With or without the reunion company it seems

Yves Jego said yesterday at the "voices" that it will, on behalf of the State, "solicit companies low-cost on all destinations overseas" to open the competition on these routes with the metropolis. Secretary of State must make public announcement now occasionally tourism overseas foundations in Paris. The initiative stems from the desire displayed by the head of State to liberalise traffic, object for a long time for the monopoly of Air France and tentatively open to competition since 15 years only.

The inauguration, December 14, a direct link between Paris and Cayenne by Air Caribbean, with an aircraft purchased with the tax exemption is a kind of symbolic of this new policy Act while Air France is only on this line. Nicolas Sarkozy had given early approval in principle to the opening operation, holding that the monopoly of Air France "lasts too long, which has consequences for fares and the regularity of links".

For Yves Jego, the call to the "low cost" companies "is not aimed against the regular companies." "This is the same logic of transparency which prevailed in Corsica" where easyJet will soon open direct links with the Mainland. Secretary of State defends the need "to increase the number of passengers" on overseas destinations for lower prices.

This initiative, which comes at a time when airlines are struggling with the effects of the financial and economic crisis, is parallel to the preparation of reconfiguration of social character (subsidised holidays and staffing of territorial continuity) devices that must formalize the new Loi for the development of the overseas, scheduled for review by members of Parliament in January or February.

The opposition of Air Austral

In the immediate future, the Secretary of State, although that it is to defend, encounters difficulties in completing the agreement on air transport between the Mainland and the overseas departments with Patrick Karam, delegate interdepartmental for equality of opportunity for the French overseas, he attempts to sign in directly concerned four carriers. Air France, Corsair and Air Caribbean seem ready to give their agreement. But not Air Austral, the Réunion company.

The main provision of this project is to expand the share of the number of seats at low rate available at peak times in order not to penalize the ultra-marins forced to travel to price of gold during the summer holidays, congested. Under the agreement, companies would "to reserve 15 per cent of their overall capacity (number of seats), for the period from 15 June to 15 September, at the lowest price of their annual fee, non-promotion.

Gérard Ethève, the pattern of the Réunion company, whose capital is controlled by local communities, calls it "surprising and unrealistic as a whole". It is particularly concerned the financial consequences of this project, with it the cost of his company "3.5 to 5 million euros", while it made a profit of 8 million in 2007 and currently invests in the expansion of its network to the Australia and New Caledonia. While au torchon burns with Patrick Karam, who accused Air Austral to "ideological posture", Yves Jego said that the convention will be signed before the end of the year. With or without the reunion company, it seems.