Why are you entering the scheduled flight segment?
Bruno Lechevin - We took this decision a year ago and it's a logical extension of our charter business, which we've been developing since 2012. We offer incentive and VIP flights. With the delivery of a new Embraer aircraft, we think we could find a niche position on regional routes, firstly domestic and then intra-European.
Why were Brest and Clermont-Ferrand chosen for this network?
B. L. - Clermont-Ferrand is a logical choice because we have our operations, administration and maintenance base there. What's more, there's definite potential in Clermont. A few years ago, the city had several dozen regular routes to Europe. Admittedly not all of them were profitable, but there is potential, and this is backed up by airport studies. As well as Brest, which is actually marginalised in France and for which the airport management has shown us that there is a real demand for several airlines. We are not opening no lines whose profitability cannot be guaranteed. We can't afford it because we don't receive any subsidies.
Do you benefit from airport support?
B. L. - We benefit from authorised marketing aid in the field of communication. But this is still funding which, while it certainly helps us, is very marginal. I estimate this airport aid at perhaps €20,000, whereas our launch will cost a total of €500,000.
In the medium term, we could have a network of 7 to 8 destinations, including a few cross-border links to Germany and Italy.
You operate an average of three flights a week on your routes. Is this enough to ensure the long-term future of your network?
B. L. - I believe that we are consistent with existing demand and we don't want to take the financial risk of being too ambitious. Some of our routes will offer a day return, others on D+1 and still others on D+2. I think that this programme will already offer sufficient flexibility to our passengers. If traffic develops properly, we are planning to deploy a second Embraer and increase our frequencies, or even open new routes. All in all, In the medium term, we could have a network of 7 to 8 destinations, including a few cross-border connections to Germany or Italy, for example.
Which customers are you targeting first?
B. L. - We primarily target business customers as well as employees of companies or the civil service. Our prices - which start at 99 euros one way - are probably a little more expensive than the competition's call prices. But I'd like to remind you that we only benefit fromno subsidies and that we need to be profitable. And what's more, we're finally offering good value for money. I think we'll even attract leisure customers at the weekend!
