Getting to and from Pau Airport (PUF)

Pau Airport is officially named as the Pau-Pyrénées Airport, and is also commonly referred to as the Pau-Béarns Airport. It has the airport code of PUF, in order to distinguish it from the other airports of the world, and is a French airport of medium size, with around 700,000 passengers per year. The airport has all the facilities which can be expected at an airport of this size, and is a modern and well-organised establishment which is served by several important airline companies. A number of transport options are available as well, to and from the terminal building, and the airport directions are simple to follow for all passengers driving to the airport in their own vehicles, as it is nearby couple of major motorways.

The airport is located approximately 10km, or 6.2 miles to the north-west of Pau city, and in the commune of Uzein of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of France. It is one of the important airports that serve the south-western regions of the country, and is nearby to western coastal resorts, the border of Spain, the Pyrénées mountains and National Park and a couple of other areas visited by many tourists each year. It is also nearby Pau’s Palais des Congrès convention centre, and the airport therefore has a significant number of business passengers as well. The airport is located particularly nearby the areas of Lescar, Montardon, Serres-Castet and Sauvagnon, and Pau is just north-west of Tarbes and Lourdes, and east of Bayonne, Biarritz and Anglet. To the north are areas in Gers, such as Aire, Adour and Nogaro, while directly south, and about 50km away, is the border of Spain. Larger cities in the vicinity also include Toulouse and Bordeaux.

The important roads providing access to Pau Airport include the A64 and A65 Autoroutes, and the D716.

Directions from Pau and the surrounding areas

The airport can be reached from a number of prominent roads in the city, and the drive will generally take about fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on traffic conditions. From the centre of the city, the D938 leads directly north, and to the D834, which has a turn-off onto the airport road of the D716. From the D938, motorists are also able to access the A64, and will travel towards Dax and Bayonne. Turn off onto the D817, and then take the first exit onto the D945, or the Route de Sault de Navailles. Turn right onto the Route de Uzein, or the D208, and follow the signs indicating the airport’s direction.

The A64 route can be taken from Tarbes, which is about a forty minute drive from the airport, and from Lourdes, the D940 is perhaps the most direct route, north and past Pontacq. Just 25 kilometres south-west of Pau is Oloron-Sainte-Marie, and from this area, the N134 leads to the city of Pau, from where the previously mentioned routes can be taken to the airport. The N134 also passes Gan on the way to Pau.

Directions from areas further to the west, north and east

From the Basque Coast (Bayonne, Biarritz and Anglet) the drive to the airport is just over an hour, as these areas are approximately 110km from Pau. The A64 is major road to follow, and will pass Orthez along the way. From Dax nearby, the D947 is followed until reaching the D3, which continues south to Habas, the D464 and the D103. Following roads through Puyoô, the A64 can be accessed. Motorists travelling from the north, from areas such as Bordeaux, Mont-de-Marsan and other areas in Gers, can use the major Autoroute of the A65 to reach Pau. The airport is a two hour drive from Bordeaux, and an hour’s drive from Mont-de-Marsan, Aire, Adour and Nogaro.

Toulouse, to the east of Pau, is just under a two hour drive from the airport, on the A64. Motorists travelling from Toulouse will pass Muret, Carbonne, Lannemezan and Tarbes.

Passengers on departure flights from Pau Airport are recommended to leave sufficient time for travelling to the airport, as all major roads in France can be busy at times. Time will also be needed for finding a suitable parking space (there are two car parks at the airport), and for checking-in hold baggage. Although parking is provided at reasonable rates, passengers can travel to the airport by bus or taxi as well. Public buses depart for the airport from the Pau Train Station, and make stops at the University, the Avenue de l’Europe and the main bus station of the city. There is no train station at the airport, but taxis are available from all nearby areas. Taxis from the centre of the city will cost between 25.00 and 30.00 Euros.

The airport has a single terminal building which is fully equipped for the needs of all passengers, including those with reduced mobility challenges. There are areas for arrivals and departures, the check-in desks (12) and the airline company offices. Passenger facilities include meeting rooms and a VIP lounge (the Jacqueline Auriol VIP lounge) for corporate travellers, shops and restaurants, bars, ATMs, a duty free shop, travel agencies and car hire offices. There is also a post box and WiFi connections, tourist information offices and a general information counter. The passenger terminal of Pau is able to process up to a million passengers per annum, and it is common for between 2,500 and 3,000 passengers to pass through the airport each day.

The airport directions in further details can be found online, at http://maps.google.com/maps, or the airport can be contacted at +33 (0) 5 59 33 33 00.