Due to the recent state aid, Air France has to give up some slots at Paris-Orly airport. This airport is also an important base for the cheap subsidiary Transavia France, which, according to CEO Ben Smith, is now to be positioned against possible competitors.

Competitors such as Wizzair, Vueling and Ryanair have already expressed interest in the slot pairs that have to be assigned. As a precaution, the Irish lowcoster reactivated the base in Beauvais in December 2020. During an online conference, Smith was calm and said that Transavia France would make life difficult for the competition. The lowcoster is an “ideal instrument” for this.

The likelihood that take-off and landing rights will go to the Group's own low-cost airlines is extremely low. Transavia is one of the largest providers in Paris-Orly and Air France wants to increasingly switch to low cost at this airport. In this regard, an agreement was reached with the unions before the corona pandemic.