Saint-Exupéry International Airport
Encyclopedia
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport , formerly known as Lyon Satolas Airport, is one of the two airports located in the agglomeration of Lyon
, France
. The airport was named in 2000 in honour of the French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
, a native of Lyon, on the centenary of his birth.
The airport lies in Colombier-Saugnieu
, 11 NM east southeast of Lyon city centre. Its two runway
s are aligned north-south. It is an important transport facility for the entire Rhône-Alpes
region. Coach
links connect the airport with the centre of Lyon and other towns in the area including Chambéry
and Grenoble
.
Railway transport in the form of began in August 2010 and links the TGV
rail station of Lyon Part-Dieu with the Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry in less than 30 minutes.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
on 12 April 1975 and opened to passengers a week later. It was designed to replace the old Lyon-Bron Airport
which could not be extended as it was located in an urban area
.
In 1994 the LGV Rhône-Alpes
high-speed rail line brought TGV
service to the airport, providing direct trains to Paris
and Marseille
. The fan-shaped
canopy of the Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava
, is the airport's most notable architectural
feature.
Originally named Lyon Satolas Airport, in 2000 the airport and train station were renamed in honour of Lyonnais aviation
pioneer and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
, a laureate of the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
who died in action during the Second World War.
Since 1997, the airport is a major regional hub for the airline Air France
.
In 2009, the airport served 7,717,609 passengers, making it France's fourth busiest airport after Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Nice airports.
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The airport was named in 2000 in honour of the French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , officially Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint Exupéry , was a French writer, poet and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of France's highest literary awards, and in 1939 was the winner of the U.S. National Book Award...
, a native of Lyon, on the centenary of his birth.
The airport lies in Colombier-Saugnieu
Colombier-Saugnieu
Colombier-Saugnieu is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-Geography:The Bourbre forms part of the commune's eastern border.* Zone served by -References:*...
, 11 NM east southeast of Lyon city centre. Its two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s are aligned north-south. It is an important transport facility for the entire Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region. Coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
links connect the airport with the centre of Lyon and other towns in the area including Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
and Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
.
Railway transport in the form of began in August 2010 and links the TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
rail station of Lyon Part-Dieu with the Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry in less than 30 minutes.
History
The airport was inaugurated by PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
on 12 April 1975 and opened to passengers a week later. It was designed to replace the old Lyon-Bron Airport
Lyon-Bron Airport
Lyon-Bron Airport is an airport located in Bron, east of Lyon, both communes of the Rhône department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France.-History:...
which could not be extended as it was located in an urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
.
In 1994 the LGV Rhône-Alpes
LGV Rhône-Alpes
The LGV Rhône-Alpes is a 115 km-long French high-speed rail line situated in the Rhône-Alpes region which extends the LGV Sud-Est southwards. Opening to service in 1994, this line bypasses the built-up Lyon area towards the east, and in addition serves Satolas station, now renamed...
high-speed rail line brought TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
service to the airport, providing direct trains to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. The fan-shaped
Fan (implement)
A hand-held fan is an implement used to induce an airflow for the purpose of cooling or refreshing oneself. Any broad, flat surface waved back-and-forth will create a small airflow and therefore can be considered a rudimentary fan...
canopy of the Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
, is the airport's most notable architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
feature.
Originally named Lyon Satolas Airport, in 2000 the airport and train station were renamed in honour of Lyonnais aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneer and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , officially Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint Exupéry , was a French writer, poet and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of France's highest literary awards, and in 1939 was the winner of the U.S. National Book Award...
, a laureate of the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française
Le Grand Prix du Roman is a French literary award, created in 1918, and given each year by the Académie française. Along with the Prix Goncourt, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in France...
who died in action during the Second World War.
Since 1997, the airport is a major regional hub for the airline Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
.
In 2009, the airport served 7,717,609 passengers, making it France's fourth busiest airport after Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Nice airports.
Airlines and destinations
Chartered
External links
- Aéroport de Lyon Saint Exupéry (Union des Aéroports Français)