Western France's major gateway serving the Pays de la Loire region.
Opened
1933
Location
Nantes, France
Nantes Atlantique Airport is the primary commercial airport serving Nantes, the sixth-largest city in France, and the broader Pays de la Loire region. Located approximately 8 kilometres southwest of the city centre, it handles millions of passengers annually and connects Nantes to destinations across Europe and beyond.
The airport has been a subject of significant controversy due to long-running plans to replace it with a new facility at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, a project that was ultimately abandoned by the French government in 2018 following a local referendum. Instead, authorities committed to modernising and expanding the existing Nantes Atlantique site to meet growing demand.
Renovation and expansion works were planned and initiated to increase capacity, improve terminal facilities, and enhance the passenger experience, with the airport continuing to serve as a key hub for both business and leisure travellers in western France.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal divided into domestic and international zones, handling both Schengen and non-Schengen traffic.
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Nantes by a dedicated shuttle bus (TAN Navette) service, with the journey taking approximately 20 minutes, and taxis and rental cars also available.
Airlines here
Major airlines operating at Nantes Atlantique include Air France, easyJet, Transavia, Ryanair, and Vueling, offering routes across Europe and to select long-haul destinations.
Notable facts
- ›The planned replacement airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes was cancelled in January 2018 after decades of controversy and protests.
- ›Nantes Atlantique handled around 6 million passengers per year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ›A major renovation and capacity expansion project was approved to upgrade the existing airport infrastructure.
- ›The airport sits close to the Loire River estuary, roughly 8 km from Nantes city centre.
- ›It serves as an important gateway for tourism to the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
