In recent weeks Business Traveller has reported on French domestic aviation.

Specifically the fact Air France agreed not to compete with the TGV for short journeys.

Earlier this month we reported on Air France’s regional subsidiary Hop! closing bases and axing some routes into Paris Orly (used mainly by point-to-point travellers).

Air France to cut over 7,000 jobs

Now it seems Air France is cutting another rail competitive route to Paris Orly: Clermont-Ferrand (Orly is better placed for city centre Paris than is CDG).

What makes this air route closure interesting is that Clermond-Ferrand, in the Auverne region, isn’t on the TGV network and that it takes 3.5 hours to reach Paris by train.

Fortunately for international travellers Clermont-Ferrand will retain its four times daily air link to Paris CDG, whose use is valued by connecting travellers.

This is important seeing as the city is home to multi-national tyre manufacturer Michelin.

Quoted by La Montagne, Air France says it needs to bring its domestic network “back to balance in 2023” which means it must cease loss-making routes.

We here in the UK often bemoan the loss of regional air service to any of the capital’s airports. It’s a similar scenario in France.

Editor-in-chief of La Montagne Sandrine Thomas tweets “Once again the territories [are] sacrificed.”

airfrance.co.uk