Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) is the primary international gateway to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France.
The airport is located near the town of Mérignac, some 12 kilometers west of the regional capital, Bordeaux. It is a popular airport for low-cost flights to destinations in Europe and North Africa. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in France.
In 2024, BOD handled over 7.5 million passengers, ranking as France’s eighth busiest airport.
Major Airlines - easyJet, Volotea, Air France, Transavia
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is an operating base for two major European low-cost carriers:
easyJet: A British airline offering flights mostly to cities in Western and Central Europe and holiday destinations in Southern Europe.
Volotea: A Spanish low-cost airline that flies to multiple cities in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, though it’s most famous for its seasonal flights to holiday hotspots in Greece, Malta, and the Canaries.
The domestic airlines that serve BOD include:
Transavia: Another low-cost airline on the market, which serves routes from Bordeaux to many destinations in Europe and Africa.
Air France: The national flag carrier operates regular flights between Bordeaux and Paris CGD and Lyon, plus several seasonal flights to Corsica and Nice.
Of the international full-service airlines at Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, the most prominent are:
Aer Lingus flies to Dublin and Cork.
KLM flies to Amsterdam.
Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt and Munich.
Iberia flies to Madrid.
Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul.
Tunisair flies to Tunis.
Air Arabia flies to Fès and Tangier in Morocco.
Transatlantic flights come from Air Transat, which flies to Montreal, Canada.
These airlines provide non-stop connections from Bordeaux to over 80 other airports in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and North America.
See all airlines that serve BOD here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of BOD
Bordeaux Airport has three terminals:
Terminal A: Primarily handles international flights by most of the airlines at BOD.
Terminal B: Serves almost exclusively Air France for its flights to Paris and Lyon. Note that the proposed new law to ban flights for destinations less than 2.5 hours away on land may disrupt flights to Paris.
Billi Terminal: Designed for low-cost carriers like easyJet (which is the sole occupant as of 2025), this terminal was built in 2010 and expanded in 2015 to offer streamlined services with automatic bag drop counters and walking boarding gates.
A and B are sometimes called Halls because they are effectively the same building. A new central structure connecting them is under development. You can already walk between them, except for the areas post the non-Schengen Immigration checks.
Discover destinations from Bordeaux you may not know about!
Connecting Flights and Transit at Bordeaux
Bordeaux–Mérignac is primarily a point-to-point airport and has virtually no international transit passengers.
This means that all transits are treated as self-connections and are the responsibility of the passenger.
It does not have a formal airside transfer system for connecting flights between non-Schengen and Schengen zones. You will need to pass through immigration and security when changing terminals.
This is quick when both flights are within Terminals A and B, but takes a bit more time if you are flying with easyJet, which uses Terminal Bili.
Minimum connecting time for domestic and Schengen flights is just 35 minutes, assuming no delays. Non-Schengen connections or changing terminal buildings make this time increase to at least 1 hour, though it’s always better to stay on the safe side and apportion more time.
WiFi at BOD
The network “HotSpot Aeroport de Bordeaux” is available for free throughout the airport. You just need to fill out a short form after connecting to receive 3 hours of complimentary access. If you need more time, just reconnect.
Dining Options at Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport has many wonderful places to eat within its terminals, both the main building and Bili.
Here are some of the best places to grab a bite or a drink at the airport:
Brioche Dorée: Offers pastries and sandwiches with 2 locations in Terminal A and Terminal B, respectively.
Café des Grands Hommes: Serves gourmet snacks. In the public area of Terminal A.
Deli&Cia: The only dining option in the Billi Terminal. This is a self-service deli with some gourmet food items.
monop'daily: Quick meals and snacks in the public area of Terminal A.
Ostréa: The best seafood dishes at the airport, located in the boarding area of Terminal B.
Your coffee can come from Starbucks (T1, before Security) or Ritazza (T1, after Security).
Lounges at Bordeaux Airport
Bordeaux Airport houses 3 lounges: 2 open-access ones and 1 airline-specific.
