New Route of the Day (2 September 2024): Volotea between Rodez and Paris ORY
Volotea introduced flights between Rodez, in the South of France, and Paris ORY on Monday 2 September. The 480-kilometre service will be maintained 11-weekly, including 2-daily Mondays – Fridays, with one rotation on Sundays. There will be no flights on Saturdays. The airline faces no competition on the government-supported Public Service Obligation (PSO) route. The LCC will deploy an A319 between the two cities.
What they said
Carlos Munoz, Founder and CEO of Volotea, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this tender. It is a great result that once again confirms our focus on the French territory, which has always been strategic for the growth of our network and is our primary market. This new route, which is our second PSO route operating from Paris Orly after Lourdes, aligns with our expansion plans by facilitating the opening of our tenth base in France. At the same time, it enables us to better meet the travel needs of local citizens and entrepreneurs, making it easier for them to reach the French capital, while also promoting job creation and further driving the local economic development of Rodez.”
Rodez becomes Volotea’s 10th base in France
Under the PSO agreement, Volotea will have rights to maintain operations on the route over the next four years. PSOs make European funds available for unprofitable, primarily domestic routes which are considered vital for the economic development of the region they serve. Volotea succeeds Amelia, the previous operator between the two cities.
Rodez becomes Volotea’s 10th base in France, joining Bordeaux, Brest, Lille, Lourdes, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. With the opening of this new base – the third that Volotea has inaugurated this year after Brest in April 2024 and Bari in July 2024 – the airline will generate new employment opportunities in the region, creating over 30 jobs.
Rodez is located about 150 kilometres northeast of Toulouse. It has a population of just over 20,000. The only other airline serving Rodez Airport is Ryanair, with seasonal summer flights to Charleroi, Dublin, and London STN. Volotea’s new service adds an additional 78,000 seats onto the market on approximately 1,140 flights in 2025.
