If you were a planning on jumping on a low-cost flight to France soon, you might be disappointed.
Ryanair have axed all services to Brive, Bergerac and Strasbourg, and will be reducing its capacity at other airports.
The budget carrier say this will mean the loss of 25 routes and 750,000 seats in France this winter.
Other destinations impacted include Marseille, where capacity will be cut by 9%, Paris-Beauvais which will see a loss of 8%, and Toulouse which will be cut by 4%.
It comes after the airline already axed flights to Vatry, in the northeast of France, earlier this year.
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Ryanair bosses say the decision is due to ‘harmful’ taxes on tickets and they had ‘no choice’ but to take the drastic action.
It’s bad news for travellers who were looking forward to heading to Strasbourg this winter, often known as Europe’s ‘Capital of Christmas’ due to its markets which attract approximately two million global visitors every festive season.
Meanwhile, wine lovers will be missing out on sipping merlots and sauvignon blancs in Bergerac, while Brive is often considered a gateway for those looking to explore the Dordogne.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s chief commercial officer said in a statement that the French government had failed to act.
The statement continued: ‘This completely avoidable loss will have a severe impact on regional connectivity, tourism and local employment.
‘Unless the government changes course and abolishes this unfair air tax, Ryanair’s capacity and investment in France will inevitably be redirected to more competitive European markets such as Sweden, Hungary, or parts of Italy.’
Try the ‘Paris of the East’ for a different European getaway
Bucharest has the beautiful buildings, tree-lined boulevards and swish cafes we associate with Paris — at a dramatically cheaper price.
Recently ranked 9th in The Times’ roundup of ’24 of the best affordable city breaks in Europe’, Romania’s capital and largest city is actively welcoming tourists.
The government is pouring money into accommodation and public transport in a bid to attract travellers, while other countries are pushing them away.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Bucharest was a hotspot for French artists and intellectuals, who frequented the city. At the time, society mirrored the Parisian way, with a focus on fashion, elegance and sophistication. Likewise, prominent Romanian artists, including Constantin Brâncuși, studied in Bucharest before making their names in Paris.
Visually, the city earned its ‘Little Paris’ nickname thanks to its architectural similarities with France’s capital. The streetshave similar ornate flourishes of Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Romanian Revival are on display on every corner.
Metro’s Alice Murphy spent a day at the park during a trip to Romania and said it is easily accessible by train, bus, taxi, or on foot.
She also recommends the Free Walking Tour of Bucharest, where you can learn about the city’s history and culture, and a visit to the National Village Museum to discover how people live in rural Romania.
Of course, no European city break is complete without a stroll around the Old Town.
Bucharest’s pedestrian-only area is very tourist-friendly and brimming with terraces, cafes, restaurants, and shops.
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