Featured Airport: Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport

Located in France's Rhone-Alpes region Lyon is the largest French region in terms of demographics, GDP and trade outside of Paris.

Lyon is ranked 7^th in Europe in terms of GDP and has a catchment of 5 million inhabitants within 1 hours drive and 12 million within a 90 minute radius from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. LYS has proved to be an attractive location for many airlines in recent years, both in terms of business traffic, with 1,500 decision making centres through World or European headquarters located in the region and through its leisure market, with the world's largest ski field - home to over 200 resorts, located within its catchment. Add this to its excellent transport links, a connecting success rate of >99% and many other contributing factors and it becomes apparent why this airport has seen growth in its market. To see the passenger demographics at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport click here.

A constantly growing market

Passenger growth witnessed at LYS in recent years illustrates the airports ability to keep up with a constantly changing industry by developing at a sustainable rate reflected in its annual increase in passengers per annum rising from 6.561m in 2005 to around 8 million in 2008, and the resilience of the airport was also apparent in 2009 with 7.718m passengers recorded despite the difficult global market. The growth looks set to continue with Transavia France recently announcing their plans to create a base at Lyon, with Transavia's chief Lionel Guerin citing Lyon's position as the second economic region in France as a major factor in their decision.

The Rhône-Alpes Region: A Competitive Destination, A Magnet for Foreign Talents

Dynamism of the Major French Regional Cities, ranking 19th among 34 European Cities, Lyon is still ahead of major European capital cities (European Cities Monitor 2009)

One of the Four Engines of Europe : Rhône-Alpes, Catalunya, Bade Wurtemberg & Lombardia

An International Player

• #7 in Europe for GDP & Demography
• 1% of the Global Trade is generated in the Rhône Alpes
• Up to 88 € Bn Annual Exchanges with an excess Balance of 18% (Year 2008)
• 2009 Economic Downturn è 19% Drop

Highly Competitive Costs

• 100 employees in a 2 000m² office generate a 1.3. € Million saving per annum (Lyon vs Paris)
• The lowest salary cost in Europe and 5-15% lower than Paris

Innovation & Dynamic Growth

10 000 researchers, 120 000 students, 1 000 PhDs/Yr, 510 public and private laboratories

• 3 global leaders in biotechnologies : Merial, human and animal vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur, bacteriological diagnosis, Biomérieux, in-vitro diagnosis
• Chemistry & environment, city transport system, nanotechnologies, digital leisure activities, technical textiles
• 17 Clusters of Excellence (International Dimension)

1 500 Decision Making Centers through World or European headquarters

• Sanofi Aventis, Seb, Renault Trucks, Plastic Omnium, Club Med, Euronews, Bayer, etc...
• International organisations : Interpol, International Research Center for Cancer, OMS, etc .

900 Foreign Capital Companies

• 82 Headquarters of over 1 000 Staff
• 43% of the corporate real estate investments in the Lyon Metropolis are of foreign origin

Route Development and Marketing collaborations

A dedicated Marketing Team will assist in making your operation at LYS a success story with incentive schemes designed to share the risk for both new international routes and expansion on current routes. To view the Lyon Route Development Team and add them to your Routesonline social network please click here.

Tourism

The Rhône-Alpes Region : An Exceptional Environment within a 150 km Radius

• Top Ranking Tourist Destination
• 61 million nights per annum

Sports & Nature

• The World Largest Ski Field (200 Resorts)
• Helitransfer service available as well as 3 to 5 Daily Scheduled Coach Services
• Over 800 000 ha of Natural Parks (2 Million Acres)
• 80 Golf Courses
• Trekking, Canyonning, Paragliding, Sailing, SPA centers etc...

Gastronomy & Wine

• World Renowned Chefs
• World Famous Vineyards (Bourgogne, Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône)

Airlines opportunities for Lyon-Saint Exupéry

Short & Medium Haul Opportunities

Most European Capital Cities in neighbour countries have been operated to LYS for many years and each of them generates 200 to 400 000 Passengers every year. Some more remote cities have had a shorter history with LYS and are still growing, just like Vienna (OS to add 47% capacity by Summer 2010) or Prague (50 000 Pax needing extra capacity). We still need to fill in large gaps.

Longhaul Opportunities

Four Major Markets are not flown non stop owing to an old Paris centralisation habit and a robust offer to all major European hubs. Experience shows that, once launched, a strong induction effect multiplies by 2 to 3, the initial tracked potentials.

For further opportunities that could benefit your airline please visit our airline opportunities page click here.