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Private air link with the continent, Corsica in full "disarray"

2020-06-03T23:19:21.953Z


The decree relating to the second phase of deconfinement, published Monday by the government, places the island of beauty in a delicate situation at the dawn of a troubled summer season.


Cold shower for Corsica. While the 100 km limit is no longer in force, air connections between the island and the mainland remain subject to the presentation of proof. According to the new decree establishing the rules which will last until June 22, "are prohibited, unless they are based on a compelling reason of a personal or family order, a reason of health related to the emergency or a professional reason that cannot be postponed, the movement of people by public air transport from the mainland of France to the community of Corsica ”. Disappointment for the company Air Corsica, which announced on May 28 a plan to take over its 14 lines. For the whole of June, it provided for a capacity of 103,600 seats at the departure and destination of Ajaccio-Napoléon Bonaparte, Bastia-Poretta, Calvi-Sainte Catherine and Figari-Sud Corse airports.

Also read: Air links prohibited between mainland France and Corsica or the French overseas departments and territories

"Nothing in the words of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, referring to phase 2 of the deconfinement, suggested that Corsica would be placed under an exceptional regime. Tourism professionals are upwind, they are only expressing their legitimate dismay ” , deplores Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, president of the Corsica Tourism Agency. Main economic lever, tourism represents 31% of the GDP of the small island, treated today on the same level as the communities of Overseas. "If the law remains as it is, that means that the season will start on June 23. As a corollary, an obvious shortfall. Our cash flow is weighed down by the absence of spring visitors, we are already at close to a billion in losses, ”she specifies. To save the season heavily affected by the epidemic, the Corsica Tourist Agency will soon deploy a major promotion campaign of 4 million euros, consisting of making the island "a trusted destination" , with security sanitary like red thread.

Tourism professionals and elected officials, who hoped for the resumption of activity, are worried about a slow start, economically difficult to catch up with. Faced with this new provision, the reactions are bitter. Gilles Simeoni, Chairman of the Executive Board of Corsica, calls for the immediate lifting of the decree and confirms his desire to set up a mechanism for securing flows, including for the month of June. The CCI of Corsica and several professional organizations (UMIH, MEDEF, chamber of trades and crafts, CPME Corsica…) decided to seize the jurisdictions on June 2 to refer these “unbearable and unfounded” limitations . They also call for a large demonstration to "fight against this injustice that isolates us, distances us and therefore condemns us" . The mayor of Bonifacio, Jean-Charles Orsucci, for his part expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter: "So a family can come tomorrow to Corsica from Marseille only by boat but not by plane ?!" This incomprehensible and incoherent decision does not go in the direction of a resumption of the summer season. The government must quickly correct this error. ”

Obviously, faced with these unwelcome reactions, the government would consider reviewing its copy. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe declared Tuesday evening in the National Assembly that the decree would be amended as soon as possible.

Forty on arrival?

For tourists who absolutely want to go on vacation to Corsica in June, nothing is however impossible. The rules imposed by the decree do not affect maritime transport, which has again been in working order since Tuesday 2 June. A difference between the two means of transport which is explained for legal reasons, the prefect having the power to limit the capacity of boats, but not that of planes. "Currently, it is 30% and I think we will be able to go to 60% in agreement with the operators," explains the senior official Franck Robine. It remains to find a place on one of the ferries that connect Corsica and the continent, before prices soar. But as Pierre Mattei, director of Corsica Ferries notes, "demand is still very weak" . He adds that, as of next week, the Toulon, Nice to Corsica crossings (and vice-versa) will resume normally.

Be careful, however, several rules apply before being able to embark, like the compulsory wearing of a mask. If the idea of ​​a health passport, proposed by Gilles Simeoni, has not been taken up, a similar measure could be applied. According to the decree, the maritime carrier is entitled to “ask the passenger to present a sworn statement attesting that he has no symptoms of Covid-19 infection and that he is not aware to have been in contact with a confirmed case in the fourteen days preceding embarkation ” . Otherwise, access may be refused. Also, the government leaves open the possibility of making compulsory a quarantine of any traveler who arrives in Corsica, since this last would have stayed, "during the month preceding this entry, in a zone of circulation of the infection" . Will a tourist from Île-de-France be able to respect this isolation? The subject is still in arbitration according to the Ministry of Health, competent in the matter to determine by order these famous areas.

On the practical side, tickets for sea crossings are already available for booking, and can be changed free of charge throughout the summer. For travelers who would have opted for the plane, Air France's business practices do not change. “Tickets purchased before April 22 can be carried over without charge until November 30. After this date, a postponement remains possible without charge unless the initial rate is no longer available, ” said the company's press service. For those who reserved at the time of the Prime Minister's announcements, all tickets purchased after April 22 can be changed free of charge, for both Air France and Air Corsica.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-06-03

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