Private Jet to La Baule: Land at Saint-Nazaire or Nantes

La Baule's 950 m strip: jets land at Saint-Nazaire

The La Baule-Escoublac aerodrome, 3 km east of the town, remains a light aviation field. Its visual approach chart, published by the French aeronautical information service, describes a paved runway of 950 m by 25 m with pavement strength limited to 5.7 tonnes, no runway lighting, no night VFR and no customs service.

In practice these limits rule out business jets on a charter flight. The town says as much in the history published on its website: after the war, the 950 m length made commercial operations difficult, and traffic was gradually transferred to Saint-Nazaire airport.

The field still has a role for arrivals by helicopter, since a helicopter company is based there and carries passengers, according to the town.

Three airfields, three uses

The choice depends on where the flight comes from, the arrival time and the size of the aircraft.

Saint-Nazaire-Montoir, the nearest jet runway

Located 6.9 km north-east of Saint-Nazaire, Montoir is managed by Aéroports du Grand Ouest, the company that also runs Nantes Atlantique. Its 2,405 m by 45 m runway handles Airbus Belugas, which gives a sense of its scale.

Airport hours are generous on weekdays: 7am to 10.30pm local time from Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 8am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays from April to October. In winter, a Sunday flight must be requested by the last working day beforehand. Outside these hours, an aircraft over 5.7 tonnes only gets level 5 fire cover on request, sent before the end of the morning on the last working day.

Customs need 24 hours' notice and work Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. At weekends and on public holidays the customs unit may refuse the flight, accept it or require a different time, and notice must be in by 10am on Friday. The decisive point for a flight from London: the French airports union, UAF, does not list Montoir as a border crossing point.

Nantes Atlantique, for late arrivals and international flights

Located 8 km south-west of Nantes, Nantes Atlantique runs around the clock: airport management, air traffic control, police and immigration are available 24 hours a day according to the AIP, and customs ask for two hours' notice before arrival. Its runway measures 2,853 m by 45 m.

One window escapes it. Since 1 June 2024, an order dated 23 May 2024 has banned any landing and any departure from the parking stand between midnight and 6am local time; the exceptions cover delayed or early scheduled flights, not an on-demand business flight.

Ground handling is compulsory for every commercial flight, with three providers listed in the AIP, and La Baule is then about an hour away by road.

Jumping International, 10 to 13 June 2027

In June the resort hosts the Jumping International de La Baule, the Officiel de France show jumping event, rated CSIO 5*. The organiser announces it at the Stade François André from 10 to 13 June 2027, with free public entry, and its hospitality areas welcome around 850 guests a day.

The stadium land was ceded to the town in 1960 by François André, uncle of Lucien Barrière. The Barrière group today runs three five-star hotels in La Baule: L'Hermitage, Le Royal and Le Castel Marie-Louise. For helicopter transfers, the Jumping organisers name their partner Héliberté.

Flight times and aircraft, from London to New York

• London: in the order of an hour from Farnborough, heading for Nantes Atlantique for border formalities.
• Geneva: around 1h10. Our Swiss office, introduced on the private jet charter in Geneva page, also handles these requests.
• Paris-Le Bourget: around 50 minutes to Saint-Nazaire. An Embraer Phenom 300, a light jet, is available from €4,000 per hour.
• Luxembourg or Brussels: around 1h10.
• Nice: in the order of 1h25, for example in a Cessna Citation XLS when the group outgrows a light jet cabin, from €4,800 per hour.
• Dubai or New York: a long-range aircraft, landing at Nantes Atlantique for the runway length and the formalities.

These times are indicative and vary with aircraft, winds and slots. Our guide to range by aircraft category helps decide, and our rental rates page gives the hourly price of each category.

The first question is where the flight comes from

Our Paris team, introduced on the private jet charter in Paris page, arranges flights to or from La Baule. A flight from outside the Schengen area lands at Nantes; a flight from within Schengen uses Saint-Nazaire, provided the time falls within airport hours and customs have received notice where the flight requires it.

IBC Aviation, as an independent broker, then selects the aircraft from certified operators. We advise on the most suitable transfer, by road or by helicopter depending on the time. Other airfields in western France appear on our private jet airports page.

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

Can a private jet land at La Baule's own airfield?

No. The La Baule-Escoublac aerodrome has only 950 m of runway by 25 m, pavement limited to 5.7 tonnes, no runway lighting and no customs service. Jets land at Saint-Nazaire-Montoir or Nantes Atlantique, and the airfield remains useful for arriving by helicopter.

Saint-Nazaire or Nantes: which airport for La Baule?

Saint-Nazaire-Montoir, some twenty kilometres away as the crow flies, for a flight from within Schengen during airport hours. Nantes Atlantique, about an hour by road, for a flight from London or elsewhere outside Schengen, or for a late arrival outside the midnight to 6am curfew.

Can you land at night at Nantes Atlantique?

Until midnight, yes. Since 1 June 2024 an order has banned any landing and any departure from the stand between midnight and 6am local time, apart from certain delayed or early scheduled flights. The rest of the time, control, police and immigration operate 24 hours a day.

When is the 2027 Jumping International de La Baule?

The organiser announces the 2027 event from 10 to 13 June at the Stade François André, as the Officiel de France show jumping competition rated CSIO 5*. Entry is free. For a flight that weekend, Saint-Nazaire-Montoir is the nearest jet airfield, and Nantes Atlantique the option from outside Schengen.

Do Saint-Nazaire customs work at weekends?

Not reliably. The customs unit needs 24 hours' notice and works Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays it may refuse the flight, accept it or impose another time, and notice must be in by 10am on Friday.