“If some local entrepreneurs start traveling from the airport, it will already be a great success”: Troyes wants to develop business aviation

“The idea is to be of service to the people of Aubois and to showcase what is happening in the department. » Thursday April 9, the Edeis group, manager of Troyes-Barberey airport and the Aubassadeurs network brought together economic players from the Aube department to introduce them to business aviation. The president of Aubassadeurs, Laurent Vittenet, recalls the primary vocation of the collective: “We serve as a vector of communication, organization and media coverage to show the many possibilities that exist in Aube. »

With nearly 800 members, the network acts as a real catalyst for visibility, promoting the region’s infrastructure and opportunities, such as Troyes-Barberey airport.

For Antoine Doucet, head of Troyes airport, the objective is above all to raise awareness among local economic players and publicize an offer that is still too discreet. “The goal is to show entrepreneurs that these solutions exist and that they are available here, on their territory. Because if business aviation is already present, it still remains too poorly identified,” explains the manager.

Save time to do better business

The airport, however, displays dense activity, with 16,800 movements recorded last year, mainly light aviation, with flying clubs and pilot training. Essential missions take place there daily: medical flights and emergency medical services, organ transport, French and foreign military training which represents nearly 800 movements each year.

The ambition is now clear: to strengthen the place of business aviation in Troyes, without immediate quantified objective but with a stated desire. “If some local entrepreneurs start traveling from the airport, it will already be a great success,” enthuses Antoine Doucet. A pragmatic approach, which is part of a logic of progressive development… and in a virtuous circle.

In the age of videoconferencing, some might think that business travel is decreasing. But the reality is quite different. “Business aviation is a sector that is experiencing an economic boom. We consider that France is not just Paris. It’s essentially all the other territories,” says Jonathan Raimbaud, executive director CLC Marketing at Lux Aviation France.

Although these flights have existed for a long time, the challenge now lies elsewhere: making them known outside the capital. While Le Bourget airport dominates the European market, players in the sector now want to promote platforms like that of Troyes, as close as possible to local businesses. “Meeting allows you to make better deals, to build relationships, to do business. Rather than spending three days, a business manager can make his round trip day thanks to business aviation,” adds the director.

A solution that opens up to SMEs

Today, it is accessible to all company owners, particularly SMEs. The principle is simple: adapt the device as needed. Alone or with ten passengers, the cost varies, but the logic remains the same: optimize time and productivity.

For Victoire Totah, strategy and development director at Edeis, this initiative aims above all to introduce people to an often overlooked tool. “Troyes airport is a local airport which is also used for on-demand travel, such as business flights. We want to demonstrate that business aviation can be responsible, accessible and useful for economic development,” she explains.

Business aviation is positioned as a relevant alternative in certain very specific cases: poorly served destinations, complex or multi-stage trips. “We are aimed at entrepreneurs who have activities that are difficult to access, with several modes of transport and overnight stays. In these situations, it can even become competitive, including in terms of overall carbon footprint,” adds Victoire Totah.

Develop zero-emission aircraft

“Today, a Troyes – Nice round trip can cost between 5,000 and 15,000 euros, depending on the configuration. A price which could fall in the future, in fact, this economic model is based on a virtuous circle. The more the machine works, the lower the costs,” says Jonathan Raimbaud. One of the stated objectives is clear: base a plane in Troyes to reduce costs and develop the offer. Several models exist: purchase of an aircraft by a company, pooling between several companies – “like plane sharing” – or even prepaid flight hour cards.

Aware of the ecological impact, the sector is working to reduce its footprint. “All our emissions are compensated, but we go even further,” adds Jonathan Raimbaud. Lux Aviation notably announces ongoing partnerships to develop zero-emission aircraft, with a clear objective: neutral aviation by 2050.

For the speakers, the size of the city is not a barrier, quite the contrary. “Small is beautiful. The fabric of SMEs in France is extremely dynamic. The more we develop connectivity, the greater the dynamic will be,” underlines Jonathan Raimbaud.