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France is one of Europe’s largest countries and has a lot to offer the aviation enthusiast, from large and busy hub airports to important museums, and even one of the world’s largest airliner manufacturing plants.
What’s more, every other year it hosts one of the most important air shows, where the latest developments in aviation are displayed, and airlines place huge orders for new aircraft.
Read on for our tips on the best of plane spotting in France, and the highlights you shouldn’t miss…
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
An Air France 787 landing at Paris CDG. Photo (c) Olivier CABARET
Charles de Gaulle, also known as Roissy, is the busiest airport in France and one of the busiest in Europe in terms of passenger numbers and cargo handled. It is the main operating base for Air France, and a hub for various others. FedEx have a large nightly cargo presence.
There are no official viewing areas, but spots around the perimeter are possible if you have a car. You can also see some movements from the central area around the terminals. The Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle is probably the best spotting hotel to use.
You must apply for a photo permit if you want to take pictures of aircraft.
Paris Le Bourget Airport
Only a ten-minute drive, or 30 minute bus journey (line 350 or 351) from Charles de Gaulle, Le Bourget is an excellent diversion when in Paris. It handles many of the city’s executive jet traffic, and is also famous for the bi-annual Paris Air Show. It’s also home to the Air & Space Museum (see below).
To log the many bizjets and props, walk or drive along the main road (Avenue de l’Europe) running from the terminal/museum between the long row of hangars, taking time to stop in between each one to log what is parked in front.
Le Bourget Air & Space Museum
Air France Concorde and Concorde prototype preserved together at Le Bourget.
One of the best aviation museums in Europe, located at Le Bourget airport. It includes many prototype aircraft from Dassault, Sud Aviacion, Airbus etc. Highlights include a Junkers F13, two Concordes, Dassault Mercure, Airbus A380, Douglas DC-8, Boeing 747-100 and Douglas DC-3. Open daily except Monday 10am-6pm (5pm in winter). The museum is free, but tickets must be bought to enter certain aircraft.
Musée de l’air et de l’espace
93352 Le Bourget | +33 1 49 92 70 00 | www.museeairespace.fr
Whilst occasional open days are held, the storage location for the museum’s aircraft is usually only visible over the fence next to the cemetery in Dugny. From the terminal/museum drive past the exposition site and follow signs for Dugny, along the D50 and then the D114. At the roundabout in the town, take the first exit along Rue Normandie Niemen, and then left on to Rue Maurice Bokanowski. Turn right at the next round about and the cemetery is on your immediate right, with parking.
Nice Cote d’Azur Airport
Aerial overview of Nice Airport. Photo tearbringer
This is the busiest airport in France outside Paris, catering for the busy Côte d’Azur which is a magnet for tourism and business. The airport has direct long-haul links with a number of carriers, particularly during the summer. It’s also busy with biz jets, and you can see planes fairly close up while relaxing on the beach!
Toulouse Blagnac Airport
Photo (c) Steve Knight
The main draw of visiting Toulouse is the Airbus and ATR factories which churn out new aircraft at an impressive rate. Their facilities sprawl over much of the airport site.
Airbus produces the A320neo, A330neo and A350 here, in conjunction with its other facility in Hamburg. Many of these aircraft are unlikely to be seen again in European skies for many years, if ever, and so it is tempting for the spotter to come and see them.
Aside from manufacturing, Toulouse has a growing number of passenger links. Air France and easyJet are busiest, but you’ll see airlines from all over Europe.
You can spot from various points around the perimeter roads, or the café in the terminal.
Toulouse Airbus Tours
Photo (c) Gilbert Sopakuwa
Many visitors to Toulouse choose to take a tour of the Airbus factory, which must be booked in advance. This gives the opportunity to see and log aircraft on the production line.
Photography is not allowed, but logging and binoculars are fine.
There a few different tours available. See and book here: https://www.manatour.fr/en/aeronautique
Aeroscopia Museum
Aeroscopia museum Toulouse
Also at Toulouse Airport, set among the sprawling Airbus site, is the Aeroscopia Museum. This is, in fact, where your Airbus tours begin (see above), so it’s good to combine both on the same visit.
