Lyon is served by Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), the primary international airport for eastern and southeastern France and a major hub for both business and leisure travel. It offers an extensive network of flights into LYS from across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and a growing selection of intercontinental routes arriving in Lyon, with strong competition from both full-service and low-cost carriers.
The most frequent and affordable flights to Lyon are from major European cities and French territories. Key departure points into LYS include from Paris (ORY), London (LGW, LHR, STN), Amsterdam (AMS), Barcelona (BCN), Rome (FCO), Lisbon (LIS), and Marseille (MRS) to Lyon. The airport has a strong network from North Africa (Casablanca, Tunis, Algiers) into LYS and offers direct long-haul arrivals from Montreal (YUL), Dubai (DXB), Istanbul (IST), and seasonal services from New York (JFK) and other destinations to Lyon.
The market into Lyon is highly competitive. Air France and its subsidiary HOP! operate a significant domestic and European network into LYS. Low-cost carriers have a massive presence at Lyon: easyJet has a major base at LYS, and Volotea and Vueling also operate extensive routes to the city. International carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines provide hub connectivity into LYS. This mix drives down fares, especially on European leisure routes to Lyon.
To secure cheap flights to Lyon, book European city and sun routes into LYS 4-10 weeks in advance. For long-haul flights to Lyon, start searching 2-5 months ahead for arrivals at LYS. Always compare Air France with easyJet and other low-cost carriers for the best deals within Europe to Lyon. Use Lyon's connections from major hubs like Amsterdam, Istanbul, or Dubai for onward arrivals into LYS from long-haul origins. Flying into LYS mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) consistently offers the lowest prices to Lyon. The airport is well-connected to the city center and the French TGV network, making it a convenient arrival point for the wider region.