France’s 10th largest airport (by passenger numbers1) is Paris-Beauvais Airport, and it stands out among France’s other airports for two key reasons: traffic mix and turnaround times.
A hub of connectivity and social bonds
Paris-Beauvais Airport is unique in France, with 40% of flights falling in the Visit Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel category. These flights serve people who live and work in France and regularly travel to visit family and loved ones abroad. While many of these journeys are to Eastern Europe, Portugal, and Morocco, they are part of a broader network of destinations served by the airport. This segment also includes European students enrolled in the Erasmus+ education and training programme, as well as those involved in academic, scientific, and cultural exchanges. For example, over a thousand French medical students are currently studying in Cluj, Romania. The airport’s destination map reflects travel motivations that go well beyond leisure.
Often mistakenly viewed as a lesser form of tourism, VFR travel rarely receives attention from the industry. It is typically seen as resistant to marketing efforts and offering limited economic returns. Yet it is underpinned by steady passenger flows, helps offset the seasonal nature of other tourism types, and proves more resilient during times of crisis. It also strengthens ties between communities - an important driver of social cohesion and greater regional equity.
The organisational model behind operational excellence
Paris-Beauvais Airport delivers outstanding performance in terms of ground handling services. With a turnaround time of just 25 minutes, the airport operates at peak efficiency. This is made possible by the industrial-style organisation of all handling activities for passengers, crews, baggage, aircraft, runway and administrative operations, which is perfectly aligned with the business model of low-cost carriers. It is this efficiency that makes it possible for airlines to operate more flights on a given day, allowing them to offer affordable prices to travellers. Business travel, which accounts for 10 to 20% of passengers, also benefits from this economic efficiency.
Another benefit of this operational model is that flight crews based at Paris-Beauvais can live locally in the Beauvais region, return home each day, and actively participate in community life - an important contribution to the region’s vitality.
Taken together, the traffic mix and super-fast turnaround times make Paris-Beauvais more resilient to the economic and operational challenges faced by many airports, as well as a reliable and efficient choice for passengers and airlines.
[1] 6,557,505 passengers in 2024
Photography: F. Bayle
This article was originally published in issue 118 of Aéroport le Mag.