What has changed for Air Corsica in recent years?
Jean-Baptiste Martini - Competition with so-called low cost forced us to rethink our business model, to move out of our comfort zone as a classic fare-based airline. It wasn't easy to rethink the model. We really got down to it with the support from the Corsican regional authoritiesour shareholder. We have decided to offer an attractive pricing policy but, unlike others, we also want to give consumers the image of a company they can rely on. We offer introductory fares, but for a customer travelling at the last minute, we undertake not to exceed a certain price level. We offer both 'very low' and 'normal' fares, so that our passengers, including business travellers, have no unpleasant surprises. And that's not all: baggage is included in our service, and we also offer an on-board drinks service.
Is the company already reaping the benefits of this policy?
J.-B. M. - Absolutely. Despite the competition, we are regaining market share, for example in Lyonwhere we have significantly increased our frequencies. We have a market share of more than 50% between the Corsica and Lyon, for example. We have also increased our capacity in Toulouse, Nantes and Lyon. Bordeaux. In fact, we are seriously considering annualising our presence on the Corsica-Bordeaux route, given the strong flow of business. On the other hand, there is too much competition in Eastern France, such as Lille, which we serve from Brussels-Charleroi.
Sales and Marketing Director, Air Corsica
Are services to Europe also part of this Air Corsica revolution?
J.-B. M. - We began the process of expanding beyond France four years ago, and the Belgium represents an essential market, especially as Corsica enjoys an excellent reputation there. We started out in Liège, but in the end our choice fell on Brussels South-Charleroi. We have the support of the airport in our marketing efforts. Belgian travellers are responding, and we're growing in strength. We now offer a flight almost all year round - except from January to March - and in 2019 we should annualise this line. During the summer season, we ride up to 12 flights per week in Ajaccio, Bastia and Calvi. In fact, we are achieving load factors in excess of 80%, and even 90% in some months. Here again, we are offering free baggage as well as the possibility of changing your ticket free of charge in the same fare class. We hope to see a similar development on London, our new destination in Europe.
Why London?
J.-B. M. - We studied 40 airports across EuropeLondon offers the best prospects because of its economic weight and its population, beyond theBrexit effect. We offer two to four flights a week to London Stansted from Ajaccio, Bastia and Figari, depending on the month. We work with Atout France and theCorsica Regional Tourist Agency to promote our island, by offering 64,000 seats for this first season. We want to encourage new leisure reflexes in the UK towards our island. We also hope to attract Corsicans who would like to go to London, but we have to be realistic: more than 80% of our traffic actually comes from non-residents.
make Corsica a regional air hub
Are you thinking of other destinations in Europe?
J.-B. M. - We are looking into the possibility of moving into Geneva which, on the face of it, would be the third destination with the most potential for us. Here too, the reputation of Corsica in French-speaking Switzerland would enable us to rapidly build on our success. The Collectivité Territoriale is also keen to link Corsica to other destinations around the Mediterranean. We'll have to wait and see, but there's an ambition to make Corsica a regional air hub. We're also thinking about an air service between Ajaccio and Bastia. It takes between 3h30 and 4 hours to get from one town to the other, and an air link would ensure reliability and speed, particularly for business people.
