Julian Moxon/Deauville
France's second-largest airline, Air Liberté, has signed deals with American Airlines, Regional Airlines and three smaller French regionals in what company president Marc Rochet describes as the "first steps" in a major consolidation aimed at "strengthening our position in an extremely tough operating environment".
Rochet revealed the moves on 25 September at the TOP-RESA travel-industry gathering at Deauville, northern France. He also said that from 26 October, when the winter season opens, the majority-owned British Airways subsidiary would drop TAT European Airlines from its name, becoming just Air Liberté.
TAT was the airline Rochet originally headed, and which became British Airways' first purchase in France. It was also the vehicle used to take over the bankrupt Air Liberté earlier in the year. "We plan a relaunch in the new year to take account of all the developments," says Rochet.
The agreement with American Airlines initially covers joint use of passenger-handling equipment at Paris Orly South airport. This will be expanded to a full codesharing deal once French and US Government approval is gained, says Rochet. He insists that the accord was negotiated independently, and "has nothing to do with the proposed alliance between British Airways and American".
Regional Airlines, which already operates a successful hub at Clermond-Ferrand in central France, will team up with Air Liberté on a new hub at Bordeaux, enabling Air Liberté passengers arriving from the carrier's French network to connect directly with Regional's southern France and Spanish destinations. The two have also signed a codesharing deal covering certain domestic routes, and will merge their separate fare-discount schemes.
Regional Airlines president Marc Dubreuil says that five options for the Embraer EMB-145 regional jet will be converted into firm orders "within a few days". He also reveals that the long-term fleet plan "will be with Embraer only".
The smaller Brasilia turboprop will eventually replace the seven Saab 340s and nine Jetstream 31s, while the 11 Saab 2000s will be replaced by EMB-145s "by 2001 or 2002", says Dubreuil.
Further deals have been struck with Air Toulouse, Flandre Air and Air Normandie, mainly involving codesharing on routes operated by French regionals.
Source: Flight International
