France closes 13 airports of entry

This unilateral decision from the French Economic and Financial Affairs Ministry - which is responsible for customs in France – would deprive those airports of international traffic and prevent British, Russian or Middle Eastern passengers from landing there.

The airports affected by this measure are mainly used for private and general aviation traffic:

Abbeville (XAB, LFOI) (North of France)

Agen - La Garenne (AGF, LFBA)

Amiens – Glisy (QAM, LFAY)

Annemasse (QNJ, LFLI)

Besançon - La Vèze (LFQM)

St Tropez – La Môle (LTT, LFTZ)

Lannion (LAI, LFRO) (Brittany)

Le Castellet – Riviera International (CTT, LFMQ)

Lognes-Émerainville (Paris area)

Montbéliard – Courcelles (XMF, LFSM)

Nevers - Fourchambault (NVS, LFQG)

Vichy – Charmeil (VHY, LFLV)

La Roche-sur-Yon – Les Ajoncs (EDM, LFRI)

What is likely to happen? For instance, with the removal of those thirteen French airports of entry it will no longer be possible to fly from London to St Tropez or from Le Castellet to Moscow.

The impact of such a decision could be important, especially considering the appeal of Russian and Middle Eastern customers for the French Riviera and the fact that most of the non-Schengen air traffic in France is coming from or going to the United Kingdom. In addition to the touristic impact, this measure could deprive some regions of a non-negligible source of economic development. Private aviation being, indeed, a solution for investors to visit companies that they finance in places not served by commercial scheduled airlines.

Industry professionals, in particular the Union des Aéroports Français (French Airports Union), are campaigning for alternative options allowing reconciliation of the state’s economic concerns and local development. The preferred solution, however, would be to have customs available upon request (48 h prior to departure), as is already the case in some French airports, even though this means less flexibility for private aviation.