The AIR FRANCE KLM hub, Lyon - Saint Exupéry, ranks third after those of Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, and represents an important gateway to major regional and European cities, fitting perfectly into the Group’s network strategy.
Opened in 1997 and organized around three connecting banks (timespans), the Lyon Saint Exupéry hub has made connections easier and faster (under 20 minutes) thanks to its new boarding pier at Terminal 2.
Furthermore, since summer 2007, Air France has set up a substantial service to Corsica, in partnership with CCM, linking up the Isle of Beauty to all the major European markets via Lyon. In this way Lyon operates daily to Ajaccio and Bastia, and several times a week to Calvi and Figari.
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport is located at the heart of France’s second most important economic area, in a buoyant market focused on international trade. It also meets the demand from customers in the Rhône-Alpes region.
2008 summer schedule: opening of the new transatlantic route between Lyon and New York and increased capacity out of the Lyon hub
As from 18 July 2008, Delta, in partnership with Air France, will begin operating the Lyon-New York route, with 5 weekly flights by Boeing 757-200.
More routes will be added to boost capacity out of the Lyon hub:
- Lyon-Hamburg
- Lyon-Birmingham
- Lyon-Florence
As of summer 2008, the AIR FRANCE KLM Group and SkyTeam members will strengthen their presence at the Lyon-Saint Exupéry hub: 47 destinations served with direct flights including 19 in Europe, 1 in North America, 2 in North Africa and 25 in France.
The other Air France regional hubs
Lyon may be the first regional hub, but Marseille is the “Gateway to the Mediterranean”, providing connections between the French regions and North Africa. The Clermont-Ferrand hub, "Gateway to the Regions", also facilitates connections between the French regions and major European cities. Bordeaux Airport has become the “Iberian Gateway” and Lille benefits from a dense regional network.
