This is the little company on the rise. Present since 1989, Air Corsica is accelerating its grip on transport to and from the Ile de Beauté. " La Corsica is a superb destination for both leisure and business travellers. And we want to capitalise on the appeal of our island "explains Hervé Pierret, a member of the company's Management Board.
In fact, the airline's role is changing. Of course, Air Corsica is first and foremost a network of routes linking Paris, Marseille and Nice to Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari to open up the island. These routes are operated in partnership with Air France and HOP!. " We are achieving a balance between Corsican and continental passengers in Nice and Lyon, while Bordeaux and Nantes are outbound markets. Paris fluctuates according to the season, while Marseille remains a very Corsican market. "says Hervé Pierret. But it's also increasingly a network that's expanding across the French region and now Europe. " In 2017, we had a network of 33 routes between Corsica and the Continent, including 12 public service lines. We are in fact main Corsican company with a market share of 51% "says Hervé Pierret.
Over the last 5 years, the airline has developed a complementary network of seasonal and annual routes. Lyon, Roissy and Toulouse are served all year round, while during the summer season, Air Corsica also connects Clermont-Ferrand, Dôle, Nantes, Toulon and, since this year, Bordeaux. " We do not serve the East or Lille, but this could be a logical expansion. "warns Hervé Pierret.
we are going to study a service to Germany
In fact, Air Corsica's main European ambitions. Starting with Belgium, where the company has swapped Liège for Brussels South Charleroi last March. " It's been a real success. For this first season, which ends on 12 November, we sold almost 50,000 seats and achieved a load factor of 83%. As a result, we are going to extend our flying season with routes to Ajaccio and Bastia, which will operate between the end of March 2018 and January 2019. We will also be adding a Brussels South-Calvi route during the summer months. In total, 24,000 extra seats will be deployed for summer 2018 between Corsica and Belgium. "says the CEO of Air Corsica. Another new development in 2018: the inauguration of routes between several Corsican airports and London-Stansted several times a week between May and November. Most of the aircraft will be Airbus A320. " Here again, we will see if it is possible to extend the seasonal nature of these flights if they are successful. In the longer term, we will also be looking at a potential service to Germany. "says Hervé Pierret.
create a Mediterranean air bridge
Air Corsica sees itself as a genuine regional tool for the Corsican region. " We also aim to create a Mediterranean air bridgeThis will involve linking Corsica to Italian regions such as Sardinia, Tuscany and Liguria, and in the longer term to Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. We are seriously working on this project, which could come to fruition in 2019. We also have the idea of operating a helicopter service which would provide links within Corsica. We're thinking about it, laying the groundwork to see if such an operation would be viable. "says the company's Managing Director.
Air Corsica has every reason to cultivate optimism. The 2016/2017 accounts closed with a positive net result of €1.9 million on slightly higher turnover of €192.4 million. During its last financial year, the airline carried 1.74 million passengers for a total seat capacity of 2.49 million spread over 20,100 flights. Its average load factor was 70%. Of the 1.74 million passengers carried, 908,000 were on public service routes between Corsica and Marseille/Nice and 711,000 on public service routes between Corsica and Paris.
