Airport Codes In France: What You Need To Know

can airport code france

France is home to over 30 international and domestic airports, including some of the busiest in Europe. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest and busiest airport in France, serving as a major aviation hub for the continent. Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is the second busiest airport in the country, located 13km south of the capital. Other notable airports in France include Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS), and Nantes Atlantique Airport. Each airport in France is assigned a unique code, such as CDG and ORY, which aids in flight scheduling, baggage routing, and traffic control. These airport codes are essential for efficient air traffic management, especially in a country like France, which attracts millions of tourists each year.

Characteristics Values
Airport Name Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Airport Code CDG
Location Paris, France
Distance from City Center 26 km
Number of Terminals 3
Shuttle Service Yes
Transport Options to City Center Train, bus, taxi
Reputation Mixed reviews
Other Airport Codes ORY, BVA, LIL, LYS, NCE, AJA, BIA, FSC

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Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 1 being the oldest and situated opposite Terminal 3. Terminal 2 is located separately and has seven sub-terminal buildings (2A to 2G). Terminal 2 was originally built exclusively for Air France but has since been expanded to accommodate other airlines. Terminals 2A to 2F are interconnected by elevated walkways, while Terminal 2G is a satellite building accessible via shuttle bus. Terminal 3, previously known as Terminal 9, caters to charter and low-cost airlines.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport offers a free automated shuttle rail system, CDGVAL (Charles de Gaulle Véhicule Automatique Léger), which connects Terminal 1, parking lots, and the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 RER station located within the Roissypôle complex. The Roissypôle complex includes office buildings, shopping areas, hotels, and a bus coach and RER B station. The RER B line connects the airport to central Paris, with two stations on the airport grounds: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV, located between Terminals 2C and 2F.

While Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is a major aviation hub, some travellers have reported negative experiences, including unhelpful security personnel, chaotic terminal layouts, and excessive security checks. However, other passengers have praised the cleanliness of the airport and the helpfulness of customer service agents.

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Paris Orly Airport (ORY)

Paris Orly Airport has good connections to other French regions and international cities. To get to the city centre of Paris from the airport, you can take a bus, train, taxi, or metro. The fastest way is by taxi, which takes 19 minutes and costs $29 to $35. The cheapest way is by taking the line 14 subway, which costs $3 and takes 25 minutes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris Orly Airport was closed to all commercial traffic from 1 April 2020 to 25 June 2020. During this period, commercial traffic and flights were relocated to Charles de Gaulle Airport, while Orly remained in use for state flights, emergency diversions, and medical evacuations. In October 2023, it was announced that Air France will largely cease using Orly Airport by the summer of 2026, with only one public service obligation flight to Corsica remaining.

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Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS)

The airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and 2, which are interconnected on the landside by a central building. This building has a footbridge to the nearby Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry high-speed railway station and the Rhônexpress terminus. The airport also features two runways and cargo facilities. In 2013, the airport served 8,562,298 passengers, with air freight increasing to 44,820 tonnes.

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is well-connected to the city centre. You can take a taxi or train to get to the centre in around 30 minutes. The Rhônexpress tramway, which began operating in 2010, links the airport with the Lyon-Part-Dieu business district. Coach links also connect the airport to the centre of other towns in the area, including Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, and Chambéry. Bus operators also provide a coach shuttle service to the surrounding French ski resorts, including Tignes, Val d'Isere, and Val Thorens.

From Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, you can fly to 130 destinations with 49 airlines. The route with the most departures is to Paris (CDG), with an average of 31 flights every week. The top international destinations are Amsterdam (AMS) and Tunis (TUN). The two longest flights from the airport are to Montreal (YUL) and Dubai (DXB), with flight times of around 8 hours and 15 minutes, and 6 hours and 19 minutes, respectively.

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Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE)

The airport covers an area of over 3.70 km2 (1.43 sq mi), with 2.70 km2 (1.04 sq mi) used by its two parallel runways and three passenger terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 are linked by shuttle buses, and the airport also has a freight terminal. In 2023, the airport handled 14,189,965 passengers, and in 2024, this number increased to 14,770,626.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is well-connected to the city of Nice and the surrounding areas. The airport is located on the western end of the Promenade des Anglais, and travellers can take the Nice tramway line 2 to reach the Port of Nice (Lympia Port) via the Grand Arénas interchange. The train station Nice Saint Augustin is also located at this interchange, just 400 metres from the airport. Trams run every 8 minutes during the day, and a separate tram line runs from the airport to the western suburbs. Additionally, bus route 12 connects the airport with Promenade des Artes via the old town. Travellers can also take a bus from the airport to Office de Tourisme in Cannes, which takes around 35 minutes, or to Pole d'Echanges in Antibes, which takes about 41 minutes. For those seeking a more comfortable travel experience, booking a car service is an option.

The airport also offers a helicopter service linking Monaco, which is located 20 km (12 mi) to the northeast. Some airlines market Monaco as a destination via Nice Airport. The quickest way to travel between the two is by a 7-minute flight from Nice (NCE) to Monaco (MCM). Alternatively, travellers can take the tram from Aéroport Terminal 2 to Parc Phoenix (L2), and then take the train from Nice St Augustin to Monaco Monte Carlo, which takes around 57 minutes in total.

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Nantes Atlantique Airport

Nantes Atlantique is currently the largest airport in western France, serving over 90 direct destinations through 20 scheduled airlines, including 4 based carriers. The airport handled 7,221,000 passengers in 2019, an increase of 16.6% compared to 2018. It has a single passenger terminal and a separate freight terminal, which includes 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft) of entrepôt storage. The airport also has several car parks, both in the open and under cover, located in the terminal area.

The airport offers many amenities to its passengers, including restaurants and other facilities. An express shuttle bus, the 'Navette Tan Air', links a stop outside the airport terminal to Nantes station and the city centre. Several major roads and motorways to and from the city of Nantes intersect the 'périphérique', making it easy to reach the city centre from the airport and vice versa.

Frequently asked questions

The airport code is CDG.

The airport code is ORY.

The airport code is LYS.

The airport code for Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is NCE.

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