Matthew is Scottish. He regularly comes to the guard to visit a friend. Until now, it was in Marseille that he boarded or disembarked. “This new line, He assures, It will change my life. “ Gail and her family were looking for them, during this school vacation, a destination for a few days’ rest and discovery.

On Monday afternoon, some of the passengers on Ryanair Flight FR1336 arrived in Edinburgh within two hours from Nimes. The Scottish capital is the sixth destination the company has set up at low cost, the second just a few weeks after Dublin.

Political will

The inaugural flight, which took off at 5:25 p.m.

Jean-Paul Fornier, Nimes Meyer, and his tourism assistant, Xavier Dawes; Appointed President for Economic Development to Frank Proust, President of Nimes Metropolis, and Olivier Fabregaule, Vice President; It’s a question of promoting tourist and economic benefits to Pascal Fortunat-Deschamps, departmental councilor and president of Guard Tourism; The new attraction of the guard and the track.

“Over the next few months, we have seen the resumption of air traffic. This is a major line for us. We are opening it hand in hand with the City and the Department.”Frank Proust insists. “Without a local agreement, we can not do that”, Olivier Galzi adds. “We are in a sacred spiral. The political will to maintain the airport is essential from an economic point of view.”Eric Girodier echoes.

Edinburgh, like Dublin a few weeks ago, is, in the opinion of professionals, one of the lines running in both directions. “The full meaning of what we bear financially in Scotland and Ireland”, Says Frank Proust. Those who enter are a boon to the local economy, and most importantly to its tourism. Farewell is a blessing in disguise for Scotland and its capital. In Anglo-Saxon destinations, school groups have a special interest in class travel.

Gateway to Great Provence

After two years of epidemics, optimism is on the side of the airport, which is gradually finding space despite competing with Marseille on the one hand and Montpellier on the other. “We are witnessing the reopening of the airport, which should be the gateway to the Greater Provence”, Olivier Galci says again.

In 2019, 230,000 passengers traveled from Nîmes, two destinations less than when traffic was normal last year. The two new Anglo-Saxon lines are targeting approximately 400,000 annual passengers.

It is too early to take stock of 2022. “However, since the launch of Edinburgh there has been a real momentum with a 50% load factor and an increase in bookings estimated at 10% per week.”This is Gregory Merrelo.

The seasonal Dublin-Nimes line has already found an audience. Finally, two weekly rotations will be extended beyond October 30th.

“We have goals for future destinations”, Frank Proust guarantees targets for Spain and Italy. A city from one of these two countries, in the opinion of the president of Aglo, should approach Nimes by air very soon.