Morocco Flight Ban Hits Lorraine Airport Hard, Recovery in Sight

Already weakened by the health crisis, Lorraine Airport was greatly disrupted by the closure of Moroccan airspace. Only the small airline TwinJet continued its flights to Lyon (three times a week), Marseille and Toulouse (once a day) during the period, reports L’Est républicain, specifying that Air Algérie, the main airline serving this airport, has disappeared from the radar screens since the beginning of the health crisis.

The observation is clear, attendance is at its lowest at Lorraine Airport, even if TUIfly announces the resumption of its two weekly flights to Casablanca from February 19. Traffic went from over 263,000 passengers before the crisis to around 39,000 in 2020 and fell to 19,500 in 2021.

To read: Lorraine Airport Reduced to Single Weekly Flight Amid Pandemic, Plans Solar Project

Faced with this almost cessation of activity, the Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Public Establishment (EPMNL) had to lay off 23 of its 79 employees last year. The Grand Est regional council decided on Friday, in a standing committee, to grant a subsidy of 1.7 million euros to the establishment. An amount that is already controversial. "1.7 million euros on a declining project, that’s more than 85 euros per passenger! Since 2016, 8.7 million euros have been paid. When we transfuse an airport that is not working, we prevent the conversion of employees and the company when there is an emergency," criticized Éliane Romani, leader of the Greens in the Assembly.

"Let’s not make decisions too quickly. The debate must take place, but let’s not rush it too much before the recovery and the changes in models awaiting the air sector," advised Jean Rottner, while Bertrand Masson (PS) and Lara Million (LREM) demand a clear revitalization strategy.