• Each year, a million Hérault passengers take off from Marseille, 300,000 from Toulouse and as many from Barcelona, ​​rather than from Montpellier airport.

  • It's a question of destinations, frequencies and sometimes prices.

  • But the Montpellier platform intends to do everything possible to (re) seduce Hérault passengers who are unfaithful at their airport.

In 2022, Montpellier airport (Hérault) went back to work.

Grounded for many months due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Hérault platform handled 1.76 million passengers last year, or 91% of traffic in 2019, a record year.

The partial opening of the Transavia base and the boom of Volotea and Easyjet in Fréjorgues explain, in particular, this performance, which delights the chairman of the airport's management board.

“We are above our own forecasts, and in the high range of French airports,” says Emmanuel Brehmer.

But Montpellier airport could do better.

By seducing, in particular, the people of Hérault… who do not fly to Montpellier.

Because yes, still too many inhabitants of the department shun this airport.

According to figures released by the platform in 2021, each year, one million Hérault passengers take off from Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), 300,000 from Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) and as many from Barcelona (Spain).



Gain 30% of travelers by 2026

Since then, "we know that these figures have dropped, and, in particular, thanks to Transavia", which has set up a base in Montpellier, and opened up lots of destinations, says Emmanuel Brehmer.

“Each time, it's one less Hérault resident who goes to Marseille, Toulouse or Barcelona.

What we can do is therefore develop the portfolio of destinations, make possible connections with additional hubs [correspondence platforms].

We must also consolidate these lines, promote them, so that they work.

And that after a certain time, the companies amplify the frequencies.

Because if, sometimes, when a Héraultais is unfaithful at his airport, it is because a destination is not available, it is also, sometimes, "because it happens that we have less frequencies than in Marseille, for example",

confides the chairman of the airport's management board.

“There is no day that suits, for example.

»

It is also a question of price recognizes Emmanuel Brehmer.

Because as at Montpellier airport, there are sometimes more companies on the same destination, competition means that prices are lower.

And that, even if it is necessary to take into account the journey by car, the toll, gasoline and parking, "much cheaper with us", notes Emmanuel Brehmer, some passengers prefer to pay less expensive tickets.

By 2026, Montpellier airport aims to achieve traffic of 2.32 million passengers, an increase of more than 30% in three years.

To achieve this, the platform intends to make significant investments (51 million euros), and continue to attract airlines that are not yet in Montpellier.

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