Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport
Generated by DeepSeek V3.2Expansion Funnel Raw 62 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
| Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport |
| IATA | LYS |
| ICAO | LFLL |
| Owner | Aéroports de Lyon |
| City-served | Lyon |
| Location | Colombier-Saugnieu |
| Elevation-f | 821 |
| Elevation-m | 250 |
| Coordinates | 45, 43, 35, N... |
| Website | https://www.lyonaeroports.com/ |
| R1-number | 18L/36R |
| R1-length-m | 4,000 |
| R1-length-f | 13,123 |
| R1-surface | Asphalt |
| R2-number | 18R/36L |
| R2-length-m | 2,670 |
| R2-length-f | 8,760 |
| R2-surface | Asphalt |
| Stat-year | 2023 |
| Stat1-header | Passengers |
| Stat1-data | 10,734,000 |
| Stat2-header | Aircraft movements |
| Stat2-data | 100,000 |
| Stat3-header | Cargo (metric tons) |
| Stat3-data | 45,000 |
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport. It is the primary international airport serving the Lyon metropolitan area and the wider Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Located in Colombier-Saugnieu, approximately 20 kilometers east of central Lyon, it functions as a major hub for both passenger and cargo traffic. The facility is named in honor of the pioneering French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
History
The airport was originally inaugurated in 1975 as **Lyon Satolas Airport**, a name derived from the nearby hamlet of Satolas-et-Bonce. Its development was driven by the need to replace the aging Lyon–Bron Airport and to accommodate the growing demands of the Rhône-Alpes region. A significant expansion occurred with the opening of a high-speed TGV railway station directly connected to the terminal in 1994, a pioneering project in France that created a major intermodal hub. In 2000, the airport was renamed to honor Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of *The Little Prince*. Major infrastructure projects have continued, including the construction of a dedicated cargo area and the ongoing modernization of terminals to handle increasing traffic from carriers like Air France and easyJet.
Facilities
The airport features two main passenger terminals: Terminal 1 for all scheduled flights and Terminal 2, which was originally built for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and now handles charter operations. The complex includes the intermodal **Saint-Exupéry TGV station**, served by the LGV Rhône-Alpes and LGV Méditerranée high-speed lines, offering direct connections to cities like Paris, Marseille, and Geneva. Operational facilities include two parallel runways, the longest capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, and a large dedicated freight zone operated by companies like FedEx Express. The iconic, wing-like concrete canopy of the main terminal was designed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.
Airlines and destinations
It serves as a focus city for Air France and its regional subsidiary Air France Hop, offering numerous domestic and European routes. The airport is a major base for the low-cost carrier easyJet, which operates an extensive network from here across Europe and to North Africa. Other significant carriers include Lufthansa, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Turkish Airlines, providing connectivity to hubs like Frankfurt, London–Heathrow, Casablanca, and Istanbul. Seasonal and charter services are operated by airlines such as Volotea and TUI fly Belgium to various Mediterranean holiday destinations.
Statistics
In 2023, it handled over 10.7 million passengers, solidifying its position as France's fourth-busiest airport outside the Paris region, following Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, Marseille Provence Airport, and Toulouse–Blagnac Airport. Annual aircraft movements typically exceed 100,000, with a balanced mix of narrow-body and wide-body operations. The cargo segment is robust, processing approximately 45,000 metric tons annually, supported by dedicated freighters from FedEx Express and integrators like DHL Aviation. Pre-pandemic traffic peaked in 2019 at nearly 12 million passengers, with steady recovery observed in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period.
Ground transportation
The integrated **Saint-Exupéry TGV station** provides high-speed rail services on the SNCF network, with direct trains to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in under two hours. Local public transport is served by the **Rhônexpress** tram-train, which offers a direct link to central Lyon's Part-Dieu district in approximately 30 minutes. Numerous rental car agencies are present, including Hertz and Avis, and the airport is accessible via the **A432** motorway, which connects to the A43 autoroute towards Chambéry and Grenoble. Regional bus services connect to surrounding towns in Isère and Ain.
Accidents and incidents
The airport has maintained a strong safety record since its opening. One notable incident occurred in 1988 when a Fokker F27 operated by TAT European Airlines overran the runway during landing in poor weather; there were no fatalities. In 1992, a Cessna 425 crashed during approach, resulting in fatalities. The most serious event in the vicinity was the crash of an Air France flight originating from Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1968, which occurred near Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans long before the current airport's existence. Security and operational procedures are rigorously enforced in coordination with the French Civil Aviation Authority.
Category:Airports in France Category:Buildings and structures in Metropolis of Lyon Category:Transport in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes