Corsica and Air Corsica as seen by aircraft manufacturer ATR

Founded in 1989, Air Corsica’s mission is to provide the inhabitants of the Isle of Beauty with a fast, reliable, and sustainable air bridge to mainland France. In 34 years of operation, the airline has become the leading regional transport operator for Corsicans, enabling them to access numerous travel opportunities for business, education, and medical purposes that were previously out of reach.

So close, yet so far…

Corsica is known for its wild and diverse landscapes, its local specialties, its rich cultural heritage, and its incredible beauty, making it the most visited region in France. Geographically, the island is located very close to Nice, the nearest point on the French mainland. But this short 230 km journey can take up to nine hours by ferry. This is perfect for some tourists who enjoy sea travel, but not so much for the 350,000 islanders who need a fast and reliable connection to the mainland for business, studies, and/or medical care.

An airline is born

This is why, in the late 1980s, the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica created an airline specifically dedicated to regional transport. Starting with a single ATR 72-200, Air Corsica quickly grew to become the island's leading air carrier and the fourth largest airline, transporting some 1.7 million passengers and 1,730 tons of cargo each year. Its close relationship with ATR is such that over the past six months, the airline has replaced almost its entire turboprop fleet with five brand-new ATR 72-600 aircraft. Together, they continue to ensure daily Public Service connections between Corsica’s four airports—Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari—and the mainland cities of Nice, Marseille, and Paris.

A must for businesses

Jean-Luc Bartoli is a native Corsican. Like many local entrepreneurs, he relies on Air Corsica and its ATR aircraft to manage his business in Nice without having to relocate. As CEO of the Nice-based Hocotel chain, Jean-Luc flies at least once a week from his hometown of Bastia to Nice to manage his six hotels and restaurants. Thanks to this regular air link, Jean-Luc has been able to grow his business on the mainland while sharing his time fairly evenly between work and home throughout the year. This is essential. Jean-Luc is always impressed by the ATR’s ability to take off and land in weather conditions that would ground other aircraft—perhaps one of the reasons Air Corsica handles nearly 82% of the island’s winter traffic.

Giving wings to students

These regular flights were a blessing to Jean-Luc even before launching his business, when he was a student and could only pursue his studies on the mainland. This remains true today for many young Corsican students like Chiara Ferrandino, 24. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in interior architecture, Chiara has no choice but to live and study in Nice. But thanks to this seamless air service, she can go home for the weekend, catch an early Monday morning flight to Nice, and be in class for her first lesson about an hour later!

Caring for nature…

The Grisoli brothers, Corsican winemakers, also rely on the regularity and reliability of the ATR flights to visit their customers on the mainland and to quickly receive spare parts for their wine cellars and tractors.

For them, one of the key advantages of the aircraft long used by Air Corsica is their reduced CO₂ emissions and lower noise impact. Since their 90-acre vineyard specializes in biodynamic wines—produced using organic methods with a strong focus on biodiversity, soil fertility, and the Earth’s natural cycles—this reduced environmental footprint is essential.

… And caring for people

This air bridge to the mainland is often literally a “lifesaver” for many islanders who rely on it to access medical treatments unavailable on the island. There is no University Hospital in Corsica, making Marseille and Nice the closest options for certain specialized treatments, including pediatric chemotherapy and neurological procedures. INSEME, a non-profit organization founded in 2009, has established close ties with Air Corsica to ensure that patients requiring advanced medical care benefit from a fast and reliable transport service. Last year, the association helped around 1,500 people travel between Corsica and the mainland for medical reasons.

One of Corsica’s most beloved companies

For all these reasons—and also because tourism accounts for one in six jobs on the island—Air Corsica is one of the most cherished companies among the islanders. A recent survey revealed that 92% of Corsicans consider the airline and its services to be “beneficial” or even “very beneficial” to their daily lives.

Source: ATR Blog, September 2023.