Ryanair offers French connection

A service connecting London to Marseille is to be offered by Ryanair, as the low-cost airline makes France's second largest city its next base in Europe.

Fares for the new route, which will begin on November 8, are now on sale for €1 excluding taxes, fees and charges. The service will link London Stansted to Marseille Provence Airport.

Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, explained that Marseille, which lies on the Mediterranean coast, would become the airline's 16th European base and would connect to 12 other destinations including Brussels, Frankfurt, Fez, Marrakech and Oslo. The airline already operates services from Dublin and Glasgow to Marseille.

He said: "Ryanair's first base in France marks a major breakthrough for passengers and visitors who will no longer suffer Air France's high fares. This base will revolutionise travel to and from the Provence region."

Some airports in France have suffered falling passenger numbers recently because of the country's high taxation on air transport.

However, they have fought back by converting old facilities into simplified service terminals in order to attract budget airlines. Ryanair plans to invest some $120 million in aircraft flying from Marseille Provence Airport.

© Adfero Ltd

Comments

[nick]

I always thought Lyon was France's second biggest city. It must be pretty close between Marseille and Lyon. Can anyone clarify?

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Nick. In population size it is France's second largest city, but in urban area it is third behind Lyon and Paris.