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High-flyers grounded in Saint-Tropez

Ruling prevents private jets from outside Europe landing at La Mole

featured in News & reviews Author Pam Williamson, Cannes Editor Updated

The jet-set of Saint Tropez are up in arms after a new ruling was passed that bans flights from outside of the Schengen zone landing at La Mole airport.

The reason given for the recent Government decision is the removal of customers officials, for budgetary reasons, that took place in November 2016. Private jets will now have to land at another French airport before passengers can proceed on to St Tropez. The La Mole airport has been a popular destination for some years now for the many Russian, Middle Eastern, British, Swiss and other international travellers who own homes in the luxury port town.

Christian Estrosi, head of the PACA (Provence Alpes Cotes d'Azur) region, has demanded that the government reverses its decision following an outcry from businesses and officials worried about the impact on tourism. In fact, 30% of flights coming into the airport come from countries outside of the Schengen zone. These are the flights that will now be impacted and many will be forced to fly to Toulon or Cannes and take helicopters on to Saint Tropez from there.