Private Jet to Colmar: Airport 1 km Away, 1,610 m Runway

Colmar by private jet, an airport 1 km from town

The City of Colmar owns the airfield, which the Société de l'Aéroport de Colmar has operated since 1 January 2007. It opened to public air traffic in 1953 and received its current runway in the 1970s, according to the operator. The Union of French Airports recorded 874 commercial passenger movements in 2025, up from 617 in 2024.

No air traffic control at weekends since September 2026

The operator told airfield users on 3 August 2026 that, after two controllers left, aerodrome control would no longer be provided at weekends and on public holidays from 1 September. On those days Colmar-Houssen may operate on self-information, in French only.

The DSNA, France's air navigation service provider, is gradually withdrawing from the airfield, which is moving from air traffic control to AFIS, a service in which an officer passes information to crews but issues no clearances. During the transition, hours are published by NOTAM and change every month. In September 2026, most weekdays had a service only from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, and the last two weekends had none.

On self-information, pilots announce their own position and intentions on the frequency, here in French: a crew that does not work in French on the radio rules those slots out, a point we check with the operator before any quotation.

1,400 m to land northbound, and a PCN 13 pavement

The runway 01 threshold is displaced: the AIP publishes only 1,400 m available for landing in that direction, against 1,610 m on runway 19. The pavement is rated PCN 13, a low value that the operator checks against the load of its aircraft.

Terrain plays its part too, with the Vosges foothills starting about 3 km to the west. For northbound departures, the AIP recommends a 4.8% climb gradient, based on the most limiting obstacle, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, 8.3 nautical miles away; southbound, 5.4%.

A PC-12 copes with these distances. For a jet, the operator's performance calculation decides, at the actual weight and for the runway condition. A heavy jet is better sent to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse and its 3,900 m runway, 32 nautical miles south according to the Colmar operator, or to Strasbourg-Entzheim and its 2,400 m, 28 nautical miles north.

After 17:00 and at weekends, everything is booked ahead

Rescue and firefighting cover is held at level 5 Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. At all other times the AIP guarantees only level 1: level 2 or 5 must be requested two hours ahead for the weekday lunch break, and 18 hours ahead for any other period, weekends included.

• Parking: stands A to D reserved for commercial and business aviation, on request 18 hours ahead
• Fuel: Air BP Jet A1, 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:30 on weekdays; at weekends, 24 hours' notice according to the operator, 72 hours according to the AIP
• Security: on request, 96 hours ahead
• De-icing: no facility published in the AIP
• Crew: lounge with a fitted kitchen, shower and flight planning room

A single operator form covers these requests and any reopening outside published hours, and for each notice period we work to the longest one published.

Customs: 12 hours for Switzerland, the day before for London

Switzerland applies Schengen without belonging to the EU customs union: since 29 March 2009, police checks at Franco-Swiss air borders have gone, but controls on goods have not. A flight to or from Geneva or Zurich therefore needs a form sent to the Metz customs operations centre 12 hours ahead.

From outside Schengen or the European Union, London for instance, it takes 24 hours and the identity of every passenger. The AIP adds cut-off times, converted to local time: before 18:00 the day before for a weekday flight, and before 12:00 on the Friday for a weekend.

Six Christmas markets, 23 November to 29 December 2026

The Colmar tourist office and the city set up six markets in the old town, from place des Dominicains to Little Venice. They open 11:00 to 19:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00 to 20:00 Friday to Sunday. During those hours the centre is closed to vehicles, so the car from the airport drops you at the edge of the pedestrian zone.

The 2025 edition drew about 1.6 million visitors, a provisional figure based on mobile phone data and reported by ICI Alsace in January 2026; Swiss visitors made up 17% of foreign visitors, Americans 13%. Landing on a Friday before 17:00 avoids Saturday self-information and the rescue cover notice periods. With no de-icing published, an early departure is settled with the operator.

Out of season, the Unterlinden museum shows Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece in a 13th-century convent, extended in 2015 by Herzog & de Meuron, and the Alsace Wine Route runs for 170 km, from Marlenheim to Thann.

Which aircraft for Colmar-Houssen

Here the 1,400 m landing distance and the pavement come before cabin size.

• PC-12: single-engine turboprop, 6 seats with luggage, at ease on this runway from Geneva or Zurich
• Citation CJ3: 6 passengers and 3h30 of range, from €4,000 per hour as a light jet
• Phenom 300: 7 seats, our choice for an arrival from London Farnborough, about 1h15 away
• Citation XLS: midsize with 8 seats, from €4,800 per hour, offered only when the weight calculation keeps the required margin

These hourly charter rates carry no fixed price for Colmar; to match a category to a distance, see our guide to range by aircraft category.

Chartering to or from Colmar with IBC Aviation

With no fleet of its own, IBC Aviation selects the operator, then tests the flight against the airfield's rules. Four points are checked: day and time against the NOTAMs and the crew's language, the calculation on 1,400 m and PCN 13, the rescue, parking and fuel notice periods, and customs for Switzerland or a third country.

Our Geneva office, about 35 minutes' flying time away, handles these requests, together with our Luxembourg office, half an hour away. Our article on the added value of a charter broker describes this work.

Private jet charter with IBC Aviation:

Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and requirements, and organise your trip to or from your destination. Available 24/7:

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
• Bangkok: +66 92 372 4680
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Frequently asked questions

Is there air traffic control at Colmar-Houssen at weekends?

Not since 1 September 2026. According to the operator, aerodrome control is no longer provided at weekends and on public holidays, and the airfield may then operate on self-information, in French only. During the transition to AFIS, hours are published by NOTAM and change from one month to the next.

How much runway does a jet have to land at Colmar?

1,400 metres on runway 01, landing north, and 1,610 metres on runway 19, according to the AIP. The paved runway is 30 metres wide, its pavement is rated PCN 13 and any take-off from an intersection is prohibited; the operator's calculation validates each aircraft type.

How much customs notice is needed for a flight from Geneva or Zurich?

Twelve hours at least, with a form sent to the Metz customs operations centre. Switzerland applies Schengen without belonging to the EU customs union: police checks on these flights disappeared in 2009, controls on goods did not. From a country outside Schengen or the European Union, the notice rises to 24 hours.

Can a jet be de-iced at Colmar on a December morning?

The AIP publishes no de-icing facility at Colmar-Houssen. An early departure after a frosty night is therefore planned with the operator before the time is fixed. On weekdays, fuel is served from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:30; at weekends it is ordered 24 to 72 hours ahead, depending on the source.

Where can a heavier jet land near Colmar?

At EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse, whose main runway measures 3,900 metres, 32 nautical miles south according to the Colmar operator, or at Strasbourg-Entzheim, with a 2,400 metre runway, 28 nautical miles north. Colmar publishes only 1,610 metres of runway and a pavement rated PCN 13.