Transavia France to add destinations, but Air France-KLM’s LCC vision remains relatively limited

In the summer of 2014, Transavia France is to add new destinations to its network from Paris Orly and also from other (regional) French airports. In addition, Transavia France will open a base at Strasbourg in Apr-2014. According to data gathered by CAPA, a total of 19 new routes from France, of which 10 are from Orly, will be launched this summer. Six of the Orly routes will utilise A320s leased from Air France.

However, this development does not represent a transfer of routes from Air France to Transavia (as, for example, Lufthansa is doing with its LCC Germanwings). This returns the spotlight on Air France-KLM's plans for Transavia and on the contrasting ways in which Europe's Big Three legacy groups are using their LCC subsidiaries in the short/medium-haul markets. With pan-European LCC Vueling and hub feeder Iberia Express in its stable, IAG would seem to have the most comprehensive approach of the three.