Why is La Compagnie moving to Orly now?
Jean-Charles Périno - Competitive developments, new products from different companies and, of course, the redistribution ofAir Berlinhave enabled us to grasp this opportunity to join Orly. We are delighted that Cohor has awarded us these slots, enabling us to transfer La Compagnie's business to Orly.
Why Orly?
J.-C. P. - The appeal of Orly airport obviously lies in its close to Paris and the heart of our catchment area, as well as increasing the number of connections for our customers, more and more of whom are organising their own trips and connections. So it's clear that we've been interested in this platform for some time.
Can you tell us when your operations will start at Orly, and what impact this will have on the flight schedule?
J.-C. P. - We haven't completely decided on the date yet, but in the next ten days or so we should be able to communicate more precisely on the subject. The summer season starts at the end of March, and our arrival at Orly will follow a few weeks later. The timetable will remain virtually identical: one departure in the morning, another in the early afternoon.
Orly, an airport on a human scale
In practical terms, what will be the benefits for business travellers?
J.-C. P. - In contrast to the vastness of CDG, Orly remains a human-sized airport, which matches the profile of our offer. Being so close to Paris makes all the difference when it comes to accessing the hub. Paris airports has also been transforming Orly for some time now, with this jetty that will link the South and West terminals and improve traffic flow. Orly is reinventing and modernising itself. Passengers will be able to enjoy the The Company as they know it: the best value for money in business class, the various advantages such as the VIP pass, access to the lounge, and this small 74-seater aircraft. We are going to maintain the fluidity of the passenger experience.
Which salon will La Compagnie use?
J.-C. P. - This has not yet been decided. It's a discussion that we're currently holding, and which we'll decide on in the coming days, depending on the terminal in which we'll be installed.
Is there a link between the move to Orly and the partnership with easyJet ?
J.-C. P. - EasyJet is present at both airports, but its services at Orly are very dense to airports such as Toulouse or Nicewhich are major traffic areas towards New York. This will undoubtedly enable us to attract even more customers " self connectors" which now account for more than 10% of our passengers.
What is the timetable for the merger between La Compagnie and easyJet?
J.-C. P. - Implementation is scheduled for the first quarter of this year, with availability for sale on the easyJet website in March.
Could the profile of Orly airport allow you to go further in the rapprochement with easyJet, such as baggage handling?
J.-C. P. - It's a complex subject, and we're working on it. There is undoubtedly an opportunity to do more in the coming months, to facilitate the passenger experience, and even to develop other partnerships. Each airline is looking to improve its offer and develop closer links with other carriers. This is something we're considering. We haven't got into the details yet, but we're very open to it.
There are airports in the provinces that could handle a few rotations a week.
During the IFTM Top Resa trade show, you didn't close the door on new destinations. How far have you got with this?
J.-C. P. - It's still relevant today. Our new equipment will be arriving from the first quarter of 2019, so we're thinking about how best to use the fleet. We are thinking of strengthening La Compagnie's charter business. At the same time, we believe that there is a market on certain seasonal routes to be exploited during the course of the year.summer 2019.
Would these new flights be offered from Orly?
J.-C. P. - Not necessarily. There are airports in the provinces which, in periods of high demand, could support a few rotations a week. We haven't yet decided on a flight plan. Today, business customers represent two thirds of our customer base. But during the summer our aircraft are filled with leisure travellers. We are convinced that we could meet leisure demand from other airports. We need to carefully assess the potential of the different options, and find the most appropriate route in this context.
