Brive–Souillac Airport
{{Short description|French airport in the Dordogne}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Brive–Souillac Airport
| nativename = {{small|{{lang|fr|Aéroport de Brive – Vallée de la Dordogne}}}}
| nativename-r =
| image = Aeroport_de_brive_03a.jpg
| image-width = 250
| IATA = BVE
| ICAO = LFSL
| type = Public
| owner =
| operator = Régie personnalisée de l'aéroport de Brive-Souillac
| city-served = Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
| location =
| elevation-f = 1,016
| elevation-m = 310
| website = {{URL|http://aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com}}
| coordinates = {{coord|45|02|23|N|01|29|08|E|region:FR-L|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = France Nouvelle-Aquitaine#France
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
| pushpin_label = LFSL
| pushpin_label_position = right
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 11/29
| r1-length-m = 2,100
| r1-length-f = 6,890
| r1-surface = Paved
| r2-number = 11R/29L
| r2-length-m = 1,000
| r2-length-f = 3,281
| r2-surface = Unpaved
| footnotes = Source: French AIP{{AIP_FR|LFSL|name=Brive Souillac}}
}}
Brive–Souillac Airport {{airport codes|BVE|LFSL}}, also Brive–Dordogne Valley Airport ({{langx|fr|Aéroport de Brive – Vallée de la Dordogne}}), is an international airport located {{convert|13|km|NM|lk=out}} south of Brive-la-Gaillarde, a commune of the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France.
The airport caters for tourist movements into the Dordogne area.
History
The idea for the new airport started in 1983 when the existing Brive–La Roche Airport, west of the Brive-la-Gaillarde CBD became unsuitable for modern aircraft and safety standards.{{Cite web|last=Moutte |first=Christine |date=28 July 2020 |title=Ces chantiers remarquables - Comment l'aéroport de Brive Vallée de la Dordogne (Corrèze) a pu sortir de terre après 27 années d'efforts|url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/brive-la-gaillarde-19100/actualites/comment-l-aeroport-de-brive-vallee-de-la-dordogne-correze-a-pu-sortir-de-terre-apres-27-annees-d-efforts_13817317/|access-date=26 June 2021|website=www.lamontagne.fr}} By 1987, 200ha of land was found between Nespouls and Cressensac. A syndicate was formed between the mayors of Brive-la-Gaillarde, Jean Charbonnel and Souillac, Alain Chastagnol to push for the project's creation. A 1998 plan was updated in 2001 when a decision was made to extend the runway from 1.9 km to 2.1 km prior to construction, rather than extend it sometime in the future after the project had been completed.
The project was delayed by court cases, politicians and environmental organisations such as the commune of Turenne and Query Périgord and candidates for d’Europe Écologie in the European Parliamentary elections. Most regarded it as a large international project that could not be managed on a local scale, while other concerns included the effect on public finances, opposition from Limoges Airport, noise pollution and a colony of the large blue butterfly.
Earthworks began in October 2005 and continued until spring 2007 as the 200ha limestone site needed to be levelled and filled. 2.8 million m3 of earth was moved during these earthworks. The runway, 2.1 km long and 45m wide, was laid down in 2008, as were taxiways and aprons, while the building work for the airport control tower and buildings was underway in 2009. The official inauguration was on 15 June 15, 2010.
Its ICAO code LFSL was previously assigned to the military Toul-Rosières Air Base, which closed in 2004. The Airlinair (HOP!) flights to and from Paris–Orly airport were transferred to this airport.
=Funding=
The project cost €48.7 million. €27.7 was raised by the Syndicate supported by the Department of the Correze, with the EU, French state and regional government providing €11.8. The rest was funded by the Department of the Lot, regional towns, chambers of commerce and agriculture.
Facilities
The airport resides at an elevation of {{convert|1016|ft|0}} above mean sea level. It has one paved runway designated 11/29 which measures {{convert|2100|x|45|m|0}}. It also has a parallel unpaved runway with a grass surface measuring {{convert|1000|x|80|m|0}}.
In addition to the main terminal that handles both international and local passengers, there is a VIP and business aviation building as well as facilities for private flying clubs.{{Cite web|date=2016-01-15|title=Access and opening hours|url=https://www.aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com/formalities-ans-pratical-infos/access-and-opening-hours|access-date=26 June 2021|website=Brive Airport Dordogne Valley|language=en}} The car park has capacity for 250 cars and is open 24 hours. The airport has taxi access and car rental facilities managed by Europcar and Hertz.
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Brive–Souillac Airport:
{{Airport destination list
| Air France | Paris–Orly
Seasonal: Ajaccio,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Lyon{{cn|date=April 2025}}
| {{nowrap|Amelia International}}{{cite web|url=https://flyamelia.com/en|title=Amelia-Connecting Our Horizons|website=flyamelia|date=16 December 2019 |access-date=20 February 2023}} | Paris–Orly
Seasonal: Ajaccio,{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230323-8raja | title=Amelia Adds Ajaccio – Brive Service in NS23 }} Brussels,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Nice{{cn|date=April 2025}}
| Chalair Aviation | Seasonal: Ajaccio (begins 28 June 2025),{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241226-cens25bve|title=Chalair NS25 Brive Network Expansion|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=26 December 2024|accessdate=27 December 2024|language=en-CA}} Brussels (begins 26 June 2025), Kerry (begins 29 June 2025), Nice (begins 27 June 2025)
| Ryanair | Seasonal: London–Stansted,{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230207-fr320|title=Ryanair NS23 A320 Network Additions – 05FEB23|website=Aeroroutes}} Porto,{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Brive-la-Gaillarde, France|date=August 2023|volume=25|issue=2|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=165}} Seville{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240716-frns24|title=Ryanair NS24 Network Additions Summary – 14JUL24|website=AeroRoutes}}
}}
Statistics
Up to 2010: stats for the old airport; stats from 2010 are for this airport:
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=BVE}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Aéroport Brive Vallée de la Dordogne}}
- {{official website|http://aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160229071256/http://www.agglo-brive.fr/cab-l-aeroport-brive-vallee-de-la-dordogne_41_55.html L'Aéroport Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne : désenclavement et développement économique du territoire] at Communauté d'Agglomération de Brive {{in lang|fr}}
- {{NWS-current|LFSL}}
{{Portalbar|France|Aviation}}
{{Airports in France|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brive-Souillac Airport}}
Category:Airports in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Category:Buildings and structures in Corrèze