Montpellier Mediterranee Airport (MPL/LFMT)

New routes and frequency possibilities and why these routes would work

Domestic
Lille, Strasbourg, Metz-Nancy, Bordeaux, Brest.
  • MPL is looking for services to the biggest French urban areas (similar population size as MPL). These have already been successfully operated in the past, often by Air Littoral, but not on a low-cost model.
Underserved Domestic
Rennes, Ajaccio, Bastia
  • These routes need improvement in terms of frequency and fare offer. Evidence of economic links and business flows, regional migration of population from North to South, attractiveness of MPL for leisure market.

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Wonders of the world – the “Flamingos Camague” – unique to this region of France – live in apparent harmony alongside the airport, the Pont du Gard Roman viaduct, one of five nearby World Heritage sites, and downtown Montpellier itself, scene of great theatre, sport, and modern and classical French architecture.

Ireland
Dublin
  • This is the #2 region in France in terms of second homes ownership by Irish citizens. Business flows (ICT, bio-technologies and healthcare, wine, agrifood), leisure flows (VFR, students, educational language travel).
United Kingdom
Manchester and/or Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham Luton (underserved route)

The UK market is:

  • A favourite region in France for British holiday makers
  • UK is #2 in terms of second homes owned by foreign citizens
  • Strong economic links in all sectors
  • UK is #2 in terms of tourist arrivals and #3 in terms of overnight stays spent in the region
  • Large British community living in the region, twined cities, associations
  • Good mix of business, leisure, VFR and students flows
Sweden
Stockholm
  • Leisure and VFR oriented
  • Region #2in France in terms of second homes owned by Swedish citizens
  • Several Swedish community and Scandinavian associations located in MPL vicinity
Norway
Oslo
  • Leisure and VFR oriented
  • Already experienced in the past (Up to 17,000 pax)
Finland
Helsinki
  • Pure Leisure market for Summer season
Germany
Berlin
  • Leisure and VFR oriented
  • 10% of the German incoming market to MPL region
Hamburg
  • Leisure and VFR oriented
  • 10% of the German incoming market to MPL region
Cologne
  • Year round potential
  • Excellent mix of business, leisure, VFR, Ethnic traffic
  • 16% of the German incoming market to MPL region
  • Important connecting traffic to beyond cities (Germany, Europe)
Stuttgart
  • Excellent mix of business, leisure, VFR, ethnic traffic
  • Year round potential
  • 16% of the German incoming market to MPL region
  • Point to point traffic only plus catch potential of French cities located beyond the border
Munich
  • Year round potential
  • Excellent mix of business, leisure, VFR, Ethnic traffic
  • 23% of the German incoming market to MPL region
  • Important connecting traffic to beyond cities (Germany, Europe, worldwide)

German market is:

  • A favourite region in France for German holiday makers
  • #1 in terms of second homes owned by foreign citizens
  • Strong economic, cultural, migration links
  • 3rd partner in terms of trade and first foreign investor in the region
  • #3 in terms of tourist arrivals and #2 in terms of overnight stays in MPL region
  • the largest non-French community living in the region
  • Region #2 in France in terms of second homes owned by German citizens
  • Excellent mix of Business, Leisure, VFR and Students flows
  • Opportunities for LCC and Legacy, for seasonal and year-round services (Point to Point traffic, Connecting traffic to beyond destinations)
Switzerland
Basel-Mulhouse
  • Combined benefit of German, Swiss, French markets
  • Catch potential of French cities located beyond the border and regional migration to MPL
  • Strong economic links (Biotechnologies, Healthcare, ICT)
  • Mix of Business/leisure flows year round
Geneva
  • Pure Leisure traffic seasonal
  • Catch potential of French cities located beyond the border
  • Lyon/Geneva axis is the #1 in terms of second homes in MPL’s region: attracting second homes, VFR and leisure markets

Swiss market is:

  • #6 in terms of tourist arrivals and #5 in terms of overnight stays in MPL region
  • #3 in terms of second homes owned by foreign citizens
  • Region #3 in France in terms of second homes owned by Swiss citizens
Poland
Warsaw, Krakow

Polish market is:

  • Incoming/outgoing leisure traffic
  • Seasonal agricultural workers
  • Large Polish community (third in France) living in MPL vicinity and 120 minute drive from airport
  • University cooperations
Morocco
Marrakesh, Tangier

