Grenoble Airport Departures (GNB)

Grenoble lies in the Isère department of France, and is one of the country’s smaller international airports. It is recognised by its official airport code of GNB, and is commonly referred to as the Grenoble-Saint-Geoirs Airport, or as the Grenoble-Isère Airport, due to its location. In French, it is the ‘Aéroport de Grenoble-Isère’. Grenoble departures are offered by several well known airline companies, and flights from the airport head for a variety of destinations. For departing passengers, the airport building is well equipped with useful facilities, and is a modern and efficient establishment.

The airport of Grenoble is only about 2.5km from the commune of Saint-Etienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, hence its name of the Grenoble-Saint-Geoirs Airport, and approximately 45km, or 28 miles north-west of Grenoble city. Other large cities nearby include Lyon, Chambery, Geneva (Switzerland) and Valence. Areas a little closer to the airport include Rives, Moirans, Beaucroissant, Le Grand-Lemps and La Frette. Passengers on departure flights can easily reach Grenoble Airport in their own private vehicles, as there are a number of main roads which lead to the airport, and a parking lot outside the terminal building, or by bus or taxi. Bus services are available from the bus station in Grenoble, at times which correspond to the airport’s flights, and from the Lyon Part Dieu railway station in Lyon, about once a day. Taxis are available from all nearby areas, but are more expensive than the public buses.

Passengers travelling by motorcar will use the A48 Autoroute from Grenoble, and the trip to the airport will take about half an hour. The turn-off for the airport is signposted, and is just past Rives. It will lead to the main airport access road of the D119. From Lyon, it is a fifty minute drive, using the A43 and A48, and from Chambery, an hour’s drive, on the A43 and A48 as well. Other towns and cities within a two hour drive from the airport include Albertville, Annecy, Valence, Bourg-en-Bresse, Saint-Etienne, Geneva, Avignon and Gap. 500 parking spaces are available directly outside of the terminal building.

Grenoble Airport can be considered as a low-cost airport, with several airline companies offering departure flights at very reasonable rates. The best flight rates can be easily found by following a few simple guidelines. It is often recommended to compare prices directly on the flight company websites, as the prices for the same destination can vary from one airline to the next. Try to also be flexible with your travelling dates, as this will allow you to take advantage of the regular promotional offers which are available. Check the airline companies’ websites often to see where the best rates will be offered. It is also important to book as early as possible, as reservations in advance will often result in lower prices. In general, passengers without hold luggage will pay less than those with baggage to check-in, but if you do need to carry luggage, it is best to notify your airline company when reserving your ticket. Higher prices will be charged if you wait until you are at the airport. It is also not obligatory to take out cancellation insurance, and a little money can be saved by leaving this option out. Also try to avoid excess baggage charges by ensuring that your luggage does not exceed the maximum weight allowances authorised by your airline company.

The airline companies offering Grenoble Airport departure flights are Aurigny Air Services, Easyjet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair and Transavia, and there are several charter airline companies as well, for example, Aer Lingus, Atlantic Airways, Flybe, Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines. The charter airline companies offer seasonal flights to London-Gatwick, Copenhagen, Southampton, Warsaw, Manchester, Gothenburg, Stockholm Arlanda, Birmingham and Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion, as well as to other destinations. Many of the scheduled flights are seasonal as well, and they fly to Guernsey, an island just off the coast of France, destinations in the United Kingdom, such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London, and to Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In 2009, Grenoble Airport handled around 456,000 passengers.

The old terminal building was replaced by a new one in 2002, and the airport now has a capacity for over a million passengers per annum. The terminal is capable of processing up to 1,800 passengers per hour. It is a modern construction, with various facilities for the needs of arriving and departing passengers, and consists of three boarding areas, 26 check-in counters and two arrival areas. It has a customs office and a VIP lounge for business travellers. Meeting rooms are also available for hire for trainings, conferences and all other corporate functions. There are two Relay and duty-free shops, as well as a multi-store and bar/restaurant. Additional facilities include ATMs and a post box, but there is no full-service bank at the airport, or currency exchange outlets. The airport welcomes disabled passengers by providing various facilities for their comfort, including adapted toilets, pavement ramps, clear walkways, reserved parking spaces and lowered check-in desks and telephone booths. Staff members of the airline companies can provide further assistance as well.

Passengers who would like to stay for the night prior to their departure flight will find a few hotels in Saint-Etienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, the town where the airport is located, but no hotels on the airport site. Live Grenoble departures can be viewed on various online websites.