France's Paved Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

France is a country with its main territory in Western Europe, with several overseas territories and islands. As of 2023, France is divided into eighteen administrative regions, thirteen of which are in metropolitan France. France attracts approximately 90 million international visitors annually, and to accommodate this, there are more than 30 international and domestic airports in the country. According to the CIA World Factbook, as of 2017, there were 294 airports with paved runways in France.

France's busiest airports

France has 294 airports with paved runways, according to a 2020 source. Another source, from 2024, states that France has 464 airports in total.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest international airport in France and one of the busiest airports in Europe. It is located 14 miles northeast of Paris and has four runways. In the third quarter of 2023, it had 11,004,246 scheduled seats, an increase of 11% from 2022.

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), located 8.1 miles south of Paris in Villeneuve-le-Roi, is often regarded as the French capital's second most important airport. In the third quarter of 2023, it had 5,649,404 scheduled seats, an increase of 2% year-on-year.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the third-busiest airport in France and is located 3.7 miles southwest of Nice. It serves as the primary airport for Monaco, offering a seven-minute helicopter shuttle to the Principality. In the third quarter of 2023, it had 2,830,634 scheduled seats.

Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is the fourth busiest airport in France and is a gateway between France and North Africa. It is located 17 miles northwest of Marseille and opened a new terminal for low-cost airlines in 2006. It is now Ryanair's largest operating base in France. In the third quarter of 2023, it had 1,976,146 scheduled seats.

Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) serves Lyon, the third-largest city in France, and is the main airport for the entire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is located 11 miles southeast of the city centre and was opened in 1975. In the third quarter of 2023, it had 1,697,442 scheduled seats.

Airports with paved runways by length

France has a total of 294 airports with paved runways as of 2017. These paved runways can be further categorized by length:

Over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft)

France has 14 airports with paved runways that exceed 3,047 m in length. These runways are typically used by large commercial aircraft and are commonly found at major international airports.

2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft)

There are 25 airports in France with paved runways that fall within this length range. These runways are also suitable for a variety of commercial and private aircraft.

1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft)

This length category accounts for 97 of the paved runways in France. These runways are commonly used by smaller aircraft, such as private jets or regional commercial flights.

914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft)

83 of France's airports have paved runways between 914 and 1,523 m in length. These runways cater to smaller aircraft and are often found at regional or local airports.

Under 914 m (under 3,000 ft)

The shortest category of paved runways includes 75 airports. These runways are typically used by light aircraft, such as small private planes or helicopters.

While France has a significant number of airports with paved runways, it is worth noting that not all of these airports may have the same level of infrastructure or facilities. Some smaller airports may lack refueling capabilities or air traffic control services, for example.

Airports in metropolitan France

France has a total of 294 airports with paved runways as of 2017. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.

Paris is served by three major airports: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris Orly Airport, and Paris Beauvais Airport. Charles de Gaulle is said to be the second busiest airport in Europe and is located 26 km from the city centre. Paris Orly Airport is the second-largest airport in France and is located 13 km south of the city centre. Paris Beauvais Airport, on the other hand, is located about 80 km north of Paris and has two terminals.

Other notable airports in metropolitan France include:

• Lille Airport, also known as Lille-Lesquin Airport, is located 7 km southeast of Lille and is only 15 minutes from the city centre.
• Strasbourg Airport is a minor international airport situated 10 km southwest of Strasbourg in Alsace.
• Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is located 20 km southeast of Lyon and has two interconnected passenger terminals.
• Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is the third-largest airport in France and is located 6 km southwest of downtown Nice. It serves as a gateway to the city of Nice, the French Riviera, and the Principality of Monaco.
• Marseille Airport is located 27 km northwest of Marseille and is considered the fifth busiest airport in France in terms of passenger traffic.
• Montpellier Airport, also known as Fréjorgues Airport, is located 7 km southeast of Montpellier and has one terminal.
• Toulouse Blagnac Airport is located 6.7 km northwest of Toulouse and provides easy access to the Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine regions.
• Nantes Atlantique International Airport is located 8 km southwest of Nantes and has one terminal building.
• Brest Bretagne Airport is the gateway to the Brittany region and is located 10.2 km northeast of Brest.

