This swap coincides with the Summer 2024 Olympics & Paralympics as France becomes the sporting focus in the coming months.
Eastern Airways, the UK’s regional airline, announced the switch from April of its UK to Paris services from Orly to the main hub of Charles De Gaulle Airport, as the services enter their second year. Operated in cooperation with Air France, both East Midlands and Southampton airports Paris services will move to Charles De Gaulle airport, following securing slots at Air France’s key world-wide connections hub.
The East Midlands and Southampton services which commenced in April 2023 offering the only direct year-round travel to the capital city now follow changes to the Air France network in Orly, the switch to France’s biggest airport hub of Charles De Gaulle brings a significant growth in the Air France connections available while still maintaining the direct capital access and direct links to Disneyland Paris among many key attractions.
“We are delighted to be extending this cooperation with Air France and opening wider connectivity to Europe’s second biggest city for both business and leisure travelers. The first year has seen strong demand and notable growth throughout, which given the significance of Paris and France hosting the 2024 Olympics & Paralympics, the welcome move to Charles-De-Gaulle will help improve direct access year-round to France including Disneyland Paris.” says Roger Hage, Commercial Director, Eastern Airways.
Steve Griffiths, Managing Director at East Midlands Airport, added: “Ongoing connectivity via a major European hub has been a strategic aim of this airport for some time. I’m therefore delighted that this partnership with Eastern Airways and Air France opens up global destinations within one stop of East Midlands Airport for our customers.
“While most of our customers will continue to choose us to effortlessly reach their favourite European holiday destinations, we hope they and new customers will be attracted by this new option to use EMA as the starting point for travel to destinations much further afield.”
Christopher Tibbett, Group Head of Airline Relations and Marketing for Southampton Airport, said: “This is a fantastic route announcement from Air France and Eastern Airways offering a great addition to our summer schedule at Southampton in 2024, building on partner airline KLM’s flights to Amsterdam. The service to Charles-De-Gaulle will deliver quick and convenient connectivity to one of Europe’s greatest destinations, will be very popular with our passengers from Southampton and the wider Hampshire region.”
The new Paris Charles-De-Gaulle service will operate into T2 CDG, operating on low-emission 72-seat ATR aircraft, growing the East-Midlands Airport base for Eastern Airways. Air France will
sell seats via an interline agreement offering expanded world-wide connectivity on the Air France-KLM Group carrier network. Air France are moving all services to Charles De Gaulle from Orly, however with currently only two slots freed the existing Cardiff-Orly service will cease in the short-term.
| From
|
To | Dept | Arr | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | ||
| East Midlands | Paris CDG | 09:50 | 12:40 | ● | ||||||||
| East Midlands | Paris CDG | 10:55 | 13:45 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Paris CDG | East Midlands | 18:20 | 19:10 | ● | ||||||||
| Paris CDG | East Midlands | 20:20 | 21:10 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| From
|
To | Dept | Arr | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | ||
| Southampton | Paris CDG | 15:10 | 17:40 | ● | ||||||||
| Southampton | Paris CDG | 17:10 | 19:40 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Paris CDG | Southampton | 13:20 | 13:50 | ● | ||||||||
| Paris CDG | Southampton | 14:25 | 14:45 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
Eastern Airways is an independent UK airline founded in 1997, based at Humberside Airport operating scheduled services in its own name plus operating on behalf of national flag carrier such as Air France and shortly KLM. The airline also offers wide-ranging charter, ACMI and specialist air-services for many other operators and sectors in the UK & Europe since 1997. With IATA awarded IOSA (International Operator Safety Accreditation) now held for six-years and many awards for service standards and industry leading initiatives for the airlines operation of a diverse mixed fleet or regional jets of 37-100 seats to modern fuel-efficient turboprops of 29 to 72 seats.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
