When Easyjet adds a new Stansted route next year, the carrier will be operating to Paris CDG from more London airports than Air France or British Airways ever did in the past.
The latter airlines once restricted their operations to departing Heathrow, Gatwick or London City. However both cut flights following the arrival of train operator Eurostar and decided to concentrate their efforts at Heathrow.
By contrast, Easyjet will be operating out of four London airports in 2019.
These are Gatwick, Luton and Southend, plus the new service out of Stansted from the end of March.
From Stansted, one-way fares to Paris CDG lead-in at £33 for the outbound sector and £29 for the return.
The downside is that, with the exception of Gatwick and Luton, flights from Southend and Stansted are irregular.
From Southend and Stansted (starting March 31) there’s a single flight on four days a week.
Why do airlines bother operating London-Paris when Eurostar already dominates the market?
It’s because not everyone lives or works within easy reach of St Pancras and the Kentish stations at Ebbsfleet and Ashford.
That especially applies for anyone based south, west or northeast of the capital, even more so if he or she wishes to drive and park at the airport.
Air France and British Airways fly regularly from Heathrow but it’s mainly because they can feed their respective hubs.
The scheduling out of Southend and Stansted is sparse. But for anyone who can meet the schedules it’s yet another way to access the French capital from London.
