Private jets at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport
Bordeaux-Mérignac is about 10 km west of Bordeaux, with two runways of 3,100 m and 2,415 m. The French AIP lists air traffic control, customs and police as open 24 hours, handling is compulsory, and it is not a slot-coordinated airport. Business aviation is handled by AviaVIP, which runs an FBO in the general aviation zone, and by Alyzia Province.
- Longest runway
- 3,100 m
- Codes
- BOD · LFBD
- Business aviation handling
- 2 handlers
Did you knowBordeaux-Mérignac dates from 1912, when the French State acquired 45 hectares of the Lartigue and Teynac estates at Mérignac and the airport was born. Bordeaux Aéroport, Histoire de l'aéroport
Charter a private jet to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport
Bordeaux-Mérignac is about 10 km west of the city (AIP), with a 3,100 m main runway and air traffic control, customs and police around the clock. Handling is compulsory, and AviaVIP's FBO in the general aviation zone takes passengers straight to the aircraft. There are no slots, so arrival times are flexible.
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What the private terminal is like at Bordeaux-Mérignac
AviaVIP describes an FBO with VIP and crew lounges in the general aviation zone, with direct access to the aircraft and no screening. The AIP does not describe a separate business aviation terminal.
AviaVIP
Listed in the AIP as a general aviation handler (radio 131.400 MHz). Its FBO is in the general aviation zone on Rue Caroline Aigle, open 07:00-21:00 local with 24/7 availability. AviaVIP lists a VIP and crew lounge, direct access to the aircraft without screening, VIP car parking, crew car rental, an operations desk and a hangar for aircraft up to 17 m wingspan.
Alyzia Province
Listed in the AIP as a general aviation handler, with a separate executive contact, and also as a commercial and cargo handler. The AIP lists two Alyzia de-icing vehicles (Type 1 and Type 4 fluid).
Customs at Bordeaux-Mérignac, step by step
What happens on an international flight, in the order you meet it. We handle the paperwork with the operator.
- When you book, we ask for each passenger's passport details for the operator.
- The operator books a handler before the flight, as handling is compulsory at Bordeaux. AviaVIP and Alyzia Province handle business aviation.
- Customs and police (immigration) are available 24 hours a day, so flights from the UK and other non-Schengen countries can arrive at any hour.
- AviaVIP's FBO is open 07:00-21:00 local with 24/7 availability, and its passengers go straight to the aircraft without screening.
Which private jets can use Bordeaux-Mérignac?
On runway length, every turboprop, very light jet, light jet, super light jet, midsize jet, super midsize, heavy jet, ultra long range and VIP airliner type is within it. The check below uses each type's published take-off distance at maximum weight, at sea level on a 15°C day. Heat, altitude, a wet runway and the operator's own rules can need more, so we confirm it for your aircraft and date.
Runway 11/29 (2,415 m) cannot take aircraft with a wingspan of 52 m or more, and heavier aircraft need ATC clearance to use the 3,100 m runway 05/23. Unscheduled flights that cannot use 11/29 need authorisation 48 working hours ahead. Private aircraft may park on the commercial aprons for up to 24 hours with the airport's agreement, and AviaVIP's hangar takes aircraft up to 17 m wingspan.
| Aircraft class | On this runway |
|---|---|
| Turboprop 5–8 seats · take-off 730–1,000 m · Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Yes |
| Very light jet 4–5 seats · take-off 630–1,100 m | Yes |
| Light jet 6–7 seats · take-off 960–1,200 m · Embraer Phenom 300E | Yes |
| Super light jet 7–8 seats · take-off 820–1,350 m | Yes |
| Midsize jet 8–9 seats · take-off 1,100–1,660 m · Cessna Citation XLS+ | Yes |
| Super midsize 9–10 seats · take-off 1,400–1,600 m · Bombardier Challenger 350 | Yes |
| Heavy jet 12–14 seats · take-off 1,430–1,780 m · Dassault Falcon 7X | Yes |
| Ultra long range 13–19 seats · take-off 1,700–1,970 m · Bombardier Global 7500 | Yes |
| VIP airliner 18–50+ seats · take-off 1,500–2,100 m | Yes |
Worth knowing before you fly
- Bordeaux works around the clock: the AIP lists air traffic control, customs and police as open 24 hours, and there are no slots, so late arrivals and early departures are possible.
- Handling is compulsory. AviaVIP's FBO is open 07:00-21:00 local with 24/7 availability, and AviaVIP says its passengers have direct access to the aircraft with no screening.
- Private aircraft can stay on the commercial aprons for up to 24 hours, with the airport's agreement through the handler. For a longer stay, parking needs arranging before the trip is confirmed.
- From October to April, overnight fire cover drops to category 5 between 23:00 and 04:30 (AIP times) unless category 7 is requested an hour before 23:00, so this is worth checking for a late-night flight.
