Brive-Souillac airport to start test flights

November 14, 2007

By next year (2008) the new airport of Brive-Souillac is programmed to come into operation. Although originally conceived to service the town of Brive in the neighbouring département of the Corrèze, it is likely to be of use to all inhabitants of the Périgord Noir, due to its location at a point 25 kilometres from Terrasson and 40 kilometres from Sarlat. Market research has revealed that 5,700 second homes lie within 30 minutes’ drive, and that 53% of these belong to English owners. This number vastly exceeds those for the Corrèze (900) and the Lot (2,600) and reflects the greater popularity of the Dordogne for English buyers.

The new airport is to service flights to Paris, Lyon and London. It may therefore provide some competition to Bergerac, which has grown in importance. However, behind the apparent success of the older establishment is a degree of concern. Roumanières is currently running at an annual deficit of 600,000 euros, far in excess of the provisional estimate of 173,000. The difference appears to be accounted for by the removal of flights to Paris and by a shortfall in the anticipated number of international flights. The poor financial result has given rise to a dispute between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Dordogne (the CCI) and the mayor of Bergerac. The CCI is in charge of Roumanières, but complains of a lack of co-operation on the part of the local authority, which was allegedly to cover the cost of much needed new parking lots. The CCI is threatening to withdraw from the airport management, and hand it (together with the financial shortfall) back to the town of Bergerac.

The spectre of Bassillac

Lurking up the road is a reminder of what may lie ahead: the old airport of Bassillac, just outside Périgueux, formerly much used by Parisians escaping to their weekend properties in the Dordogne but now without any scheduled services. The local authority in Bergerac will have to face the challenge of investment if it wishes to retain Roumanières as an investment, particularly when faced with the challenge of Brive-Souillac just up the motorway.

Impact on property prices

One indirect effect of these airport shenanigans is the impact on property prices in the area. Weekending and telecommuting Brits are now used to the facilities at Bergerac: the fact that luggage emerges on a roller in a windy tent is accepted philosophically in the light of the convenience of cheap flights from the UK. Property prices within a 30 minute drive of Roumanières have shown healthy increases. Doubtless the same will happen if UK flights operate to Brive-Souillac. But investment in infrastructure is long term, and history shows that local authorities may pay more attention to local voters than to the owners of holiday homes

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