Le Bourget Airport

Le Bourget Airport
Name	Le Bourget Airport
Nativename	Aéroport du Bourget
Iata	LBG
Icao	LFPB
Type	Public / Business aviation
Owner	Groupe ADP
City-served	Paris
Location	Le Bourget, Seine-Saint-Denis, Île-de-France
Elevation-ft	220

Le Bourget Airport is a historic airport located in Le Bourget, Seine-Saint-Denis, near Paris, Île-de-France. Opened in 1919, it served as Paris's primary international aerodrome until the postwar expansion of Orly Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport shifted scheduled traffic. Today it functions primarily as a business aviation hub and hosts the annual Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Exhibition Centre.

History

Le Bourget began as a field used by aviators such as Louis Blériot, Roland Garros, and teams from the Aéro-Club de France in the pre-World War I era, later formalized after World War I under authorities including the Ministry of Air (France) and municipal agencies of Paris. In the 1920s Le Bourget received landmark flights like the arrival of Charles Lindbergh after his transatlantic solo flight and long-distance services by Air Union and Air France. During World War II the aerodrome was occupied by forces of Nazi Germany and used by units such as the Luftwaffe before liberation by Allied invasion of France operations; postwar reconstruction involved companies like Dassault Aviation and state bodies such as the Direction générale de l'aviation civile. The Cold War era saw Le Bourget hosting diplomatic and state aircraft alongside emerging business jets by manufacturers including Boeing, British Aerospace, and Aérospatiale. From the late 20th century, Groupe ADP redeveloped facilities, and Le Bourget became the fixed-base operator hub for corporate operators, handling delegations for events like the G7 summit and visits by heads of state such as François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

Facilities and Terminals

Le Bourget's field comprises multiple runways, hangars, and a cluster of specialized terminals operated by companies such as Tarmac Aerosave, Dassault Falcon Service, and Groupe ADP subsidiaries. Terminal architecture includes historic buildings restored under projects linked to French Ministry of Culture conservation efforts and modern VIP lounges affiliated with firms like NetJets and Air Partner. Maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities handle aircraft from manufacturers including Gulfstream Aerospace, Bombardier Aerospace, and Embraer. The airport also houses the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, adjacent exhibition halls used by organizers of the Salon du Bourget and logistics areas for aerospace suppliers such as Safran and Thales Group.

Airlines and Destinations

Scheduled commercial airline operations moved away from Le Bourget as Air France and carriers like Imperial Airways and Aigle Azur concentrated at Orly Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport. Contemporary activity centers on business aviation operators, corporate flight departments from companies including LVMH, TotalEnergies, and delegations arriving for events hosted by institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization when meetings occur in Paris. Charter and cargo services occasionally operate via providers like Cargolux and bespoke operators linked with aviation brokers such as Chapman Freeborn.

Ground Transportation and Access

Le Bourget is accessible by roads connecting to the A1 autoroute and regional arteries serving Paris and the Île-de-France Mobilités network. Public transit links include the Le Bourget (Paris RER) station on the RER B line and tram connections via the T11 Express project, while shuttle services connect to Charles de Gaulle Airport and central Paris points such as Gare du Nord and Place de la Concorde. Surface access is augmented by taxi operators licensed under municipal authorities, executive car services run by firms like Hertz and Sixt, and bicycle routes promoted by Vélib' Métropole programs near Seine-Saint-Denis.

Accidents and Incidents

Le Bourget's long operational history includes notable events: early airliner crashes in the interwar period involving carriers like Air Union, wartime damage during operations such as the Battle of France, and postwar incidents with business aircraft operated by private companies and state delegations. Investigations were conducted by authorities such as the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile following specific occurrences involving corporate jets from manufacturers like Falcon and Gulfstream. Safety upgrades over decades have been implemented in coordination with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and European agencies including EASA.

Cultural Significance and Events

Le Bourget has cultural resonance through milestones like Lindbergh's transatlantic flight and hosting the biennial Paris Air Show, which draws manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and suppliers including MBDA and Leonardo S.p.A.. The adjacent Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace preserves artifacts linked to pioneers Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Santos-Dumont and displays aircraft from collections related to World War I and World War II aviation history. The site features in literature about aviators such as Ernest Hemingway and in films produced by studios like Pathé and Gaumont. Annual events include aerospace trade fairs, state receptions for delegations from countries like United States and China, and commemorations involving organizations such as the Aéro-Club de France.

Category:Airports in Île-de-France