Ajaccio route scrapped

EASYJET'S plan to operate a service between Paris-Orly and Ajaccio has been scuppered.

French aviation officials have blocked the flights as they say an agreement with Air France to provide the sole service to Corsica cannot be broken.

But easyJet say passengers will suffer, forcing people to pay extortionate prices and severely impacting on the tourist potential of the island.

François Bacchetta, of easyJet in France, said: "There is a huge demand for flights from Paris to Corsica, as we have seen over the past few weeks, and there is no justification for a monopoly.

"Not only are other airlines banned from this route, but also taxpayers' money is being handed over to Air France."

Air France, and its subsidiary CCM, enjoys a monopoly position on the route as long as it offers flights out of season. But this results in return fares costing €263, when easyJet were planning to charge just €70.

Travellers who have already booked flights on the route will be contacted and be reimbursed free of charge.