A “significant avoidance” of Paris by international travellers ahead of the Olympic Games has been reported by Air France-KLM.
The carrier expects to take a hit on revenues of between €160 million-€180 million for the period from June until August.
An update on summer bookings said: “Air France and Transavia France are currently experiencing pressure on projected unit revenues for the summer season due to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, with traffic to and from the French capital lagging behind other major European cities.
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“International markets show a significant avoidance of Paris.”
Similar trends are visible in the hotel bookings, according to projections issued by the Paris board of tourism.
“Travel between the city and other destinations is also below the usual June-August average as residents in France seem to be postponing their holidays until after the Olympic Games or considering alternative travel plans,” Air France-KLM said.
“Travel to and from France is expected to normalise after the Olympic Games, with encouraging demand levels projected for the end of August and the month of September.
“As a result, Air France-KLM currently estimates a negative impact on its forthcoming unit revenues in an order of magnitude, from €160 million-€180 million for the period June until August 2024.
“This event has no impact on our guided capacity at this stage. More details will be provided during the Group’s half year results, on July 25.”
However, Eurostar expects to two million passengers to travel to the Olympics, with peak travel days aligning with the opening and closing ceremonies – from July 25-27 and August 10-12.