Caen–Carpiquet Airport

Caen–Carpiquet Airport
Aéroport de Caen–Carpiquet
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorCCI de Caen
ServesCaen, France
LocationCarpiquet, France
Opened1938
Elevation AMSL256 ft / 78 m
Coordinates49°10′24″N 000°27′00″W / 49.17333°N 0.45000°W / 49.17333; -0.45000
Websitecaen.aeroport.fr
Map
LFRK
Location of the airport in Lower Normandy
LFRK
LFRK (France)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 1,900 6,233 Asphalt
Source: French AIP[1]

Caen–Carpiquet Airport (French: Aéroport de Caen–Carpiquet) (IATA: CFR, ICAO: LFRK) is an international airport located in Carpiquet, 6 km west of Caen,[1] both communes of the Calvados département in the Normandy (formerly Lower Normandy) region of France. Chalair Aviation has its head offices at the airport.[2] In 2017, Caen–Carpiquet Airport handled 180,910 passengers, an increase of 30.1% over 2016. In 2018, it handled 274,011 passengers, a 51.5% increase over 2017.

History

The military base (1939-1967)

The idea of an airfield near Caen dated back to 1926 after a visit from a military delegation.[3] However, it was only in 1930 that the Ministry of Aviation approved its creation.[4] Work started in July 1937 and ended in March 1938.[5]

Air base 720 Caen-Carpiquet was inaugurated on 17 August 1939.[6] Captured by the Luftwaffe in June 1940, it served as a rear base during the Battle of Britain. While under German control the runway was extended and concreted.

In June and July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Anglo-Canadian and German troops engaged in long and harsh fights over control of the strategically important aerodrome. Following the war, the airfield was rebuilt and refitted for the French Air Force.

Civil airport (since 1967)

The 16 May 1969 decree placed the aerodrome under the civil aviation general secretariat, a branch of the transport ministry.[7] In the late 1960s, Caen City Council further developed the aerodrome for civilian use under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's management.

In May 1968, a terminal building was built, housing a public concourse, service offices, and a restaurant.

Since March 2007, the airport has been managed by the Urban community of Caen la Mer

By late 2008, a regularly scheduled Caen–Paris-Orly route was introduced with two round trips per week. This was the second scheduled route after Caen–Lyon. In 2010, the frequency of the Caen–Paris-Orly route was increased to three round trips per week, and then further increased to Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. In 2014, the low-cost company Flybe opened a route between Caen and London Southend Airport. The Caen–Paris-Orly route was also discontinued on the decision of the route operator Hop.[8]

Between July and August, the 13/31 runway was rebuilt, as well as the taxiway which was also enlarged. By 2020, the main 1900 meters long runway is expected to be extended to an eventual length of between 2250 and 2400 meters long.[9]

A regularly scheduled route Caen–Geneva was expected to start on 26 November 2018, a seasonal route Caen–Pau was expected to start in December 2018[10] and a seasonal route Caen–Palma de Mallorca was expected to start in April 2019.[11]

The London–Caen route was discontinued in early 2020, when the airline Flybe became defunct.

Facilities

Caen airport has a concrete runway (13/31) and two grass runways for recreational aviation.

The 1,900-metre (2,078 yd) long main runway (13/31) is equipped with high intensity approach lighting. Runway 31 is equipped with a Category III instrument landing system.

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Caen–Carpiquet Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Air France Lyon[12]
Seasonal: Ajaccio,[13] Biarritz,[14] Calvi (begins 4 July 2026)[15],[16] Figari,[17] Marseille,[18] Nice[18]
Chalair Aviation Seasonal: Kerry[19]
Volotea Marseille,[20] Montpellier,[21] Nice,[22] Toulouse[22]
Seasonal: Ajaccio,[23] Bastia,[23] Figari[22]

Traffic

PassengersYear50,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,0001995200020052010201520202025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic
Year Passengers
2021 227,168
2020 162,426
2019 304,769
2018 274,011
2017 180,910
2016 139,016
2015 129,096
2014 115,015
2013 105,022
2012 100,769
2011 107,898
2010 76,883
2009 89,868
2008 107,898

Access

The airport is located west of Caen, on Carpiquet commune. Since 29 June 2015, it has been served by Twisto bus line 3.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b LFRK – Caen Carpiquet. AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 19 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Access Archived 2010-12-21 at the Wayback Machine." (image). Chalair Aviation. Retrieved on 12 February 2011. "Chalair Aviation Headquarters Aéroport de Caen-Carpiquet 14650 Carpiquet France."
  3. ^ "Un aérodrome à Caen ?". Ouest-Éclair (Caen Edition). 15 September 1927.
  4. ^ "L'assemblée générale de l'aéro-club de Caen et du Calvados". Ouest-Éclair (Caen Edition). 29 March 1933.
  5. ^ "Aéroport de Caen - Historique". www.caen.aeroport.fr. Aéroport de Caen. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  6. ^ Thibault Richard, L'aventure aéronautique en Normandie (1920 - 1940), Condé-sur-Noireau, Éditions Charles Corlet, 2006, p. 81
  7. ^ Journal officiel de la République française, 24 June 1969, p. 6452
  8. ^ "Aéroport de Caen, après 8 mois exceptionnels, ouverture d'une nouvelle ligne Caen-Bastia | Normandinamik". Archived from the original on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  9. ^ "L'aéroport de Caen–Carpiquet veut poursuivre son envol". 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017.
  10. ^ "Deux nouvelles dessertes et une année-record pour l'aéroport de Caen-Carpiquet". France Bleu (in French). 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  11. ^ volotea (2018-10-11). "VOLOTEA - Cheap flights, offers and plane tickets to Europe". Volotea. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  12. ^ "Air France to Gradually Resume Flight Schedule by End of June | GTP Headlines". GTP Headlines. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Air France announces summer season with more flights to Asia, North America and East Africa". Aeroflap. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  14. ^ Massy-Beresford, Helen (9 April 2021). "Air France unveils summer schedule". Aviation Week. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  15. ^ flyteam.jp https://flyteam.jp/en/airline_route/cly_cfr/flight_schedule/2026/07. Retrieved February 28, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ "La compagnie Volotea et l'aéroport Caen-Carpiquet souhaiteraient ouvrir deux nouvelles lignes". Granville Maville (in French). 18 March 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Le trafic de l'aéroport de Caen-Carpiquet s'envole en 2017". Déplacements Pros (in French). 16 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  18. ^ a b Casey, David (27 November 2020). "Air France to triple domestic capacity ahead of Christmas | Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  19. ^ Peters, Luke (22 April 2024). "Chalair announces new Normandy to Southampton services". Aerotime Aero. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  20. ^ Casey, David (22 April 2018). "Marseille expands with new summer routes | Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  21. ^ Guillemin, Florian (31 July 2024). "Montpellier-Rennes flight coming soon". Business travel. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  22. ^ a b c Gasly, Jacques-Olivier (16 January 2018). "Aéroport Caen Carpiquet : des résultats historiques !". Normandinamik (in French). Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  23. ^ a b Guillemin, Florian (26 October 2023). "Temporary closure of Caen airport". Business travel. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Enfin desservi par une ligne de bus". 7 June 2015.

Media related to Aéroport de Caen - Carpiquet at Wikimedia Commons

  • Aéroport de Caen - Carpiquet (official site) (in French)
  • Aéroport de Caen - Carpiquet (Union des Aéroports Français) (in French)
  • "Current weather for LFRK". NOAA/NWS.
  • Accident history for CFR at Aviation Safety Network
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