Nîmes and Tours: New domestic and international flights for 2025
The new services are part of plans to boost the regions’ economy and tourism, with tickets available from November for flights departing in May
The new airport services are intended to help boost the local economy and tourism (seen here, the Pont du Gard near Nimes, and the Château de Chenonceau near Tours)
StevanZZ / javarman / Shutterstock
Nîmes and Tours airports in France are set to offer new flights to key European destinations such as Nice, Barcelona and Geneva, aiming to boost the regions’ economy and tourism.
The flights will launch from May 2025, and will be operated by L'Odyssey, a subsidiary of Jet Airlines, in partnership with infrastructure manager Edeis.
Ticketing opens on November 21, 2024, with an introductory offer of a ticket for €69 one way. After this offer, prices will rise from €100 one-way including tax, for most destinations.
There are three fare types, depending on the needs of each traveller (baggage requirements, etc.).
Regional airline specialist
Jet Airlines is itself a French airline that was created in 2019, and specialises in regional connections. It is already operational in Switzerland and French Guiana.
These new flights will serve:
To and from Nîmes (Gard, Occitanie)
Ajaccio
Barcelona
Bastia
Geneva
Milan (via Nice)
Nice
Verona (via Geneva)
To and from Tours (Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire)
The aim is to put these small, regional airports more “at the heart” of major European connections; to strengthen the air network; and boost the economy and tourism of the regions served.
Read also: Many smaller French airports struggling to recover post Covid
Nîmes in particular is considered to have a central position within the ‘golden triangle’ of Nîmes-Arles-Avignon.
“This project represents a decisive step forward in our drive to make the region even more attractive,’ said Franck Proust, president of Nîmes Métropole, to Le Figaro.
Tours Val de Loire airport is the region's only commercial airport, and will improve its route offer significantly with new services to Ajaccio and Bastia. It already offers regular flights via low-cost airline Ryanair, to destinations including London (UK), Porto (Portugal), and Marrakech (Morocco).
In 2023, it welcomed more than 206,000 commercial passengers.
A goal of these new services is to strengthen Tours’ position as a “gateway to the Centre-Val de Loire”, and its world-famous chateaux and heritage.
Read also: Best (and worst) airports, new UK route: Nine France travel updates
‘Innovative, environmentally responsible’ airline
With these new routes, L'Odyssey is also aiming to make a name for itself as an innovative and environmentally responsible airline.
It uses ATR 72-600 turboprop (propeller) aircraft that carry between 68 and 78 passengers, and is aiming to take a responsible approach to the environmental challenges of air transport, while still keeping tickets accessible in price.
These aircraft are also prized for their fuel efficiency (45% less fuel consumption than a traditional jet), suitability for short-haul flights, and can also serve airports with smaller infrastructures or short runways.
This could be the first step in a larger expansion plan from L’Odyssey, it has said, as it is also considering new destinations from Nimes and Tours, including Nantes, Rome, and Zurich, perhaps by 2028.
