How do you explain the growth of Bordeaux airport?
Pascal Personne - We have seen traffic grow by almost 67% in a decade, between 2007 and 2016. We are proud to be one of the fastest-growing major regional airports. We have welcomed 5.8 million passengers last yearThis result is due to the dynamism of our network. We have 105 overhead lines by direct flight, more so than Toulouse, to which we are often compared. There's also theinternational image that Bordeaux has acquired in recent years. Its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Siteits classification as destination of the year in Europe by Lonely Planet and its dynamic economic fabric explain the appeal of this city. Our figures for the first half of the year bear this out. We recorded good growth in passenger traffic in the first half, of around 8.5%.
What are the most buoyant traffic sectors?
P. P. - We did very well internationally, with an average increase of 13.6% in passenger traffic at Bordeaux airport, driven by the low-cost dynamics. For example, we have seen an increase in traffic of 31% to the Iberian Peninsula, +19% to Italy and +12.5% to the United Kingdom. I'm also very pleased with the growth in traffic to Germany, where we finally have a real network with Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt since this year with Lufthansa. Another reason for satisfaction: the traffic to hubs is doing very well. Madrid, for example, is up 56%, Brussels by 26%, while Roissy's figure rose from 4% to 5%. We are also very pleased with the decision ofAir France strengthen services to Bordeaux with routes to Copenhagen and Frankfurt.
With the Paris-Bordeaux high-speed line, what are your expectations for the development of the overhead line?
P. P. - Air France is the leading operator at Bordeaux airport, with 2.7 million passengers, well ahead of easyJet with 1.5 million. Traffic between Bordeaux and Roissy generates some 650,000 annual passengersThe latter's 70% is correspondence. It should therefore not really be affected. The Bordeaux-Orly shuttle represents one million passengers a year. This segment should certainly be affected by the LGV, in what we believe to be very limited proportions. Why is this? Quite simply because Orly and Bordeaux Mérignac airports have their own catchment area. Around our airport, we have a real centre of excellence in the air and military sectors, with Thalès, Ariane Groupe and Dassault. This represents more than 20,000 jobs in the Mérignac area. Orly's catchment area has also grown denser in recent years. the south of Paris has its own economic dynamic.
How has Air France decided to react?
P. P. - On the strength of our study, which shows that there is indeed a demand for air travel between Paris and Bordeaux, Air France has decided to maintain its 14 Shuttle frequencies until the end of the summer season. The company has undertaken to maintain at least ten daily frequencies on the Orly-Bordeaux shuttle. In fact, we are witnessing very little traffic erosion for the time beingbut the LGV line is very recent... The rates SNCF fares should also limit transfers from air to rail. The LGV infrastructure has cost a lot of money and the SNCF has to increase its fares by an average of €13 to €18 on the new line to break even... We have also worked on improving the Air France product with the installation of a dedicated circuit for premium passengers with Sky Priority. We are also going to start renovating our local car parks with a guidance system that will speed up the positioning of cars at Bordeaux airport.
What infrastructure will be available to passengers in the near future?
P. P.- We will certainly have to expand our Billi dedicated to low-cost traffic. It was extended in 2015 but is now reaching saturation point. Our biggest project is the construction of a junction terminal between halls A and B which will help to improve passenger flow in the terminals. The future central module will house security and immigration formalities. This will provide more space and comfort for passengers, who will have access to a central control point and a new, more attractive shopping area. This module should be in service by 2020-2021. We will also renovate the boarding lounges by summer 2019. Finally, there is a construction of a 150-room four-star hotel with conference centre for some 1,200 guests. The infrastructure is due to be completed by the end of 2019.