Moroccan market is:

  • The second largest Moroccan community in France and the largest in the region
  • Growing trade between the two regions
  • Strong regional willingness, strong cultural, ethnic, economic links with Morocco
Algeria
Constantine
  • Mix of VFR, Ethnic and Business traffic
  • Year-round potential

Algerian market is:

  • Eighth partner in terms of trade
  • Second largest foreign community in the region (immigration)
  • Region #5 in France in terms of Algerian passport holders
Tunisia
Tunis
  • Mix of VFR, ethnic, leisure and business traffic
  • Year-round potential

Tunisian market is:

  • Region #8 in France in terms of Tunisian passport holders
  • Growing trade
Italy
Milan, Rome
  • Routes already tried and tested in the past
  • Route already tried and tested in the past

Italian market is:

  • Second partner in terms of trade
  • Fourth largest community in the region (immigration)
  • #5 in terms of tourist arrivals and #5 in terms of overnight stays in MPL region
  • Strong economic, cultural, historic links (twined cities, migration)
  • the largest European community living in the region
  • Excellent mix of business, leisure, VFR and students flows
Senegal
Dakar
  • Mix of VFR, Ethnic, Leisure, Students and Business traffic
  • Year-round potential in a ‘double-touch’ pattern
  • Large Senegalese and Sub Saharan communities in MPL vicinity

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Port Camargue, the largest marina in Europe, and Languedoc-Roussillon – the largest vineyard in the world, precisely halfway between Provence and Catalonia.

Other major reasons to serve this airport

  • Halfway between Provence and Catalonia
  • New markets with reducing or no competition
  • Demonstrable evidence of business and leisure flows
  • Niche destination for most European incoming markets
  • Able to meet airlines low unit cost requirement

Population:

  • MPL is the eight largest city and capital of the 9th largest region in France (2.7 million pop)
  • 62,000 students in MPL = 25% of MPL downtown population
  • The Region is #1 for the annual rate of net migration and has the highest population growth rate in France

Health , Well being and Leisure destination:

  • 15 million tourists/year = #4 in France
  • 180kms of Mediterranean beaches
  • 15 million tourists/year = #4 in France
  • 22 marinas including the largest in Europe
  • 13 spa resorts
  • 300 km of navigable rivers
  • 20 golf resorts
  • The world’s largest vineyard
  • Third largest region in France in terms of second homes

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Attractive incentive schemes are offered for new routes – existing super highways include the Millau Bridge – the worlds tallest – bigger even than the Eifel Tower.

Marketing and other support

  • In support of airlines, Montpellier airport will freeze its landing and passenger fees until 31 March 2012.
  • Attractive incentive scheme for new routes, Please contact Pascal BIGOT
  • Market information : statistics and market analysis on request
  • Marketing, Promotion and Communication support for new routes :
    • PR support: celebration of inaugural flights, press conferences, activities centring on initial marketing of a new route including emails to companies and travel agencies, newsletter, billboard, TV, Radio advertising, banners, check-in TV screen, press trip and familiarisation trips, workshops....

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Montpellier, Sète, Nimes, Perpignan, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Béziers, Arlès: a cluster of cities relying on Montellier for their connections and offering a 1.7 million catchment. The airport also serves five World Heritage sites including the magnificently-preserved Amphitheatre of Nîmes.

Catchment Area

  • MPL urban area > 0.5 million
  • 30 min catchment area: 1 million
  • 60 min catchment area: 1.7 million
  • 120 min catchment area: 3 million

Main places of interest:

Five World Heritage sites easily accessible within 90 minutes drive: Pont du Gard/Canal du Midi/City of Carcassonne /The roads to St James Compostella/City of Arles.

Also: The Camargue, The Gorges du Tarn, Millau Bridge by Foster, sea resorts,…

Main cities:

Montpellier, Nimes, Perpignan, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Béziers, Alès

* Main sites on a map with driving distance from the airport

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Several global multinationals and household names are located in the catchment including the European HQ and R&D centre for Sanofi Aventis while Haribo has a manufacturing plant at Uzès where it also hosts its popular Musée du Bonbon tourist attraction.

