And to think that we believed that nothing would be the same as before… After two chaotic years, the airlines are setting off once more to storm the North Atlantic with renewed vigor. On the Paris-New York axis, where the new entrants are determined to shake up the innkeepers, competition promises to be fierce in the months to come.
Among the new entrants, there is the Norwegian Norse Atlantic Airways which took off in the wake of Norwegian. The most spectacular industrial crash of recent years. The Norwegians who were expected, swear that they learned the lessons of the bankruptcy of Norwegian. A textbook case. From spring 2023, Norse will be present on Paris-CDG – New-York JFK with the 338-seat Dreamliner 787-9 divided into two classes.
If this is not really a surprise for those who followed the sinking of Norwegian and the launch of Norse, on the other hand the arrival of JetBlue at Paris-CDG is more unexpected. We thought this company was confined to the North American continent where it has made a name for itself. In a few years, it rose to sixth place. The A321LR gives it a new dimension and offers it new ambitions.
In 2021, Norse tested its long-range single-aisle in London. Apparently conclusive test since in the summer of 2023, she will also be at Paris-CDG, determined to ” disrupt traditional high-fare carriers that have used joint ventures and global alliances to dominate these routes for decades. »
Are targeted Air France and Delta Airlines which according to JetBlue capture three quarters of the traffic, but also United, American and to a lesser extent Virgin Atlantic. The Company might also bear the brunt of the arrival of JetBlue, whose A321LRs fitted out for 138 passengers offer 24 Business seats presented as ” suites “. For several years, La Compagnie, which connects Paris-Orly to Newark by A321neo, has sought to differentiate itself with its 100% Business cabin with 76 seats. She will have to deal with a formidable new competitor.
All these companies are counting on the attractiveness of Paris, reinforced over the next two years by the Rugby World Cup (2023) and of course the Paris Olympic Games (2024). And to stimulate demand, they will have no other alternative than to increase promotions. The entry prices are already… irresistible! Customers will be spoiled for choice. And even if they hadn’t planned to go to New York next year, the French may find it difficult to resist the temptation.
And during this time, in France, inside the borders of the hexagon, one prohibits four domestic lines.
Gil Roy