Jazmin Li
Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, has four commercial airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari. Given its small size and population, this is a surprisingly high number. In addition to these, there are also two military or general aviation airports, bringing the total number of airports on the island to six.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 4 commercial airports, 6 in total including military and general aviation airports |
| Names of airports | Bastia Airport, Calvi Airport, Ajaccio Airport, Figari Airport |
| Location of airports | Northeast of the island, Northwest of the island, Unknown, Far south of the island |
| Size of airports | Calvi Airport is the smallest airport |
| Number of operators | 9 operators at Calvi Airport, Air France, Volotea, easyJet, Chalair, Brussels Airlines, Smartwings, SWISS, Air Corsica |
| Number of passengers | 1.67 million passengers pre-pandemic, 1.41 million passengers last year |
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What You'll Learn
Corsica has four commercial airports
Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, has four commercial airports: Calvi Airport, Ajaccio Airport, Bastia Airport, and Figari Airport. This is a surprising number of airports for an island with a population of just 339,000 people and a landmass of 3,368 square miles (8,722 sq km). For comparison, Malta has a larger population of 504,000 but only one airport, while Sardinia, with a landmass of 9,300 square miles (24,000 sq km) and a population of 1.64 million, has three commercial airports.
Calvi Airport, the smallest of the four airports, is located in the northwest of Corsica. It is served by nine operators, including Air Corsica, Air France, easyJet, Luxair, SWISS, and Transavia. Pre-pandemic, the airport served 336,000 passengers, and in 2021, it reached 289,000 passengers. The airport has very limited facilities, with just one small café and a compact convenience store. There is no pharmacy, cash point, or money-changing facility. Due to its location on the coast, pilots need special training to land at Calvi Airport, and flights cannot arrive outside of daylight hours or in windy conditions.
Ajaccio Airport, the second-largest airport in Corsica, is located in the city of Ajaccio. It is served by major airlines such as Air France, Volotea, easyJet, and Chalair. The airport handled 1.67 million passengers a year pre-pandemic and climbed back up to 1.41 million passengers last year. Several rental car companies operate at the airport, including Budget, Hertz, and Eurocar.
Bastia Airport is located in Lucciana, around 11 miles (17 km) south of the town of Bastia, the second-largest community on the island. It is the largest airport in Corsica and is officially named Aéroport de Bastia-Poretta (BIA). Bastia Airport has a good variety of operators connecting it to many European destinations, including Air Corsica and Air France. There are 450 parking lots at the airport, and taxis and shuttle buses are available for transport to the city centre.
Figari Airport is located in the far south of Corsica, just a couple of miles outside the small village of Figari.
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There are six airports in total
Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and is very mountainous. Despite its small size, Corsica has four commercial airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari. If you include military and general aviation airports, there are six airports in total.
Ajaccio Airport is the largest airport in Corsica. It is served by major airlines such as Air France, Volotea, easyJet, and Chalair. The airport is located about 12 miles (20 km) south of Bastia and offers several taxi and rental car services. A shuttle bus to the city centre is also available.
Bastia Airport is the second-largest airport in Corsica. It is located in Lucciana, around 11 miles (17 km) south of the town of Bastia. Air Corsica is a major operator at this airport, offering year-round flights to French cities and seasonal flights to Gothenburg, Sweden. The airport has 450 parking lots and offers taxi, rental car, and shuttle bus services.
Calvi Airport is the smallest of the four commercial airports on Corsica. It is served by nine operators, including Air Corsica, Air France, easyJet, Luxair, SWISS, and Transavia. The airport has very limited facilities, with just one small café and a compact convenience store. It served 336,000 passengers pre-pandemic and 289,000 in 2021.
Figari Airport is located in the far south of the island, just a couple of miles outside the small village of Figari.
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Calvi Airport is the smallest airport
Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, has four commercial airports and six airports in total when including military and general aviation airports. Calvi Airport, also known as Sainte-Catherine Airport, is the smallest of the four commercial airports. It is located in the northwest of the island, eight kilometres southeast of the city of Calvi. The airport is a gateway to the region of Balagne, in the northeast of Corsica, providing easy access to villages such as Lumio, Calenzana, and Galeria.
Calvi Airport is a small and basic airport facility with limited amenities. It features a single café, a compact convenience store, and a car park with 200 parking spaces. The airport handled approximately 320,000 passengers per year pre-pandemic, with a slight decrease to 289,000 passengers in 2021. The airport is served by nine operators, including Air Corsica, Air France, easyJet, Luxair, SWISS, and Transavia.
The airport's location on the coast presents unique challenges, requiring pilots wishing to land there to undergo special training. Flights can only operate during daylight hours, and windy conditions may result in diversions to Bastia. Calvi Airport's location in a valley provides a beautiful backdrop and pleasant scenery for passengers.
Despite being the smallest airport in Corsica, Calvi Airport plays a crucial role in connecting the region to the rest of the world, offering convenient access to the many attractions that the island has to offer.
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Ajaccio Airport is the second-largest airport
Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, has four commercial airports. One of them is Ajaccio Airport, formerly known as Campo dell'Oro Airport, located 5 km from the island's capital, Ajaccio. It is the second-largest airport on the island and is named after Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio. The airport is the main base of the regional airline Air Corsica, which offers flights to continental France and other European destinations.
The airport's history dates back to World War II when it was a grass flying field. In 1943, the French 1st Army Corps landed in Ajaccio as part of Operation Vésuve, and a few months later, the Free French Air Force operated Spitfires from the grass field. In 1944, the US Army Air Forces took over and paved the runways, forming the foundation of the modern airport. Today, it is a bustling airport with 15 airlines serving destinations in France, the UK, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Norway.
Ajaccio Airport is spread over 17,000 square meters and includes a terminal that can accommodate 1,500,000 travellers per year. The airport provides parking for 500 vehicles, regular bus services, and a taxi rank. It also offers car rental services from well-known agencies. The airport is known for its beautiful surroundings, with fine sandy beaches and crystalline waters nearby.
The city of Ajaccio, located less than 10 km from the airport, is a charming destination with a delightful old quarter, a buzzing port, and a rich history. It boasts a large number of boutiques, bars, and restaurants, as well as tourist attractions such as the Musée Fesch, which houses the second-largest collection of Italian paintings seized during the Napoleonic Wars.
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Bastia Airport is the largest airport
Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, has a total of four commercial airports. However, if you include military and general aviation airports, there are six airports in total. Bastia Airport, located in Lucciana, around 11 miles (17 km) south of the town of Bastia, is the largest airport in Corsica. It is the second-largest community after Ajaccio and offers a variety of operators connecting it to many European destinations.
In addition to these, other operators offer single-destination seasonal services, such as Brussels Airlines to Brussels, Smartwings to Prague, and SWISS to Geneva. Air Corsica, which has its head office at the airport, is a major operator, flying to French cities year-round and adding more in the summer season. They also offer a service to Gothenburg in Sweden.
Bastia Airport is located in the northeast of the island, which is known for its mountainous terrain and hair-raising mountain roads. The island's challenging topography makes flying into an airport close to one's final destination a more appealing and convenient option for many visitors. This may contribute to the high passenger traffic at Bastia Airport, making it the largest airport in Corsica.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four commercial airports in Corsica. If you include military and general aviation airports, there are six in total.
The airports in Corsica include:
- Bastia Airport (also known as Aéroport de Bastia-Poretta)
- Calvi Airport (also known as International Airport Calvi – Sainte Catherine)
- Ajaccio Airport
- Figari Airport
Corsica's airports collectively handled 1.67 million passengers a year pre-pandemic.
