The Busiest Airports In France

France is a country located in Western Europe. It is one the largest countries in Europe and borders several nations including Germany and Belgium. France is highly industrialized, and has vast transportation networks, including 478 airports. The five busiest airports in France are highlighted below.

The Five Busiest Airports in France

Paris Charles de Gaulle

Located in Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport is the busiest airport in France, with 63,813,756 passengers in 2014. In addition to serving as France's busiest airport, it is the second busiest in Europe, after London's Heathrow Airport. Charles de Gaulle Airport also ranks as the tenth busiest airport in the world, and is thus economically significant for France.

Paris Orly Airport

Orly Airport is located in Paris, between Villeneuve-le-Roi and Orly. The international airport serves as a secondary hub for both overseas and domestic territories flights of Air France. Orly Airport is the second busiest airport in France, after Charles de Gaulle, serving 28,862,586 passengers in 2014. Flights to and from Orly Airport operate to destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. The airport is managed by Aéroports de Paris, which also operates Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Nice Airport

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport an international airport located approximately 5.9 kilometers southwest of Nice. The airport served 11,660,208 passengers in 2014, making it the third busiest airport in France. In addition, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is an operating base for easyJet, the low-carrier cost airline based out of Britain's London Luton Airport.

Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport

Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, initially referred to as Lyon Satolas Airport, is an international airport in Lyon, France. Lyon is the third largest city in France and the airport handled 8,467,093 passengers in 2014. The airport ranks as the fourth busiest in France, and serves as an essential transport facility for the entire Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport is owned and managed by Aéroports de Lyon.

Marseille Airport

Marseille Province Airport is the fifth busiest airport in France and served 8,182,237 passengers in 2014. The airport is located approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Marseille. Although the fifth busiest airport in terms of passengers, Marseille Province Airport ranks third for cargo traffic. The airport is also considered to be a "focus city" for local flights of Air France.

Other Busy French Airports

The vast network of airports in France play a significant role in boosting the nation's economy. Other major airports located in France include Toulouse Blagnac, Bale Mulhouse, Bordeaux Merignac, Nantes, and Beauvais.