Kitzbühel, Austria – The next generation 10 seat gondola design is being rolled out in another European ski destination. The large lifts already exist in the resorts of Plan de Corones in Italy, and Kitzbühel in Austria, but are also planned to be in place by the end of this year in France and Switzerland too.

Both of the two new, large gondolas are due to open in December this year, just in time for the 2012-13 ski season. The resorts receiving the Italian-made Leitner lifts are the Swiss resort of Savognin, and the French ski resort of Méribel, part of the large ski area, the 3 Valleys.

Méribel’s new lift will replace the initial stages of the existing Plattières gondola, and can be used by guests visiting the resort popular with Britons from late December onwards. The current 22-minute journey will be dramatically reduced to just nine, as well as an increased capacity of 40 percent. The new lift in Savognin, Switzerland, will replace an existing chairlift that is nearly 30 years old and connect Tigignas and Somtgant.