PrivateFly has predicted that 1,500 private jet landings will take place at airports close to the 12-day Cannes Film Festival, which begins on May 11 in the south of France, marking an 80% increase on the average demand during the rest of the year.
Carol Cork, marketing director, PrivateFly, said, “We are gearing up for one of the busiest periods in Europe’s private jet calendar, focused on the south of France. The Cannes Film Festival attracts large numbers of industry executives, film stars, celebrities and corporates to the region, who want to arrive fast, direct and in VIP style. Some will remain for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 29, moving between airports, venues and yachts.
“With road congestion also a major issue at this time of year, demand for helicopter charter will also be at a peak, with the Cannes heliport just a short walk away from the festival venue.”
Private jet travelers will arrive into Nice Cote D’Azur or Cannes Mandelieu Airport to reach the Palais des Festivals (Cannes Film Festival central venue). According to PrivateFly, Nice (situated 17 miles away and Europe’s third busiest private jet airport) usually handles 70% of demand, due to its longer runway and larger capacity, despite Cannes being closer (only four miles from the venue).
However, development work including a runway extension at Cannes Mandelieu in the past 12 months has opened up the smaller, dedicated private jet airport to more customers, including direct transatlantic flights from New York in larger jets, and PrivateFly expects Cannes to take a bigger share of this year’s film festival flights.
Cork continued, “However, Nice will remain the festival airport of choice for those flying in from the US West Coast, or those using the largest private jets and VIP airliners, such as a Gulfstream G650 or a Boeing Business Jet. Over half of our festival flights are in long range or heavy jet aircraft – even those flying a shorter distance. Some due to larger group sizes and luggage, others simply have a preference for arriving in a larger cabin aircraft at this most high profile of red carpet events.”
