VIPs and super-rich foreign homeowners in Saint-Tropez are up in arms over new rules preventing private jets from most countries using the famed French resort's local airport, businesses and officials say. New regulations mean that jets that originate from countries outside of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone are no longer able to land at the La Mole Saint-Tropez airstrip.
It has affected travellers from Russia, the Middle East and Britain among others, whose planes account for up to 30 percent of flights going in and out of the airport. "I've got furious customers who have bought homes for between five and 25 million euros (5.3-26.5 million dollars) and who don't understand," Cedric Lescop, the head of private jet group Jetfly, said. The change came after France withdrew the airport's customs facilities in November, meaning jets now have to land in another French airport before proceeding to Saint-Tropez.