Aéroports de Lyon
Lyon-Satolas Airport was inaugurated on 12 April 1975 by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, President of the French Republic, in the presence of Pierre Doueil, Regional Prefect, and Fernand Blanc, President of the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIL). On 20 April 1975, Lyon-Satolas Airport succeeded Lyon-Bron and welcomed the first 150 passengers arriving from Paris aboard an Air Inter Mercure aircraft. Over 25 years later, the infrastructures have evolved, the number of passengers has more than tripled, and the platform has proven capable of drawing on its many assets to meet the challenges of tomorrow. On 29 June 2000, the Airport was renamed after Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Lyon’s famous aviator-cum-writer.
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Why a new airport in 1975 ?
From the end of the 1960’s it became apparent that a new international airport would have to be built in Lyon, since Lyon-Bron was unable to deal with the increasing air traffic. The Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry wanted to furnish the Rhône-Alpes region with a facility worthy of its ambitions. Located in an urban area, Lyon-Bron could not be extended and, because its runway was too short, long-haul flights could not take off with a full load. Passenger and freight traffic was increasing and the development of Lyon and the whole Rhône-Alpes region would have been hindered had a decision not been made quickly…
Key moments
| After 4 years of construction work, Lyon-Satolas Airport is inaugurated on 20 April. The Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry is its concessionaire for 25 years. | |
| Lyon-Satolas receives 2 million passengers. | |
| Start of an important investment programme destined to double the airport’s capacities. | |
| Lyon-Satolas is the welcoming site for the XVIth Winter Olympic Games and passes the four million passenger mark. In May, runway B is put into operation. | |
| Inauguration of the Satolas TGV station, engineered by Catalan architect Santiago Calatrava. With the arrival of the TGV, Lyon becomes France’s leading multimodal platform, at the crossroads of the future major European routes. | |
| Lyon-Satolas reorganises its terminals and becomes home to Air France’s first euro-regional hub. Lyon-Bron is France’s second most important airport for business and leisure travel. | |
| Grenoble Saint-Geoirs Airport joins Aéroports de Lyon as part of a 5-year management agreement between Lyon’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and that of Grenoble. Five million passengers have used Lyon-Satolas Airport. | |
| On 29 June: Lyon-Satolas Airport becomes Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport on the hundred-year anniversary of aviator-cum-writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s birth in Lyon. On 16 November: Lyon-Saint Exupéry defines its development plan, which establishes the major orientations for its development over the next twenty years. 6 million passengers have used Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. On 29 June: Lyon-Satolas Airport becomes Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport on the hundred-year anniversary of aviator-cum-writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s birth in Lyon. On 16 November: Lyon-Saint Exupéry defines its development plan, which establishes the major orientations for its development over the next twenty years. 6 million passengers have used Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. | |
| On 21 March, the State grants the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, administrator of Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Lyon-Bron, a renewal of the concession for 10 years. | |
| Local authorities pledge up to 36 million euros to support the ambitious investment programme. Creation of the “Ailes de la Vie” challenge, aimed at supporting innovative projects with humanist values. | |
| A code of ethics for Aéroports de Lyon: five values and some commitments. The airport regains its pre-9/11 activity level, i.e. 6,228,612 passengers, despite the enforcement of stringent security measures. A code of ethics for Aéroports de Lyon: five values and some commitments. The airport regains its pre-9/11 activity level, i.e. 6,228,612 passengers, despite the enforcement of stringent security measures. | |
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Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport turns 30.
On 3 December, an authorisation for temporary occupation (AOT) is signed for the Ulys private investment property development project.
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport turns 30.
On 3 December, an authorisation for temporary occupation (AOT) is signed for the Ulys private investment property development project. | |
| On 21 December: creation of the Aéroports de Lyon SASU (single-owner simplified shares company) | |
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On 6 March: the Airports’ concession is transferred from the CCIL to the SASU On 9 March: Official launch of the Aéroports de Lyon Company. An agreement is signed to prolong the concession to 2047 |
100th anniversary of aviation in Lyon
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De Lyon-Aviation à Aéroports de Lyon, 100 ans d'aéronautique -
100 ans d'aviation à Lyon
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100 ans en images