Getting there…

Direct flights from Britain to Corsica – Spring & Summer 2009

Here is a selection of links to airlines and operators who will sell you a flight direct to Corsica’s four international airports each Sunday during summer. The direct flights start in May and end during October. To check on the operators' timetables and book your flights, click on the link that best suits your plans on the table below...

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you intend to travel off-season - between mid-October and early May - or on a day other than Sunday, you will need to change planes - see "Other Airlines" below.

There are a number of different ways of getting to Corsica depending on personal preference. Since we first published this page, a number of direct flight options have become available to British and Irish visitors; others (e.g. GB Airways and Excel) have closed.  I am afraid there are fewer options in 2009 than there were in 2008.

First, check out Corsican Places - especially if you're not keen on flying from London.  They can jet you direct to Corsica from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.  You can also go direct to the island with easyJet (from London Gatwick) and with Thomson (London Gatwick and Manchester). We would urge all regular visitors to the island to use these services – your support could mean the difference between continuation and closure.

Here's another direct option: Westernair runs a number of services to the island from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingam, and Edinburgh. Use their routes to Bastia, Calvi, Ajaccio and Figari.  Please note that you can't book Westernair flights online - phone bookings only.

From Feb 2009, easyJet will be operating a regular service between Paris CDG to Bastia.  This makes it possible for off-season travellers from the UK to get a cheap flight to Paris (e.g. with Flybe), then take an onward flight to Bastia from the same Paris airport.

Failing these options, there are a number of other ways of getting there:

• Flying all the way and breaking your journey in Paris, Nice, Lyon or Marseilles;

• Flying to Nice, Marseilles, Toulon, Pisa or Genoa then taking a ferry to Bastia, Calvi, or Ile Rousse (or Ajaccio or Propriano further South).

• Driving all the way to the south of France, then taking a ferry to Corsica from Nice, Toulon or Marseilles.

Other airlines

Here are some other ways of getting to Corsica by air. There are four airports in Corsica – Ajaccio (west), Figari (south), Calvi (north west) and Bastia (north east).    If you are lucky with flight availability, flying all the way will be easily your quickest way of getting there.  If not, try:

• Air France to Paris (Charles de Gaulle), take the shuttle across Paris to Orly, then Air France to Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi or Figari

• EasyJet or flybe to Nice, then Air France or CCM from Nice to one of Corsica's airports

• Ryanair to Montpellier, then Air France or CCM from Montpellier to one of Corsica's airports

• Air France to Lyon, then Air France from Lyon to one of Corsica's airports.

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You can investigate the timetables by clicking on the links on this page.

Ferries

Taking a ferry for the second part of your journey is a great way to get to Corsica and could save you some money.

Three major ferry companies ply the waters between Corsica and the nearby French and Italian mainland.  When planning your journey, remember that although Corsica is a French island, and that it may be more convenient to your timetable and your budget if you go there via Northern Italy.

In the booking panel below, you can input your required route, then book online.  This facility will allow you to compare the three major ferry companies serving Corsica– Corsica Ferries, SNCM and Moby Line. (You can also book your cross-channel ferry via this facility should you so wish.)

If you are planning to get to Corsica by flying to the South then getting a Mediterranean ferry, we would advise finding out the ferry crossing times and availability before you book your flight.  Ferries do not go every route every day by any means.  Nice and Marseilles are great places to spend an evening, but they can be frustrating when you want to get to Corsica as soon as possible!

The ferry companies serving Corsica are Corsica Ferries, SNCM and Moby Lines.  

Corsica Ferries is the busiest operator and plies its trade between the French (Nice, Toulon) and Italian (Livorno, Savona) mainland and four of Corsica’s ports (Bastia, Ajaccio, Calvi, Ile Rousse).

SNCM go from Marseilles, Toulon and Nice.  Their destinations in Corsica are Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Ile Rousse, Porto Vecchio, and Propriano.