Under-served freight opportunities and other economic impact factors

Economy and Business opportunities:

  • MPL is the most dynamic city in France for job creation (1999-2006)
  • The region is the most intensive for public research in France
  • The region is #4 for the growth of GDP (1990-2007)
  • MPL was designated as the lowest cost city for setting-up company in Europe (KPMG/2006)
  • Strong local specialties, global groups, and innovative SMEs, in MPL include:
    • IT: The Southern European HQ of DELL, the bio informatics research and benchmarking center of IBM, World HQ of Genesys Conferencing, Southern HQ of Expansys
    • Video: Ubisoft research centre
    • Agri-Food: Source Perrier, Haribo factory, World HQ of Royal Canin (pet food)
    • Sailing and Sports industries: France HQ of ASICS, Ultramar, Poncin
    • Construction and Steel: World HQ of ALTRAD (world leader in concrete mixer and scaffoldings) , Arcelor-Mittal
    • Environmental industries: Vestas, World HQ of Compagnie du Vent, Nordex
    • Biotechnlogies and Healthcare: European HQ and R&D centre of Sanofi Aventis, France HQ of Horiba ABX, France HQ of BauschandLomb, France HQ of Axilog.
  • World capital of agronomic tropical research and World centre for agricultural, food and environmental sciences with Agropolis
  • Consequently a strong regional willingness to develop this airport!
  • Freight opportunities with import of perishable products (fish, flowers, fruits and vegetables) from Morocco and Algeria
  • Significant agricultural concentration (fruits and vegetables, cereals)
  • Freight opportunities with export of wine, fruit and vegetables product, pharmaceutical products, mechanical products
  • Complementary opportunities between port (Sète-35Kms) and airport (MPL)
  • Strong local specificities, global groups, innovative SME’s
  • Huge concentration of Private & Public research laboratories

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Economically powerful but intimate – it’s just 10 minutes to downtown by uncongested road passing through picturesque vineyards. Montpellier is connected to the mainline TGV and a station adjacent to the airport is planned in the mid-term.

Geography

  • 10 minutes from MPL downtown, 30 minutes from Nimes and Beziers, 55 minutes from Avignon and Narbonne
  • Easy access by motorways: At the junction of east-west-northbound motorways
  • Bus shuttle to downtown
  • Mid term: high-speed train station at 1km

Infrastructure & Operations

  • 1 main runway 2,650mX35m 31R/13L
  • No curfew, no slots constraint
  • Operating hours: H24
  • 1 main terminal with human scale : short distance from car parks to boarding gates
  • Excellent weather records ILS CAT I

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A number of refurbishments and extensions are set to be complete by 2011 – but some things never need improvement – including the 180kms of Mediterranean beaches – an ideal location for the 2009 Montpellier Beach Masters.

  • Safety and Fire services : Level 7 from 05H00lt to 23H59lt, out of this period, Level 7 recovered upon 1 month notice
  • 25 min turnaround
  • Business and private aviation in a separate building
  • Terminal capacity > 1.6 Million pax
  • 2,400-space car park

Important infrastructure developments and/or other news

  • Extension of arrival area and new luggage delivery belt (2011)
  • Refurbishment and extension of the safety access area to boarding lounges (2011)

Vital statistics

  • 1.22 million passengers in 2009 – 10th largest French airport
  • 77% by Legacy carriers, 22% by LCC (77% Domestic , 22% Europe, 1% International in 2009)
  • 15,000 commercial movements and 82,000 non commercial movements in 2009
  • 18 scheduled destinations (year-round and seasonal), seven charter destinations
  • 76% of the traffic by Air France-KLM Group, 12% Ryanair, 7% easyJet in 2009
  • New destinations in 2009: Bristol, Ajaccio, London-Luton
  • New destinations in 2010: Bastia, Casablanca, Leeds-Bradford
  • 11 carriers (Legacy and LCC) on scheduled basis
  • Soft seasonality of the traffic: lowest month FEB, busiest month JUL.

Financials

KEY FACTS

Route Development Contact

Pascal BIGOT
(Routes Development Manager)
Tel: +33 4 67 20 85 33
Mob: +33 6 85 69 10 09
Fax: +33 4 67 20 85 88

Address

S.A Montpellier Méditerranée
CS 10001
34137 MAUGUIO CEDEX
FRANCE

Contact
Website
Montpellier Mediterranee Airport Website