Perpignan Airport (PGF) Taxis

Perpignan Airport is found in southern France, and is officially known as the Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport, as it is located nearby to the communes of Perpignan and Rivesaltes. It can also be referred to as the Llabanère Airport, and has been allocated the official IATA code of LGF. Although a smaller French airport, with only around 400,000 passengers per annum, it is an important gateway to the towns of the Pyrénées-Orientales department of the country. A good way to reach your destination after arriving at the airport is by taxi, as there are usually plenty of Perpignan taxis available. For many passengers, a taxi is the most convenient form of transport from an airport location to their hotel, residence or place of business.

The airport has a single terminal building which is easy to navigate, as all its facilities are under one roof, and the building is not very large, measuring a total floor space of less than 1,800 square metres. It is arranged in a typical French airport style, with the arrivals hall on one end of the concourse and the departure area on the other. Passengers will arrive on the ground floor of the terminal, and will find the departure facilities on the upper level. There are shops, restaurants and cash machines at the airport, and the terminal is accessible to disabled passengers. Once ready to leave Perpignan Airport, taxis can be found at the taxi rank just outside of the arrival area. They are within easy walking distance of the terminal. Buses are also available from the airport, taking passengers to the main bus and train station of the city, but many prefer the more efficient service of a taxi to take them to their following destination.

In general, taxis will always be waiting at the taxi rank, especially at times after the arrival of airplanes and passengers, however, taxis can be booked in advance, or help to call a taxi can be requested at the information desk of the airport. A taxi company that can be called and booked is the Home Perpignan Taxi, and their contact number is +33 4 68 35 15 15. In France, and in many other European countries, passengers are always recommended to use only the official Perpignan Airport taxis for transport, as they are less likely to overcharge customers, and should provide the best service. Their cars will also be in good condition, clean and mechanically sound, and the drivers should be experienced in travelling the area. It is often the case that a taxi driver can provide some useful information regarding the best hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions etc. nearby the airport. Be sure to decline any taxi service offered by persons in the arrival hall, unless it is a pre-arranged private transfer. Keep in mind that official airport taxi drivers are always waiting by their vehicles outside of the airport building, in the taxi rank.

French taxis are metered vehicles, which means that they are able to measure the distance they travel in kilometres. The fare for the journey is then calculated accordingly. Per kilometre, the price could be around 1.54 Euro. This rate is charged during the daytime hours (07:00 to 17:00), Mondays to Saturdays, but a second and more expensive rate is charged for night time and early morning hours, as well as for travel on Sundays and public holidays. For example, a trip that would cost 20 Euro during the day on Monday, will cost around 30 Euro on Sunday afternoon. There are also a few extra charges which are not included in the metered taxi fare, such as those for luggage loaded, animals travelling in the taxi and for more than four adult passengers. An airport surcharge usually applies to journeys commencing from airport locations.

It is recommended to find out the approximate taxi fare for your destination before approaching the taxi driver, so that you will know if the amount he estimates is reasonable. The airport staff at the information desk can often be helpful in this regard. However, discuss the price of the journey with your taxi driver as well, and find out more details about the additional charges applicable to your ride. The drivers often speak French and English, but knowing a few words in French is very useful for communication.

The airport is located just 5km, or 3 miles from the city centre of Perpignan, and therefore a ride by taxi will not be very expensive. An estimated cost is between ten and twenty Euro during daytime hours. The journey will also be quite quick, about fifteen minutes depending on traffic conditions. It also common for passengers to travel by taxi from the airport to Argelès-sur-Mer or Prades. A journey to Argelès will cost about 45 Euro (it’s a 30km journey), and to Prades, a taxi will cost about 80 Euro. Passengers could also take a taxi to the bus station, and catch a bus to these locations.

Private transfers are offered by several companies, and are also a very convenient way to travel to any nearby destination. This service should be booked in advance, and the driver of your vehicle will meet you in the arrival hall. He will escort you to the vehicle and help you with your luggage. A private transfer is often recommended for passengers travelling with small children, as child seats can be provided, or for groups of more than four people, as then you are all able to travel together. Taxis sometimes will not take more than four people at one time.

Perpignan taxi is a hassle-free way of arriving in the city, and the convenience of the services are well worth the few extra Euros. Contact the airport at +33 4 68 52 60 70 for further information.