A successful launch of three new services into Paris in a week has been completed by Eastern Airways.
East Midlands, Southampton and Cardiff airports are now connected to Orly by the Humberside-based airline.
All daily services, a major factor is onward connectivity, in addition to the delights offered by the European capital, with a partnership being forged with Air France. The national flag bearer and Eastern will operate a ticketing arrangement that will see a codesharing agreement fostered, aiding onward travel, while re-establishing year-round access for many.
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Roger Hage, commercial director at Eastern Airways, said: “We are delighted to have launched Cardiff, East Midlands and Southampton services to Paris, in co-operation with Air France. This opens up connectivity to Europe’s second biggest city for both business and leisure travellers and restores direct access year-round to France.
“The early bookings have been very positive as has all round positive customer and trade feedback, which will evolve further as we establish our new Eastern Airways and Air France co-operation into a codeshare partnership in the coming weeks.
“We are starting these services in a sustainable capacity development manner, whereby not only direct access to Paris is offered, but onward connections to a myriad of destinations.
“It is allowing business users much improved options, but also an exciting and ever-popular leisure offer, including Disneyland Paris celebrating its 30th anniversary this year to add to the Parisian charm the city is famous for.”
First announced last month, all are served by 72-seat low emission ATR72-600s, with the introduction also seeing a return of Eastern as a base carrier at East Midlands, adding around 25 crew and engineering roles. Seats are being offered from £69.99 each way, including taxes.
Eastern is no stranger to France, having previously operated public service contracts in its 25 year history as a regional operator. It launched serving the energy-rich East Coast of Britain, connecting Humberside and Aberdeen, and now operates a large schedule as well as strong charter base, including elite sports teams. Late last year it also launched a first service to Denmark from Humberside, embracing renewable energy from its oil and gas foundation.
Fahmi Mahjoub, general manager for Air France and KLM in the UK said: “This new co-operation between Air France and Eastern Airways is a very positive move and comes in response to the growing appetite for travel to Paris that we have noticed from all over the United Kingdom. Residents near Cardiff, Southampton and East Midlands, will now be able to fly from their local airport and reach the magnificent capital of France with a direct service, an option that was not available to them before. We look forward to the success of this operation and to enhancing further the cooperation with Eastern Airways in the near future.”
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