Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
| Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac |
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| IATA: BOD – ICAO: LFBD | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public / Military | ||
| Owner/Operator | Aéroport de Bordeaux Mérignac (SA ADBM) | ||
| Serves | Bordeaux, Côte d'Argent, France | ||
| Location | Mérignac, France | ||
| Hub for | |||
| Elevation AMSL | 162 ft / 49 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
 
 BOD
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 05/23 | 10,171 | 3,100 | Asphalt |
| 11/29 | 7,923 | 2,415 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2012) | |||
| Passengers | 4,380,185 | ||
| Source: French AIP[1] | |||
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (French: Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac) (IATA: BOD, ICAO: LFBD) serves the French city of Bordeaux. It is located in the town of Mérignac, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Bordeaux,[1] within the département of Gironde.
In 2012, the airport served 4,380,185 passengers, making it the sixth busiest airport in France in terms of passengers.
General Charles de Gaulle took off from the airport to travel to London in 1940, and the following day he broadcast the Appeal of 18 June.
During the early years of the Cold War, Bordeaux-Mérignac was a front-line NATO facility for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). As well as its civil use, the French Air Force designated Mérignac Air Base BA 106, and it has been used in its strategic air force.
As a consequence of the temporary closure of the Cazaux military base, the civil authorities have been forced to share the runway with the French Army since November 2005.
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History []
Bordeaux Mérignac's origins begin in 1917, when a joint civilian/military air field was established there. The facility was a major hub for Air France, flying from Bordeaux to various destinations in Europe and North Africa. Military uses by the French Air Force was as a training centre and also as a bomber base.
During World War II the German Luftwaffe took control of the base and used it as a centre for maritime reconnaissance. Focke-Wulf Fw-200 "Condor" and Heinkel He 177 Greif aircraft of the Luftwaffe's maritime patrol bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 40 flew from the base roaming the Atlantic Ocean looking for Allied shipping.
The United States Army Air Forces 8th Air Force and the Royal Air Force attacked the base in 1943.
After the war Air France resumed commercial operations out of Mérignac and the re-established French Air Force returned to use the facility.
In 1951 Mérignac was turned over to NATO for use by the United States Air Force. Construction of a modern air base suitable for jet aircraft began on 1 August. Much evidence of the war remained with many warning signs still in German, scattered munitions around the facility; the perimeter was still mined; large quantities of practice bombs, and destroyed hangars and other buildings as a result of Allied air raids.
In 1957, C-119G transports from Évreux AB, France moved the USAFE Mobile Headquarters from Wiesbaden AB, Ger. to Bordeaux AB. The USAFE Mobile Headquarters constisted of nearly 100 semi-trailers fitted with desks, beds, showers, toilets which were designed to slide into any standard C-119 cargo compartment. The problem was that after they were built it was learned that several bridges in Europe could not support the weight of the individual trailers. The trailers were sent to Bordeaux for storage and eventual disposal.
On 1 October 1958, Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base was closed to reduce USAFE expenses and manpower. All ongoing activities were moved to the NATO Chateauroux-Deols Air Base in central France. The U. S. Army operated a logistics facility at Mérignac for a few years, but ended their activities in 1961 and the entire facility was returned to French control.
Terminals []
Mérignac airport has three terminals (A, B and Billi).
Airlines and destinations []
Passenger []
Cargo []
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| DHL Aviation operated by Exin |
Vitoria |
Ground transport []
The airport is accessible by :
- Road: Rocade
11b - Airport Transfers can be booked in advance with Sea-Lifts Bordeaux Airport Transfers
- Use Biarritz Airport Transfers for the best travel options from Biarritz to Bordeaux.
- Public transport:
- Jet'Bus shuttle serving the Bordeaux Saint-Jean railway station
- Bus line 1 serving the city centre.
11bIn the medium-term, there are plans for the tramway system to link the airport with the city centre.
See also []
References []
- ^ a b LFBD – BORDEAUX MÉRIGNAC (PDF). AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 2 May 2013.
- ^ Volotea begin Bordeaux-Tenerife South seasonal service from December 2013
External links []
- Official website (English)
- Aéroport de Bordeaux (Union des Aéroports Français) (French)
- History of aeronautics in Bordeaux and its area (French)
- Airport information for LFBD at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
- Accident history for BOD at Aviation Safety Network