow to reduce some of the technical incidents and cancellations that had marked the stage ofAir Nostrum. The Spanish company will end the service on December 31 and Chalair he will take over the very next day.
The destination of Paris it is proposed to Orlyalthough timetables and slots have yet to be negotiated with the airports. I baked remarked that this is the preferred option because it is closer to the center of Pariswhile the airport of Charles de Gaulle offers more intercontinental connections. Nicolas Eybalin shared the preference for Orly for the user who wants to reach the French capital, but he remembered that whoever wants to continue towards theasia or theAfrica you will have to scroll to Charles de Gaulle. Robert Mauri he described the new route map as “excellent news” and a “very important qualitative leap” for the opening up of the country. Mauri assured that Paris it is the central piece because it opens Andorra not only a Francebut also to the rest ofeurope and the world, and that connections can attract a new visitor profile. Along with the flight to Madrid, starting next year Andorra will have direct routes to two of the main capitals ofeurope Mauri also saw scope for, if demand responds, frequencies to grow and the service to be more useful for the business traveller. Eybalin agreed that “it was necessary” to complete the connections with France after already existing flights with Madrid i Palma The French ambassador trusted that the new routes will make it possible to capture the public that until now had not considered reaching the principality by air In the case of Parispointed out that, in the long term, it would be interesting to go from two weekly frequencies to one daily. As for the rest of the cities, Eybalin he saw the connection with nice due to the touristic and Mediterranean profile, while Nantes can serve to open up the French western market. I baked defended that the proposal of Chalair allows to go from three to six destinations and that the model will be able to grow if employment goes along. The French company won the competition with an offer that, according to Forné, exceeded 94% of the score and contributed more flight hours and routes within the limit of five million euros of public contribution per year.
“It was necessary that there also be a line with France by plane and now it is a reality”
In parallel, theairport will incorporate several improvements to strengthen the operation with a new pressure fuel supply system, the expansion of the services of air control and de-icing equipmentnecessary for the plane to be based on the infrastructure of theHigh Urgell permanently.
“It is a very important qualitative leap in terms of unlocking”
14% MORE PASSENGERS THAN LAST YEAR
According to the data provided by Governmentthe average occupancy of the trip to the capital ofSpain has been 55.8%, while the flight at Balearic Islands has reached 50%, although in periods when lower occupancy might have been expected, such as February, an average of 78% was recorded, with some flights at 100%. In August, the figure was 55%.
