Lyon Airport Pursues European Growth: Adding Destinations, Increasing Services

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS), located in the 2nd largest city in France and serving the 2nd largest catchment area with 8 million people, served over 10 million passengers in 2023, connecting to 120 direct destinations. With a large catchment area, high demand from outgoing business travelers, and a key airport serving tourism in Auvergne Rhone Alpes and the French Alps, LYS is looking to expand its European offering.

Powered by VINCI Airports, recent successes for LYS involve new routes, expanded service, and an additional third based aircraft from Volotea, alongside Transavia France basing a fifth aircraft at the airport.

The dynamic platform of the airport has allowed Volotea to introduce a new 2X-weekly operation to Naples International Airport (NAP) that started on April 11. Flights are also being added in April to Kalamata International Airport (KLX) and Rhodes International Airport (RHO), Greece; Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), Morocco; Oslo Airport (OSL), Norway; and Porto Airport (OPO), Portugal.

Transavia will launch routes to Fes Sais International Airport (FEZ), Morocco; Tirana International Airport (TIA), Albania; and Zvartnots International Airport (EVN), Armenia.

LYS recently celebrated the 15^th year anniversary of easyJet’s base, a crucial collaboration in the growing demand for air connectivity from Lyon and the surrounding region. Over these years, easyJet has stationed six Airbus aircraft at the base and become the leading airline at LYS in the short- and medium-haul segment.

The strong partnership has brought a wealth of new routes to the airport. Its spring schedule saw two new destinations with service to Alicante Airport (ALC), Spain, commencing on March 4, 2024, and Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) from March 31, both operating 2X-weekly. Starting on Aug. 21, LYS will also welcome back easyJet’s 2X-weekly flights to Budapest Airport (BUD).

Additionally, Norwegian plans to open a new 2X-weekly route from Oslo for the summer season.

As a member of Routes 360, the only digital platform dedicated to route development, LYS has uploaded multiple route opportunities to its profile, seeking to expand its offering, particularly across Europe, to meet strong demands and grow its 10 million passengers.

Unserved:

• Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB)
• Pristina International Airport (PRN)
• Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
• Keflavik-Reykjavik Airport (KEF)
• Luxembourg Airport (LUX)
• Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
• Helsinki Airport (HEL)
• Skopje International Airport (SKP)
• Sofia Airport (SOF)
• Larnaka International Airport (LCA)
• Pafos International Airport (PFO)

Underserved:

• Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
• Bari and Brindisi Airport (BRI)
• Palermo International Airport (PMO)
• Fraport TAV Antalya Airport (AYT)
• Cagliari Airport – Sardinia (CAG)
• Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE)
• Seville Airport (SVQ)
• Birmingham Airport (BHX)
• Cairo Airport (CAI)
• Las Palmas (LPA)
• Hamburg Airport (HAM)
• Madrid – Barajas Airport (MAD)
• Naples Airport (NAP)
• Ibiza Airport (IBZ)
• Hurghada International Airport (HRG)
• Swedavia – Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
• Catania Airport (CTA)

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