Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
Also known as: Lyon Airport, Saint-Exupéry Airport. Formerly Lyon Satolas Airport.
Private transfer from LYSSee pricesSee pricesAbout Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) is the main airport for Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It lies in Colombier-Saugnieu, about 20 km southeast of Lyon city center, and handled about 10.7 million passengers in 2025.
easyJet is the largest airline here, with flights to London, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and many other European cities. Air France links Lyon with Paris–Charles de Gaulle and French cities such as Marseille, Nice and Bordeaux, and Transavia flies to Paris–Orly and North Africa. Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Air Canada connect Lyon with their hubs.
Since 1 April 2026, all flights use Terminal 1, including its satellite with the D gates. Terminal 2 has closed and no reopening date has been announced.
The airport has its own TGV station, with direct high-speed trains to Paris and Marseille, and the Rhônexpress tram reaches Lyon Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes. Coaches run to Grenoble, Chambéry and Saint-Étienne, and in winter to Alpine ski resorts such as Tignes, Val d'Isère and Val Thorens.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Aéroports de Lyon, owned by VINCI Airports and the Caisse des dépôts
- Runways
Two parallel runways of 4,000 m and 2,670 m
- Passengers per year
About 10.7 million in 2025
- Opened
April 1975, as Lyon Satolas; renamed in 2000
Arrival tips for Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
If you fly in from outside the Schengen area, including the UK, North Africa and Canada, you pass border police before baggage claim. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with biometric passports can often use the PARAFE automated gates. Non-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) on their first entry, which takes fingerprints and a facial photo, so allow extra time. Flights from Schengen countries skip passport control.
Collect your bags from the carousel shown for your flight. If you are carrying skis or other large sports equipment, it usually comes out at a separate oversized-baggage point. Report missing or damaged luggage at your airline's desk before you leave the baggage hall, then walk through customs: the green channel if you have nothing to declare, the red channel if you do.
All flights now arrive at Terminal 1, so there is one arrivals hall. Signs lead to the Rhônexpress tram, the TGV station, the coach stops and the taxi rank. Turn down ride offers made inside the building.
Ground transportation
The Rhônexpress tram is the quick link to central Lyon; for the Alps, a coach or private transfer avoids changes.
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Book a transfer from LYSRhônexpress tram to Lyon Part-Dieu
Runs from the airport to Lyon Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes. Fast and simple, but you may need a taxi or metro from Part-Dieu to your hotel.
TGV trains
The Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV station, under Santiago Calatrava's canopy, has direct high-speed trains to Paris and Marseille.
Coaches to Grenoble, Chambéry and Saint-Étienne
Regional coaches leave from outside the terminal. Cheap, but timed to a schedule rather than your flight.
Ski resort coaches
In winter, coach shuttles run to Alpine resorts such as Tignes, Val d'Isère and Val Thorens. Seats sell out on peak weekends.
Taxis
Official taxis wait at the rank outside Terminal 1. Convenient, though queues can build when several flights land together.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the Terminal 1 arrivals hall and takes you to Lyon, Geneva or a ski resort, with room for skis and luggage.
Terminals
Terminal 1
Handles all flights since 1 April 2026. It includes the expanded building opened in 2018 and a satellite with the D gates, reached by tunnel and used mainly by easyJet and Transavia.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, Transavia, Turkish Airlines
Terminal 2
Closed since 1 April 2026, when its flights moved to Terminal 1. No reopening date has been announced.
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is Lyon airport from the city center?
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport is about 20 km southeast of Lyon city center, in Colombier-Saugnieu. The Rhônexpress tram reaches Lyon Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes, and taxis and private transfers go by road.
How do I get from Lyon airport to Part-Dieu?
Take the Rhônexpress tram, which runs from the airport to Lyon Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes. Part-Dieu is Lyon's main railway station, with connections to the metro, trams and trains across France.
Does Lyon airport have a train station?
Yes. The Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV station, known for its Santiago Calatrava canopy, is part of the airport. High-speed trains run direct to Paris and Marseille, so you can travel on without going into Lyon.
Is Terminal 2 open at Lyon airport?
No. Terminal 2 closed on 1 April 2026 and all flights moved to Terminal 1, including the satellite with the D gates. No reopening date has been announced, so every arrival and departure currently uses Terminal 1.
How do I get from Lyon airport to the ski resorts?
In winter, coach shuttles run from the airport to Alpine resorts such as Tignes, Val d'Isère and Val Thorens. Regional coaches also go to Grenoble and Chambéry. A private transfer takes you straight to your resort with your ski equipment.
Was Lyon airport called Satolas?
Yes. The airport opened in 1975 as Lyon Satolas Airport and was renamed Lyon Saint-Exupéry in 2000, on the centenary of the birth of the Lyon-born writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Its TGV station took the same name.