easyJet pushes further into France, throwing down the gauntlet to Air France

easyJet has announced plans to open two new and permanent bases in France, at Nice and Toulouse, which the LCC says will be operational by summer 2012. The carrier will base two A319 aircraft each at the airports, which will be the carrier's 21st and 22nd network bases, as part of efforts to strengthen its French domestic and pan-European network.

easyJet's moves into provincial France mirrors those being made by national carrier Air France, which is desperately seeking to turnaround its loss-making short-haul business by pushing short-haul capacity out of Paris. easyJet's plan could be a major headache for the French flag carrier as it aims to cement its dominance in regional France. As easyJet noted, with such a low LCC penetration, relative to neighbouring countries, the LCC onslaught is unlikely to ease anytime soon.