These airports offer various transportation options to and from the city centres, including buses, trains, taxis, trams, and in some cases, shuttle services.

Airports in overseas territories

France has several overseas territories and islands, in addition to its main territory in Western Europe. These overseas territories are remnants of the French colonial empire. Nearly 3 million people are estimated to live on French overseas land. These territories have their own airlines and are also served by international carriers such as Air France.

Réunion and Mayotte

Réunion island, a French territory off the East African coast, is home to two airports, with Roland Garros Airport (RUN) being the primary one. Airlines serving this island include Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Corsair International, and Etihad (seasonally). In addition, Réunion has its own airline, Air Austral, which offers routes to various African countries, Mayotte, mainland France, Thailand, India, and China.

Mayotte, another French island on the other side of Madagascar, has just one airport, Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport (DZA). EWA Air is the primary airline serving this small island, while Corsair and Air Austral provide connections to Paris and Réunion.

Oceanic Territory (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna)

Aircalin, the flag carrier of New Caledonia, connects multiple regional territories. They are the only airline servicing Wallis and Futuna, with routes to Fiji and New Caledonia. From Nouméa, New Caledonia, travelers can fly with Air New Zealand, Qantas, or Air Vanuatu. Aircalin also flies to Singapore, Tokyo, and Tahiti, and plans to launch a non-stop service to Paris in December 2024.

Air Tahiti Nui, the flag carrier for French Polynesia, serves international destinations in France, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States with their Dreamliners. Air Tahiti connects dozens of local French Polynesian destinations with a fleet of ATR72-600s, ATR42-600s, and a DHC-6-300.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, lie two islands called Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Air Saint-Pierre is the only airline operating at Saint-Pierre Airport, offering service to various Canadian cities and Paris. However, their direct service to France is only seasonal.

Latin America (Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)

Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin are connected by multiple prominent North American and European carriers. For travel between the islands or to less-connected territories, several Latin American-based French airlines are available.

St. Barth Commuter, a small carrier based at Rémy de Haenen Airport, Saint Barthélemy, serves the local area with scheduled service to Guadeloupe and both sides of Saint Martin. They also offer chartered services to most Caribbean islands with their fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans.

Air Antilles, based at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, Guadeloupe, offers air service to many Caribbean destinations, as well as Miami and Paris, via partnerships. Air Antilles is owned by Air Guyane, which offers services to French Guiana.

Air Caraïbes, based in Guadeloupe, connects Europe to the Caribbean. They have an impressive fleet of ATR72-600s, A330s, and A350s.

Airports with the most foot traffic

France has a large number of airports, with sources citing figures ranging from 136 to 464 airports with paved runways.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is France's busiest airport and one of the busiest in the world. It is located in the northeast of Paris and serves as the main gateway to the country. In 2017, the airport welcomed over 64 million passengers, making it the third most popular airport in Europe. Paris Charles de Gaulle is the busiest airport in metropolitan France, with almost 35 million more passengers than the second busiest airport, Orly Airport.

Orly Airport

Orly Airport is located in the southern part of Paris and is the second busiest airport in France. In 2016, it welcomed more than twice the number of passengers as the third busiest airport, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Together, the Parisian airports account for more than 55% of air passenger traffic in metropolitan France.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is France's third busiest airport, located outside of Paris. In 2016, it accounted for 16% of air traffic outside of the Paris area. It is one of the ten busiest metropolitan French airports and a major gateway to the French Riviera.

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport is one of the ten busiest airports in France and the fourth busiest overall. It is a major transport hub in the Lyon area and the Rhône-Alpes region.

Marseille Provence Airport

Marseille Provence Airport is the fifth busiest airport in France and one of the ten busiest in Europe. It serves the city of Marseille and the surrounding Provence region.

These airports are key transport hubs in France, serving millions of passengers each year and contributing significantly to the country's air traffic.

Frequently asked questions