more routes to the Antilles and Reunion, between ambitions and challenges

Air Caraibes: anchoring in the Antilles and strengthening territorial continuity

A pioneer in connections between the mainland and the Antilles, Air Caraibes, the “colorful” company as it defines itself, founded in 2000 by the French group Dubreuil, continues to meet the demand of its passengers by increasing its frequencies to Guadeloupe and Martinique. The line Paris-Orly – Pointe-à-Pitre increases to 20 weekly flights this winter 2024/2025, while Fort-de-France increases to 17 flights, or two additional frequencies for these destinations compared to last year. Round-trip fares for Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France start at around €460 in economy class, which should appeal to customers looking for sun and a change of scenery.

In addition to these flagship destinations, Air Caraibes is strengthening its connections to Cayenne et Punta Cananow served up to 7 times a week, with tickets starting at €770 for the capital of French Guiana and €673 for this Caribbean spot popular with Europeans. The link to Cancunwhich benefits from three weekly flights, offers prices starting at €726 for a round trip. These increases in frequencies and the diversity of routes place Air Caraibes as a key player in travel to the Caribbean and Central America.

Read the file
Antilles: the Figaro travel guide

French bee: ramp-up towards Reunion and opening to North America

For its part, French bee, the first French airline
specializing in low-cost long-haul flights, is strengthening its offer to Reunion Island with now 13 flights per week, an increase of 13% in capacity. Fares, starting at €570 for a Bee light+ round trip, target Reunion travelers looking for affordable alternatives. This increase in frequencies underlines French bee's desire to capture a broader clientele while maintaining a model focused on the essentials, with paid options for additional services. But the Premium is priced at only €650 for a round trip in February 2025.

On April 30, 2025, French bee will take a new step in its development by launching its first connection to the Canadawith direct flights between Paris-Orly and Montreal, operated by Airbus A350-900, five flights per week and prices starting at €285 for a round trip in economy class. The premium cabin is priced at €949, offering a more comfortable alternative for those who want it. This transatlantic expansion, which already includes New York, Miami and San Francisco, illustrates the company's strategy of attracting travelers to popular but highly competitive destinations.

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Volume strategy and profitability challenges

Christine Ourmières-Widener, at the head of Air Caraibes and French bee, is banking on a volume strategy. “ We want to offer more flexibility and choice to our passengers », Says the manager. But in reality, there are major challenges ahead: while the West Indian market remains captive but sensitive to price, the long-haul segment to the United States and Canada is already a crowded battlefield. , where each actor must defend their place.

« The low-cost long-haul market is narrower than the short- and medium-haul market, but it exists. Travelers prefer to spend their vacation budget on site and not on a plane ticket, adds the director of the air division of the Dubreuil group. One way to differentiate yourself from traditional carriers is to densify the cabin. On French bee, we were the first to offer 480 seats in an A350-1000 “. With these new seats to fill, the Dubreuil group takes the risk of pushing its companies beyond their initial positioning.

If Air Caraibes remains faithful to its regional role, French Bee will have to prove that it can establish itself on competitive routes while maintaining low costs. The two airlines of the Dubreuil group are targeting average growth of 4 to 6% per year, focused on strengthening the offer and seizing opportunities. Will the bet on the A350 fleet, certainly modern and less fuel-intensive (-25%), make it possible to offset growing expenses? Finally, beyond the promise of flexibility and accessibility, it is a bet on profitability that is being undertaken, with local and international players already well established.

For passengers, this expansion means above all more travel opportunities to the Antilles, Reunion Island and major American and Canadian cities, with competitive prices and a flexible offer. One thing is certain: Air Caraibes and French Bee will have to be innovative to convince and retain their customers in the face of strong competition.

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