In Terminal B, you can find the Air France Lounge, which is accessible to eligible Air France passengers. Although partner airlines, KLM passengers cannot access this lounge. The lounge is simple and has the minimum requirements for a comfortable place to relax before a flight, but don’t expect a lot of luxury in any sense of the word.
If flying from Terminal A, you can opt to stay at the Salon Compagnies. It’s a nice clean business lounge, which, although a bit bare bones, presents a good alternative to the common waiting areas.
The other open-access lounge in Terminal A is Salon des Vignobles, which also fails to meet the high expectations of a premium lounge.
In general, Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is one place where you can save your money by skipping the lounges with no regrets whatsoever.
Transportation at BOD Airport
The cheapest way to move between Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport and the city is via Tram A. It runs to the city centre daily between 05:00 and midnight with a frequency of every 10 minutes, and the trip takes 35 minutes. The single ticket is 1.70 EUR.
To get directly to the train station, the best option is Bus 30’. It runs every 30 minutes (every hour on Sunday) with a single fare of 8 EUR.
If you’re not going to Bordeaux’s city center, the Corol 39 bus may be a viable alternative. You can take this bus in front of Exit 7 of Terminal B, where it stops every 20 minutes for its journey between Mérignac and Pessac. Tickets cost just 1.70 EUR. It connects with the tram at Haillan Rostand (Tram A) and Pessac Alouette (Tram B). This bus uses a priority bus lane.
Intercity buses and long-distance buses connect the airport to French, Spanish, and Portuguese cities with varying frequencies (closer destinations - up to 6-8 times daily, farther ones - 1 or 2 buses per day).
Taxis are always available at the airport. The designated waiting area is outside the entrance of Terminal A. A trip to the city centre will cost you about 30 EUR during the day and 45 EUR at night.
If you’d like to drive around Bordeaux and France yourself, rent a car from one of the rental agencies at the airport. You can choose from companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and Sixt.
For information about private transfers, click here.
Parking near Bordeaux Airport
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport offers several official car parks on its premises. They cater to both short and long-term parking and can be summarized as follows:
Express Parking: Provides 10 minutes of free parking for quick drop-offs and pick-ups. Three entries per day, after which a penalty of 10 EUR plus the hourly rate applies. Note that the Drop-off area right in front of the terminal’s entrance is free for only 5 minutes.
P0 Comfort: A partially covered car park on 5 levels, located closest to the terminals. The parking fee is 32 EUR per 12 hours.
P1 Proxi: A smaller parking lot just a two-minute walk from all three terminals. Costs 26 EUR per 12 hours.
P2 Flexi: Ideal for weekends away and short trips with over 3000 parking lots and electric vehicle charging stations. A covered pedestrian walkway connects it to Terminals A/B in 4 minutes. Costs 24 EUR per 12 hours.
P4 Long Stay: Offers 900 parking spaces with a free shuttle to the terminals. Costs 16 EUR per 12 hours.
Motorcycle parking is also available in a sheltered park near the terminal. It’s free for the first 15 minutes and then 1.5 EUR per hour with a diminishing increase.
Bicycle parking is located under the viaduct, just 1 minute from Terminal A. It is entirely free.
You can pre-book parking online to guarantee a spot and get better deals, especially for a 2 or 3-day stay.
Hotels near Bordeaux Airport
Even though it’s a relatively small airport without any transit flights, there are a few hotels near BOD that may serve you well if you have an early flight, a late arrival, or are just spending the night on a self-planned layover.
Two hotels stand out for their proximity and well-known names:
Mercure Bordeaux Aéroport: An upscale hotel with a marvelous restaurant and a refreshing pool for those hot summer days. Offers a terminal shuttle on demand.
ibis Budget Bordeaux Aéroport: A more budget-friendly option with just as modern and clean rooms. Good value for money, especially with the free and filling breakfast.
Tram A stops in front of those two hotels, making it easy to reach the terminals, although they are not more than 15 minutes on foot anyway.
Bordeaux, France
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