Volotea in Tarbes: 16,300 passengers to Orly and a record first month in Bigorre

Successful takeoff. A month after its arrival in Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, the Volotea company has already spread its wings. A dazzling success, after legal adventures which delayed its launch and its communication, without affecting the attendance of this first month of commissioning. “We are more than satisfied with this first month, rejoices Philippe Baubay, president of Pyrenia, who manages the platform. It’s a relief after these referrals because we felt attacked from everywhere, while we only seek to develop our territory. This link to Paris was crucial. Today, the demand is there, the figures speak for themselves. »

A very mathematical truth: with 16,300 passengers between TLP and Orly (85% occupancy), it is quite simply the best month ever on this line, 26% more than in July 2019, before the crisis. “It’s more than excellent, with communication that started late, less than a month before the launch of the line” points out Bertrand Bilger, the airport director. Also disrupted by a late sale, the other lines launched by Volotea benefit from the same call for air with 80% occupancy for Naples this summer, 75% for Palermo and Sicily and 60% for Venice in July, with a prospect more than 70% in August. Even Strasbourg benefits from it with 70% occupancy, all on a 156-seat A319, based in Tarbes with its 31 crew members. “We are seeing a new clientele who are taking advantage of opportunities and attractive prices,” explains Philippe Baubay. We also have a clientele that we would never have imagined: people in correspondence, who arrive for example from Orly and leave for Malta, in search of the best price. And we will capture others. All lines included, Volotea transported 25,000 passengers in July.

Results that restore smiles and optimism in a sector plagued by gloom and mistrust. In addition to good attendance, customer feedback is also of high quality. “There have been some problems due to staffing issues at airports. But the regularity is good, because the planes spend little time on the ground. Volotea knows how to do it. »

21,000 Ryanair passengers too

In parallel with the deployment of Volotea, Ryanair is also maintaining its pace with no less than 21,000 passengers in July, i.e. more than 85% load on average, in particular to London, Rome and Malta, but also Dublin and Milan-Bergamo. “More companies means more emulation,” says Philippe Baubay with satisfaction. The proof, Ryanair has already confirmed the maintenance of the lines to Charleroi, Malta, Rome, Bergamo and London this winter. “We also hope to recover Lisbon and Krakow” blows Bertrand Bilger.

The only shadow in this idyllic panorama is charter traffic. “But it’s finally a little better than our forecasts” moderates the director. Charter flights have transported 32,000 passengers since the start of the year compared to 90,000 in 2019. “With regular lines, we have answers for pilgrimage organizers who are no longer able to charter a charter plane but will reserve about forty places at once. These regular lines can also revitalize Lourdes. In the first seven months of the year, TLP welcomed 150,000 passengers. At this rate, and in view of the reservations, the end-of-year report will confirm this relaunch.