Flying high – Toulouse International Airport

Cockpit of Airbus380. Photo by Captain Dave Wallsworth (@DaveWallsworth)

In the last decade, Toulouse airport has become a major international transport hub, bolstered by the growing industry in the region including the presence of the Airbus headquarters, the largest cancer research centre in Europe and the increasing number of high tech industries in and around the city.

Last year, Toulouse airport had a record 14.6 percent increase in traffic to 9.2 million passengers, making it the fifth-largest in France. This was driven mainly by the growth of low-cost European airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair, with international flights now making up half of its traffic. There are at least 11 flights a day just to Paris and British Airways operates three flights a day to Heathrow. There are also direct long haul flights to most of France’s overseas territories.

The airport is partly owned (49.99%) by Casil Europe, a holding company created by China’s state-owned Shandong Hi-Speed Group and the Hong Kong-based Friedmann Pacific Asset Management. Local governments and the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce together own a minority 40 percent stake and the French government owns the additional 10.01 percent.

Casil Europe has said it wants to boost traffic to 18 million passengers by 2046, in large part by developing connections to Chinese destinations.

Investment in regional airports undoubtedly has a hugely beneficial knock-on effect for local areas and economies and the influences are already being seen in this part of the South West. There is a growing number of job and business opportunities and the area is increasingly dynamic with people from all over the world choosing to make this region their home. If you would like help in moving to and finding property in this region, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

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