Poitiers Airport Departures (PIS)

Poitiers Airport is located approximately 2.4km, or 1.5 miles from Poitiers city centre, and is an important gateway to the Vienne department of France. Poitiers is found in western France, and about an hour and a half’s drive from the coastline. The city’s airport is also known as the Poitiers-Biard Airport, since that it is found in the town of Biard, and is distinguished from other airports in the world by its official code of PIS. It is just a small airport, therefore, only a few airline companies are present, however, the Poitiers Airport departure area is well equipped for all departing passengers, and the airport’s services are considered as friendly and efficient.

Departing passengers can travel to Poitiers Airport by bus or taxi, or are able to leave their own vehicle in the parking area of the airport. Local buses correspond to the times of Ryanair flight departures, and leave from the main railway station in Poitiers, known as the Gare de Poitiers. The buses depart approximately an hour and ten minutes before each flight is scheduled, and take just ten minutes to reach the airport. Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver, and cost five Euro for a one-way trip. Taxis are also available from the train station, or can be taken from any area in the city. From central Poitiers, a taxi will cost only between ten and twenty Euro. There is no train station at Poitiers Airport.

In your own vehicle, you can take advantage of all the excellent roads surrounding the city, and should reach the airport easily without too many traffic problems. The D910 is the airport’s main access road, but the A10 is the major Autoroute in the nearby vicinity. From Châtellerault north of Poitiers, the A10 can be used as an access road, passing areas such as Naintré and Jaunay-Clan, and Exit 29 should be used for the airport. Tours is a bit further to the north, about a hundred kilometres away. The A10 is also used to reach Poitiers from the south-west, from the city of Niort, about a half an hour’s drive away. Another half an hour or so from Niort on the N11 will bring you to La Rochelle. The N10 leads to Poitiers from Angoulême, and the N147 is the road to take from Limoges or Bellac. Areas particularly nearby the airport include Biard, La Blaiserie, La Bugellerie and La Fenétre, while areas surrounding the city of Poitiers include Migné-Auxances, Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, Bignoux, Mignaloux-Beauvoir, Ligugé and Vouneuil-sous-Biard.

Two parking areas are available at Poitiers Airport. P1 is for short-term parking and P2 is better for long-term parking, as it is a little further from the terminal, however, both areas have the same rates and offer the first half hour of parking for free. Always arrive in good time for your departure flight, and ensure that you check-in before the desks of your airline company close. The times are indicated on your airline ticket, however, for Ryanair flights, which is one of the main airline companies at Poitiers Airport, check-in often closes forty minutes before departure, and it may be a requirement that passengers check-in online. Consult your travel agency or Ryanair for further information. The other airline company at the airport is Airlinair, a partner of Air France, which offers national flights to Lyon Airport. It is best to check-in at least half an hour before this flight departs. In general, it is best to arrive at the airport an hour to an hour and a half before a domestic flight departure, and two hours to two and a half hours before an international or charter flight departure. Passengers who require special assistance should arrive especially early for their flight.

The two airline companies of the airport are Ryanair and Airlinair, and Ryanair offers mainly seasonal flights to the United Kingdom. The airports served include London-Stansted and Edinburgh, and possibly Birmingham. There are also often flights by Ryanair to Barcelona from Poitiers Airport. The European routes flown by Ryanair are available a few times a week. Airlinair offers almost daily flights to Lyon, throughout the year, and seasonal flights to Ajaccio. In 2010, Poitiers Airport handled just 114,000 passengers, and in previous years has handled up to 130,000 passengers. Total aircraft movements at the airport in 2010 was around 27,000. The majority of the airport’s passengers fly on international flights.

The Poitiers Airport departure area is within the single terminal building of the airport, and is part of the new terminal which was built in 2002. The airport terminal covers a total area of 1,400 square metres, and is generally large enough for the number of passengers handled by the establishment. There are adequate facilities at the airport, including the L’Oree de Ciel restaurant on the first floor of the Rotunda, the historic part of the airport, and it offers good views over the airport’s runway. There is a cash machine just outside of the main airport building, a postal bank, travel agencies, car hire companies and facilities for disabled passengers. Persons with reduced mobility challenges can use elevators or ramps to reach all parts of the building, have the use of disabled toilet areas, adapted telephones and can request to borrow a wheelchair from the information desk. Six parking spaces are reserved for disabled drivers as well.

Although Ryanair is considered as one of the favourite low-cost airline carriers in the world, passengers should keep in mind that this airline company will not accept unaccompanied minors aboard, and will not transport animals on their flights. Ensure that you meet the maximum luggage requirements as set by your airline carrier. Ryanair allows up to 15kg per person, and Airlinair will carry up to 20kg per person. Each kilogram over the limit will cost an extra 20 Euro on Ryanair flights, and an extra 2 Euro on Airlinair domestic departures.

Live Poitiers Airport departure schedules can be viewed online, or further information is available from the airport. Their contact number is +33 (0)5 49 30 04 40.