Aeroscopia showcases the best in French aviation, with many important aircraft on display (and in immaculate condition). They include an early Airbus A300B, Air France Concorde, the last Sud Aviation Caravelle built, an Aero Spacelines Guppy, Airbus A380 and many smaller types.
See this link for more details: https://www.aeroscopia.fr/en
Bordeaux Airport
A fairly busy airport in south-west France with two runways and central terminal area. A cargo terminal is to the east, which DHL uses. The main airlines at Bordeaux are Air France, easyJet, Volotea, and Ryanair. The airport is also home to a military base, with some French Air Force traffic operating from ramps on the southern part of the airfield.
The northern part of the airport is a large maintenance base and technical school, and you’ll often see Airbus airliners parked up. In addition, there are two preserved Dassault Mercures, a Douglas DC-3, Airbus A300 and a Sud Aviation Caravelle in this area. Other airliners come and go for maintenance.
Paris Orly Airport
Orly is the second busiest airport in both Paris and France and worth a visit for some domestic aircraft not present at Charles de Gaulle, plus airlines like Air Caraibes, Air Corsica, Corsair International and French Bee. Air Algerie and Royal Air Maroc have many daily flights here.
Orly has two terminals – West and South. There is an official viewing location in the South Terminal which is adequate for viewing most movements. However, many photographers choose to move to various spots around the perimeter for better results.
Paris Air Show
Photo (c) FlyEurope TV Aviation TV
The biennial air show, which alternates with Farnborough Air Show in the UK, is one of the world’s most important trade shows.
It brings together the latest developments in aviation, and is a place of business where many aircraft orders and collaborations are announced.
For the enthusiast, it’s a place to see many new or interesting aircraft types together and even displaying in the skies.
As per Farnborough, you’ll need a media or industry association to be allowed in on general days. However, public days are still held.
Full details here: https://www.siae.fr/en/general-public/ticketing/
Toulouse Francazal Airport
ATR airliners in storage at Francazal Airport. Photo (c) Pete Macklin
Francazal is a small airport a few miles south of Toulouse. Formerly a military base, and with no airline service, it is used regularly by both Airbus and ATR for work and testing on the aircraft they have constructed up the road. Therefore if you’re in Toulouse and have a car it’s worth driving down to see what extra aircraft frames you can add to the book.
There are barriers at all entrances to the airport site, but it is possible to drive through. Aside from this, to the right of the main entrance, before the barrier turn right and drive to the control tower. From its base you can see most of the aircraft parked on the main apron.
Les Ailes Anciennes Museum
Somewhat of a jumble of aircraft and parts, this is nevertheless an interesting place to visit at Toulouse Airport (located across the road from the Aeroscopia Museum). The collection includes a Caravelle, Douglas DC-3, Breguet 765 and 1050 and many military jets and props. It is not open every day, so check the website for details.
Ailes Anciennes Toulouse
4 Rue Roger Béteille, 31700 Blagnac, France | +33 5 62 13 78 10 | www.aatlse.org
Chateauroux Airport
Former Corsaid 747SP languishing at Chateauroux. Photo (c) Alan Wilson
This is an unusual airport in central France which only has seasonal passenger flights and the occasional cargo flight. However, it was known as a storage location for large airliners for many years. Some are still present, and new ones occasionally arrive. There’s a Boeing 747SP that has been present for many years.
The D920 road leading to the terminal building should uncover any aircraft parked on the main ramps. You can also take a detour along smaller roads passing either end of the runway should any action be taking place, allowing photography.
Tarbes-Lourdes Airport
A small regional airport nestled in the foothills of the Pyrennees, in the south of France, this airport exists for two reasons:
First to support the long-standing pilgrimage of Catholics visiting the nearby shrine. Because of this, you’ll find a steady stream of charter and ad-hoc flights throughout the year.
Secondly, this airport is a storage and scrapping base for airliners, ranging from smaller types up to large widebodies such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340. Airbus also occasionally place their demonstrator and development aircraft in short term storage here.
It is possible to see most of the stored aircraft from the car park outside the terminal. However, it is also possible to get closer by driving north from the terminal and then towards Ossun. Following side roads towards the stored aircraft you can get some views across the field, however later in the summer the crops can be tall and obscure the view.
Also explore the roads south from the terminal as more airliners are stored by the side of the taxiway.
