At a time of decarbonizing the air and modal shift to rail, the ad doesn’t go down well. In fact, the local Breton authorities have agreed to advance public money to Celeste, a regional airline based in Morlaix that wants to offer a connection between Brest and Paris.
Launched in 2021 by Bruno Besnehard (former head of Vueling France), this company has just obtained its certificate of air carrier (CTA) and slots to serve Paris-Orly from Brest.
Three million euros were thus raised in repayable advances, of which 500,000 euros from the Brest metropolis, 1.5 million from the urban community of Morlaix (Finistère) and 1 million from the Brittany region, provided that private funds contribute 50% to the financing plan of the company (which has not yet been finalized).
A need of 7.6 million euros to be able to take off
Because Celeste needs 7.6 million euros to complete its financing plan and obtain an operating license, a mandatory sesame to fly its planes.
Even so, these subsidies, and the very existence of this new line, irritate the opposition and environmentalists to a great degree.
Air France and Chalair already provide this link
Especially since Celeste is not the only company to offer this connection: Chalair offers no less than 22 flights per week, while Air France serves Paris-Roissy airport from Brest with 28 flights per week.
But for Bruno Besnehard, the region’s economic fabric needs to strengthen this link. He thus highlights the support of the West Brittany Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIMBO) and some sixty Breton companies.
It will be remembered that the link escapes the French measure of suppression of domestic flights when a train journey of less than two and a half hours is possible. From Paris, it takes between 3h30 and 4h to connect the Brittany city by TGV.
Source: BFM TV
