St Etienne Airport Departures (EBU)

Saint-Etienne Airport is found in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, and is one of the smaller airports of the country’s Massif Central area. It is positioned in a town by the name of Andrézieux-Bouthéon, and is therefore well known as the Saint-Etienne-Bouthéon Airport, with the official code of EBU. Saint-Etienne Airport departures are offered by a few airline companies, which fly to a few destinations at regular times throughout the year, and various charter flights are available as well. The departure area of the airport is well structured for its passengers, and in general, Saint-Etienne Airport is considered as a small, yet efficient and friendly establishment.

A number of transport options are available to passengers on departure flights from Saint-Etienne Airport. Taxis are often considered as they are quick and convenient, and can collect you and your luggage from any nearby location, however, buses are sometimes more affordable, and will also provide good transport to the airport. There is an airport bus service which departs from the Châteaucreux Train Station in the city of Saint-Etienne, and a bus service operated by Pegasus Airlines from the Lyon Perrache Station. Pegasus Airlines and Ryanair also offer shuttle serves from the Châteaucreux Train Station in the city, and coach services are available from Saint-Symphorien and Montbrison. Châteaucreux is the main railway station in Saint-Etienne, and passengers can arrive here from other cities, as there is no train station on the grounds of the airport. There are also another two railway stations in the vicinity of the airport, and they are the Gare de Andrézieux and the Bouthéon Train Station. Both are found approximately five minutes from the airport. A taxi can be used to travel from these two stations.

Alternatively, and perhaps most convenient, departing passengers can drive their own vehicle to Saint-Etienne Airport, and leave it in the parking area available. There are 250 spaces for private vehicles at the airport, and the first twenty minutes of parking is free of charge. The parking lot can be used for short-term or long-term stays. Passengers on charter flight departures may even be able to use the parking lot free of charge. The drive from Saint-Etienne to the airport will be around fifteen to twenty minutes, and just less than an hour from Lyon, as this city is positioned 64km from the airport. The largest road leading to the airport is the A72, which also continues to the north to provide access from Clermont-Ferrand and Roanne. The N88 is used from Le Puy, and the A7 towards Lyon is used from Valence, found approximately 86km from Saint-Etienne Airport. Passengers of the airport may also travel from the cities of Grenoble, Chambéry and Annecy. Nearer to the airport are the smaller areas of La Fouillouse, Saint-Victor, Montbrison, Veauche, Saint-Galmier and Montrond-les-Bains.

The airport of Saint-Etienne serves all towns and cities in the Loire department of France, and a few airline companies are present to offer departure flights. The three main airline companies are Ryanair, Pegasus Airlines and Luxair. Scheduled flights are offered by Ryanair to Porto, and Pegasus Airlines offers scheduled flights to Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen. Luxair has charter flights to Bastia. Ryanair and Pegasus Airlines are low-cost carriers, and have been with the airport for a number of years. Additional airline companies which may be available from Saint-Etienne Airport are Air France, Air Méditerranée, Tunisair, Aigle Azur, NetJets, Regional and Russian Airlines. Business flights are available with AeroTaxi Services and CATEX and helicopter flights are made by Hélicoloire. Although the larger and busier Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is in the near vicinity, passengers often choose to rather depart from the quieter and less crowded Saint-Etienne Airport.

The Saint-Etienne Airport departure zone is well equipped for the needs of its passengers, and is within easy walking distance from the car park. There is a bar/snack bar available in the boarding lounge, and sells newspapers and fast-food during flight hours. Meeting rooms can be hired on the airport premises, and there are WiFi connections for internet services at various points in the terminal. An ATM and a Bureau de Change handle monetary affairs, and an airport shop sells the usual selection of items. The single terminal building for arrival and departure proceedings has been built to meet the needs of disabled passengers, with suitable toilet facilities, elevators, lowered telephones and information counters, pavement ramps and eight reserved parking spaces in the car park. Further assistance can be arranged from the airline company of your flight before forty-eight hours of departure.

Ryanair may require their passengers to check-in online, and this must usually be done before forty minutes of departure. Otherwise, and for the other airline companies of the airport, the conventional check-in desks are used. Some airports and airlines offer self-service check-in counters. More information is available on your airline ticket, or from the airline company itself. Try to arrive early at the airport, at least an hour before domestic flights and two to three hours before an international departure, or if you have any special requirements. Minors travelling without an adult guardian should also arrive early, as well as passengers with small children. Keep in mind that Ryanair does not allow unaccompanied minors onboard. All luggage items of passengers should not exceed the maximum size and weight limitations set by their airline carrier, for hold and hand luggage. Quite heavy excess baggage charges could otherwise be applicable.

Live Saint-Etienne Airport departure schedules are available online, or the airport can be contacted for any further information required. There are also information counters within the terminal. The telephone number for Saint-Etienne Airport is 33(0)4 77 55 71 71, and their email address is aeroport@saint-etienne.cci.fr.