Cote d'Azur set for 1,500 private jet landings during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival

• PrivateFly predicts biggest year yet for private flights to the prestigious film event, with larger jets and transatlantic flights now able to land at Cannes Mandelieu Airport
• Private jet booking service operating 20% more flights than last year's event

The annual Cannes Film Festival is Europe’s biggest event for private jet travellers, and - according to PrivateFly - this year is set to be the biggest yet. The private jet booking service expects up to 1,500 private aircraft landings to take place at the closest airports to the festival – 80% higher than average demand during the year – over the 12-day event, beginning on May 11th.

Carol Cork, marketing director, at PrivateFly comments: “We are gearing up for one of the busiest periods in Europe’s private jet calendar, focused on the South of France. The Cannes Film Festival attracts large numbers of industry executives, film stars, celebrities, and corporates to the region, who want to arrive fast, direct and in VIP style. Some will remain for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 29th, moving between airports, venues and yachts.

"With road congestion also a major issue at this time of year, demand for helicopter charter will also be at a peak, with the Cannes heliport just a short walk away from the festival venue.”

Private jet travellers arrive into Nice Cote D’Azur or Cannes Mandelieu Airport to reach the Palais des Festivals. PrivateFly says that Nice (28km away and Europe’s third busiest private jet airport), usually handles 70% of demand, due to its longer runway and larger capacity, despite Cannes being closer, only 7km from the venue. But development work including a runway extension at Cannes Mandelieu in the past 12 months has opened up the smaller, dedicated private jet airport to more customers, including direct transatlantic flights from New York in larger jets, and PrivateFly says it expects Cannes to take a bigger share of this year’s film festival flights.

The company is offering the following flight prices for the Cannes Film Festival: £6,850 for an overnight return from London to Cannes in a small 4-seater Citation Mustang; £119,600 for a 3-night return from Los Angeles to Nice in a 14-seater Gulfstream G650; and £780 for a one-way private helicopter charter from Nice Cote D’Azur Airport to the Palais des Festivals.

Carol Cork continues: “It’s looking particularly busy this year, so we’re advising clients to book as soon as possible to secure preferred slot times and aircraft availability. We’re already operating 20% more flights than last year and we’re booking more into Cannes following its recent development.

"However Nice will remain the festival airport of choice for those flying in from the US West Coast, or those using the largest private jets and VIP airliners, such as a Gulfstream G650 or a Boeing Business Jet. Over half of our festival flights are in long range or heavy jet aircraft – even those flying a shorter distance. Some due to larger group sizes and luggage, others simply have a preference for arriving in a larger cabin aircraft at this most high profile of red carpet events.”

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