Amateurs of aircraft memorabilia and history will enjoy discovering this small airport with its numerous walks down memory lane. Starting at "des Tourrades" roundabout, a Beech 18 Twin Beech aircraft, once used for postal flights some fifty years ago, marks the discreet turning point into the airport's entrance. Opposite, a small commerative stele to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, erected in 1994, pays tribute to the disappearance of this well-known writer, poet and war-time pilot.

Though outwardly presenting an out-of-town country airfield, in fact Cannes-Mandelieu Airport is now France's second busiest business airport after Paris-Le Bourget. In 2006 its corporate traffic reached 11,772 flights, up 7% from the previous year. Furthermore, over 40% of the airport's total air traffic is estimated to serve the town's major festivals, exhibitions and conferences with just over 50,000 light aircraft connections to and from Cannes in addition to 15,000 helicopter flights.

I first visited Cannes-Mandelieu airport in 2004 and fell in love with it. While it's true that 60% of all its traffic takes place over the summer months (120 private jets arrive solely for the Monaco Grand Prix), out of season it is really charming, almost to the extent of being akin to a cosy private country club. Once past the pretty Campanile hotel-restaurant and through to the main parking area, you'll find lush vegetation, tall palm trees and well maintained lawns which make it all very pleasant and curiously calming; tennis courts sit behind the parking area. Bronze plaques, naming the many different trees, have been carefully bestowed, as well as several small sculptures dedicated to famous French aviators; there is a definite attention to detail at this airport.

Although flights from the Saigne valley had been made since in 1905, and the Count de Lambert, a Wright agent, opened a flying school at La Napoule, in May 1909, the present airport was established in 1930 after Paul Tarascon, a hero of French aviation, had overcome a series of technical problems and invested more than 1.5 million French (ancien) francs.

On 22 February 1932 Air Union with its Bréguet aircraft opened passenger service between London and Cannes, via Paris, Lyon and Geneva, to encourage British tourists to come to the Riviera. In 1937 Cannes-Mandelieu airport became state-owned and managed by the French Secretary of the Air. During that time, Cannes was the only airport on the Côte d'Azur to host all Air France flights. After World War II significant developments occurred in the airline industry. Bigger and heavier airplanes made it necessary to find a new airport site as the surrounding hills made it impossible for large aircraft to fly in or out.

Numerous historical flights and world performance records have departed from or landed at Cannes airport; famous pilots such as Maryse Hiltz, heroine of the Paris-Saigon route, the aerobatics ace Michel Detroyat and the British pilot John Derry are connected to it. Édouard Bret also performed aerobatics over the airfield. A keen tennis player, he used to announce his arrival at the Carnot Tennis Club by flying over the courts and dropping a message giving his arrival time; several commemorative steles bear witness to them. 

In 1966 the airport was granted to the Riviera Chamber of Commerce and Industry who took charge of updating the facilities and building the passenger terminal and hangars. It is also conveniently located next to the A8 motorway exit, 5 minutes from the Palais des Festivals of Cannes, 15 minutes from Sophia Antipolis and 20 minutes from Nice airport.

The main runway runs north to south and is 1620x45 meters long. The secondary runway runs east to west and is 760x30 meters long. It also has 13 hangars for 190 private planes and is authorized to host aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 22 metric tons.

While the airport has an acreage of 115 hectares, out of which a large part has been set aside as natural grass lands, work is due to start on a new airport development zone between the existing runways and Cannes-La Bocca. This will incorporate a light aircraft area, an aeronautical training centre and business travel area.

The main terminal, a wonderful glass structure with truly comfy settees in the main entrance area, is air conditioned and accommodates numerous services 7 days a week: restaurant, cocktail lounge, car rental agencies, conference rooms and VIP and pilot lounges and currently hosts 36 firms with 268 employees.

Contact details
Aéroport Cannes-Mandelieu
Website
Tel: 0820 426 666