Vueling announces massive expansion in Paris Orly

By Mikael Faa 5 Min Read
VY A320

The Barcelona-based low-cost airline Vueling has announced 28 new routes out of their base in Paris Orly Airport (ORY), France. With this announcement, the airline will operate around 70 weekly flights to a total of 52 destinations around Europe and North Africa.

Why such a heavy expansion?

In September 2021, the European Commission (EC) agreed to give a €4 billion (£3,4 billion) loan to Air France to help the airline stay afloat through the struggling times of the pandemic. However, the loan could only happen if Air France was willing to give up 18 take-off and landing slots in ORY in order to prevent unfair competition among airlines (you can read more about it here).

Therefore, with the beginning of IATA Winter Season 2021-2022, starting on Sunday, 31st October 2021, Vueling will increase its market share in Paris with a wide portfolio of destinations, competing mainly with Air France, Transavia France, and easyJet, which all have operating bases at the airport.

Vueling is expanding in Paris | © Marco Macca, Travel Radar

28 new routes out of Orly

Here is the complete list of the new routes, all opening between 2nd and 5th November. All tickets are already for sale on Vueling’s website.

Tuesday, 2nd November 2021

Bari (BRI), Italy: two weekly flights

Belfast International (BFS), United Kingdom: two weekly flights

Cardiff (CWL), United Kingdom: three weekly flights

Dublin (DUB), Ireland: daily flights

Edinburgh (EDI), United Kingdom: two weekly flights

Leipzig (LEJ), Germany: two weekly flights

Milan Bergamo (BGY), Italy: three weekly flights

Nuremberg (NUE), Germany: three weekly flights

Turin (TRN), Italy: two weekly flights

 

Wednesday, 3rd November 2021

Agadir (AGA), Morocco: two weekly flights

Asturias (OVD), Spain: two weekly flights

Birmingham (BHX), United Kingdom: three weekly flights

Bologna (BLQ), Italy: three weekly flights

Granada (GRX), Spain: two weekly flights

Hamburg (HAM), Germany: four weekly flights

Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Sweden: two weekly flights

Tangier (TNG), Morocco: two weekly flights

 

Thursday, 4th November 2021

Bergen (BGO), Norway: two weekly flights

Billund (BLL), Denmark: two weekly flights

Glasgow (GLA), United Kingdom: two weekly flights

Newcastle (NCL), United Kingdom: two weekly flights

Zaragoza (ZAZ), Spain: two weekly flights

 

Friday, 5th November 2021

Cork (ORK), Ireland: two weekly flights

Genoa (GOA), Italy: two weekly flights

Gothenburg (GOT), Sweden: two weekly flights

Jerez (XRY), Spain: two weekly flights

Malta (MLA): two weekly flights

Santander (SDR), Spain: two weekly flights

Vueling’s expansion in ORY |© Great Circle Mapper

A deeper look at the network

Most routes (21 out of 28) operate twice weekly, so these routes might be the most sensitive to adjustments according to the demand. Only the Paris-Dublin route runs daily.

The most significant expansion is on the France-UK/Ireland market, with eight new destinations and 23 weekly frequencies; this is a significant upgrade from the existing daily flight to London Gatwick (LGW).

Italy will also get a boost in operations: the existing operations include 23 weekly flights to Milan Malpensa (MXP), Florence (FLR) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO). With the increase, five new destinations and 12 extra frequencies will be added.

Morocco is a new market for Vueling in France, with a strong competition: on the Orly-Tangier route, VY will compete with Transavia France and Royal Air Maroc, both operating four times a week. On the Orly-Agadir route, competition is even more fierce, with Transavia France and Royal Air Maroc offering daily flights and TuiFly six weekly flights.

| © Marco Macca, Travel Radar

What is your take on this massive expansion? Let us know in the comments!

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Jr. Aviation Reporter/Intern - Mikael is a young man from Italy, currently based in Helsinki, Finland. He is an aviation enthusiast (or better, obsessed), Aviation Management student, and soon also Cabin Crew. His main interest is routes, networks and operations.
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