Happy Airways, a planned new French carrier based in Strasbourg, plans to commence operations to fourteen European destinations among which are Zagreb and Ljubljana. The airline plans to initially maintain flights with two ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft. Its remaining destinations will include points in France, Italy, Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom. Happy Airways is still in the early stages of its set-up and is now courting investors in order to secure finances to commence operations. “This hybrid airline will be based at Strasbourg-Entzheim International Airport. Happy Airways is seeking to change the air transport industry in the region by offering a high-quality service experience at the best possible fares”, the start-up said.
Neither Zagreb nor Ljubljana are linked to Strasbourg, although both airports have shown potential for additional destinations in France other than Paris. The Croatian capital currently boasts services to Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais, while Ljubljana is linked to Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Indirect traffic between Zagreb and points in France show potential for at least seasonal operations to a secondary French city. According to OAG data, Nice was the most popular destination after Paris. It was followed by Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. A number of other French cities also saw indirect traffic from the Croatian capital, with Nantes, Bordeaux, Montpellier and Strasbourg among them.
Similar to Zagreb, Ljubljana Airport’s most popular destination in France after Paris, with the most indirect traffic, is Nice. It is followed closely by Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. Data indicates that traffic volumes between Ljubljana and Strasbourg are negligible. Happy Airways argues that Strasbourg’s network is “undeveloped” in comparison with demand. The start-up’s “optimised” network, it claims, would turn Strasbourg into a “major hub in the heart of the European Union”. It added, “By operating as a hybrid airline, with a great quality of service, an important network and with great air fares, Happy Airways would be a new game-changer in the air industry in the region”.
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By the way, I wonder which London airport they expect to get slots at. DUS is very slot constrained too.
The fact that they plan to include onboard meals and equip the ATRs with IFE (and a record-dense seat configuration) is...eyebrow-raising to put it mildly.