If LFPB/Paris Le Bourget is proving too noisy, too crowded, or just too regulated for your liking this summer – there’s another option.
Thanks to the team at Elyxan Aviation, we’ve got the full scoop on LFPM/Paris Villaroche, a lesser-known but promising alternative for BizAv flights heading to Paris. Located about 45-50 minutes from the city center, this airport sits southeast of Paris and offers something refreshingly rare: no slots, no APU restrictions, and 24/7 availability.
Why consider LFPM?
LFPM/Paris Villaroche isn’t new – it’s a former flight test site that’s been quietly evolving into a solid business aviation option southeast of Paris. It has a similar feel to EGLF/Farnborough, and although public ownership has slowed its full development, what’s already in place is pretty impressive:
- 1972m x 45m runway with GNSS/LPV approach
- No slots, no APU restrictions, no curfews
- 24/7 ops capability, with English-speaking ATC available on request
- RFFS Cat 5 available on request
- Modern FBO with hangars for bizjets up to Global 7000/Gulfstream 700
- Direct ramp access, VIP pax facilities, and fast turnarounds
- No public access = high privacy for pax and high-profile ops
What’s the catch?
LFPM is not a designated port of entry – so it only accepts flights arriving from or departing to EU/Schengen airports (Switzerland included). No customs or immigration means international flights must route in from a Schengen stop first.
Also, while the runway can easily handle larger jets, LFPM imposes a 37-tonne (approx. 81,600 lbs) limit on actual operating weight at the time of arrival or departure – not MTOW. For heavier aircraft, fuel loads may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Looking at other options around Paris:
- LFPB/Le Bourget is Paris’s main BizAv airport – but it’s slot-controlled, has APU restrictions, and can be congested in summer.
- LFPG/Charles de Gaulle and LFPO/Orly are international, but mainly serve scheduled airlines and are not BizAv-friendly.
- LFOB/Beauvais and LFOK/Vatry are international airports with customs, but they’re significantly farther from the city.
- LFPT/Pontoise (NW of the city) is also Schengen-only, with a shorter runway and stricter weight limits. Currently undergoing refurbishment.
Faster into Paris?
Actually, yes – and not just on paper.
Even though LFPM looks farther from central Paris than LFPB, the real-world travel time is often the same or shorter. That’s especially true if you’re arriving from the south – you’ll avoid the extra flight time needed to route around LFPG/Charles de Gaulle and skip the congestion-prone A1 motorway used by LFPB/Le Bourget arrivals.
Elyxan put together a practical comparison of travel times from LFPM vs. LFPB to central Paris – factoring in flight routing, ramp access, and road traffic.
For now, it’s Schengen-only – but if French authorities eventually install CIQ, Villaroche could become a serious player. In the meantime, it’s a great EU option: straightforward, operator-friendly, and low on red tape.
📞 Contact Elyxan Aviation for more info:
ops@elyxan-aviation.fr | +33 6 58 83 66 25
