I guess they are just trying to discourage people (rather of the jet and turboprop type) who are just very loosely considering a flight to that place, from making tons of parking reservations (do these people really do that?) and thus losing their parking capacity for no revenue in the end.
Anyway, handling charges of 100€, plus the risk of losing these if cancelling would make this place unattractive for me. Well, I am not interested in France for skiing anyway (expensive and not my kind of people there). If I considered a ski/fly trip, I would likely do EDNY or EDJA (for Austria) or possibly LOIJ, LOWZ or LOGO
or otherwise LIPB for Italy, and they all don‘t have such attitudes.
The airport on winter weekends (Especially saturdays, as most of the ski industry sells packages from Sat-Sat) is uber busy with ski charters. Mon-Fri it’s a different place
Does this mean that, as with Annecy, parking over a weekend is OK and what you have to avoid is a movement on a weekend?
Bolzano LIPB is indeed ok and along with Trento is the one for the Dolomites (Madonna, Corvara, etc). But no buses except at weekends and based on my enquiries the buses run only from Trento (the Verona “Fly Ski Shuttle” etc ones stop at Trento) and with Bolzano you have only a €200+ (each way) taxi option. Trento is no good for the UK.
St. Johann LOIJ and Zell am See LOWZ are strictly for advanced skiers, AFAICT. Zell in particular – narrow, steep and winding runs with lots of people standing around on the bends. Like a lot of Obertauern, which a few of us did Feb 2019 (Salzburg airport).
Yes, certainly any Ski Charter/LOCO Hub you either want to avoid arriving or departing on weekends. Very especially Saturdays. Just look at the departure / arrivals schedule for Dec – Mar for ski resort feeder airports and you can see why.
Does anyone know the charges etc at Chambery LFLB?
On Skydemon, someone reported something like 1000 Euros in winter. But looking at their fees and charges doc, this only applies to Saturdays.
Hmmm it is extremely unlikely the reporter actually paid it, so he may be reporting a rumour. I will email them and report here
Do you have a link to their charges doc? If it applies only to a Saturday movement that is ok.
It’s true. Doc here local copy
On other days, it might be ok, although parking charges are still doubled. I would be cautious.
According to here local copy
Edit after reading messages that crossed mine: that’s without handling, which is mandatory above 3 t and for all aircraft on Saturdays (and 2 January) in winter, with a minimum handling fee of 1000 EUR on Saturdays (and 2 January).
Maybe LFLE is the hidden gem you are looking for. Uncontrolled but close to Chambery train station. You would need a french speaker.