Operating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | The AIP lists airport administration, customs and police, ATS, MET, health services, handling (on request) and de-icing (on request) as H24, with passenger and crew security screening H24. Fuel (local times in the AIP): TotalEnergies 04:30-23:00 in winter and 04:30-00:00 in summer, World Fuel Services 05:00-23:00, with an on-call service outside these hours booked through the handler 1 hour ahead. AviaVIP gives its FBO hours as 07:00-21:00 local with 24/7 availability. |
|---|---|
| Prior permission | The AIP publishes no general prior-permission rule for business jets, but airport handling is compulsory. Parking for private aircraft on the commercial aprons is limited to 24 hours and needs the airport operator's agreement through the handler. Unscheduled flights that cannot land on runway 11/29 (those without a handling request at least 8 days ahead) need authorisation from air traffic services (SNA-SO) and the airport operator, requested at least 48 working hours before the flight. A380 and An-124 flights need 3 working days' notice. |
| Customs and immigration | Customs and police (immigration) are H24 (AIP). |
| Slots | Not slot-coordinated: Bordeaux is not on the French Ministry's list of coordinated or schedule-facilitated airports (updated 17 July 2026). COHOR lists it as an IATA Level 1 airport, where it only collects schedule data. |
| Noise and night restrictions | No acoustic-performance restrictions apply (AIP 2.21.1 'not applicable'), so there is no curfew. Jets fly the ICAO NADP1 noise abatement departure to 3,000 ft and must follow the published departure routes until 5,000 ft unless ATC instructs otherwise. Visual approaches to runways 23 and 29 are prohibited. Between 22:00 and 06:00 local, reverse thrust above idle on landing is allowed only for safety reasons and engine tests are prohibited. APU use is limited: on departure to 10 minutes before departure on stands with ground power, or 30 minutes on stands without it for aircraft under 140 t; on arrival to 10 or 20 minutes respectively. Breaches can lead to fines of up to 40,000 euros for a company (ACNUSA). |
| Aircraft parking | Private aircraft may park on the commercial aprons for up to 24 hours, with the airport operator's agreement through the handler (AIP). For hangar space the AIP refers to the general aviation handlers; AviaVIP lists a hangar for aircraft up to 17 m wingspan. No business-jet parking capacity is published. |
| De-icing | Available H24 on request (AIP). Aviapartner has two de-icing vehicles with Type II fluid and Alyzia Province two with Type 1 and Type 4 fluid. The snow plan runs from 1 December to 31 March and the AIP says the airfield is usable all year. |
| Other restrictions | Handling is compulsory. Runway 11/29 cannot be used by aircraft with a wingspan of 52 m or more and is limited to its strength rating (PCN 53); heavier aircraft need ATC clearance to use 05/23. Runway lighting maintenance takes one runway out of use on Tuesdays (05/23 in odd weeks, 11/29 in even weeks). Training flights are prohibited without prior authorisation (2 working days' notice for visiting aircraft) and are only allowed Monday-Friday 08:00-20:00 local. Fire cover (AIP times): category 8 from 04:30 to 16:30, then category 7; from 1 October to 30 April it falls to category 5 from 23:00 to 04:30, unless category 7 is requested an hour before 23:00. Category 9 is available with 48 hours' notice. Weather balloons are released daily between 11:15-12:15 and 23:15-00:15 UTC. |
Runways
| 05/23 | 3,100 m, asphalt (bituminous mix) |
|---|---|
| 11/29 | 2,415 m, asphalt (bituminous mix) |
By road
| Bordeaux | About 10 km west of the city (AIP) |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux Saint-Jean station | 30 minutes by the direct shuttle bus (airport figure) |
Flying times
Airports near Bordeaux-Mérignac
Aérodrome d'Arcachon-La Teste-de-Buch
Libourne-Artigues-de-Lussac
Marmande – Virazeil
Aérodrome de Mimizan
More airport guides nearby: Biarritz Pays Basque Airport, Tours Val de Loire Airport, Le Mans-Arnage Airport, Girona-Costa Brava Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport?
AviaVIP describes an FBO with VIP and crew lounges in the general aviation zone, with direct access to the aircraft and no screening. The AIP does not describe a separate business aviation terminal.
What are Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport's opening hours for private flights?
The AIP lists airport administration, customs and police, ATS, MET, health services, handling (on request) and de-icing (on request) as H24, with passenger and crew security screening H24. Fuel (local times in the AIP): TotalEnergies 04:30-23:00 in winter and 04:30-00:00 in summer, World Fuel Services 05:00-23:00, with an on-call service outside these hours booked through the handler 1 hour ahead. AviaVIP gives its FBO hours as 07:00-21:00 local with 24/7 availability.
Can I clear customs at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport on a private flight?
Customs and police (immigration) are H24 (AIP).
What size of private jet can use Bordeaux-Mérignac?
The longest runway is 3,100 m. Going by each type's published take-off distance at maximum weight: every turboprop, very light jet, light jet, super light jet, midsize jet, super midsize, heavy jet, ultra long range and VIP airliner type is within it. Runway 11/29 (2,415 m) cannot take aircraft with a wingspan of 52 m or more, and heavier aircraft need ATC clearance to use the 3,100 m runway 05/23. Unscheduled flights that cannot use 11/29 need authorisation 48 working hours ahead. Private aircraft may park on the commercial aprons for up to 24 hours with the airport's agreement, and AviaVIP's hangar takes aircraft up to 17 m wingspan. The operator confirms performance for your aircraft, load and date.
What are the fees for a private jet at Bordeaux-Mérignac?
Our quotes include landing and handling fees, along with fuel, crew and taxes. What the airport and handler charge depends mainly on the aircraft's size and the time of day. Out-of-hours, de-icing and special event fees can be extra, and we tell you which could apply before you book.
Can we have catering on a private flight to Bordeaux-Mérignac?
Yes. Tell us what you would like when you book and the operator orders it for the flight. Depending on the operator and region it is either included or charged separately, and we tell you which before you book.
Checked 13 November 2026 from the official AIP and published airport, government and handler information (sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr, aviavip.com, ecologie.gouv.fr, cohor.org, bordeaux.aeroport.fr). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
