Corsica is a French island and is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Corsica is a popular tourist destination and many tourists go there every year to relax and unwind.
There are several ways to go to Corsica and the quickest way is by plane. There are four main airports in Corsica and several European carriers fly to these airports daily. The airports are located in different parts of the island and the best airport to fly in will depend on the first location on your itinerary.
In this article, we will talk about the four main airports in Corsica, where they are located, and some transportation options to and from the airport. If you are ready to plan your adventure on a French island, read on!
What Are Corsica’s Airport That You Can Fly Into?
Corsica has four major international airports that connect the island to major cities in Europe. Several charter flights and airlines such as Air France, Air Corsica, British Airways, and Ryanair have direct flights to the island daily. Before flying into Corsica, familiarize yourself with which airport you will fly into. Corsica’s airports are located in different regions of the island and knowing which part of the island you want to explore first will be a deciding factor in choosing the airport you will fly to.
Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport (AJA)
Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport is the main airport of Corsica and it serves the capital city of the island which is Ajaccio. This airport is also called Campo Dell’Oro Airport and is located on the southwestern part of the island.
It is about a 15-minute drive to the city center and has several airport facilities such as restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops. There are also taxis outside the arrival hall and car rentals are available if you booked one prior to your arrival.
Aside from taxis, there is also a bus route from the airport going to the bus station located in Ajaccio’s city center. You can take the bus line 8 and the bus leaves every 30 to 60 minutes.
If you want to visit the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and explore the city’s historic culture or explore southwest Corsica, flying to Ajaccio airport is your best option.
Bastia Poretta Airport (BIA)
Located in the northeastern end of the French island of Corsica is Bastia Poretta Airport (BIA). This airport is located in Borgo and is about 20 km south of Bastia.
Bastia Poretta Airport has 2 cafés, several souvenir shops, and a tabac that also sells magazines and pharmacy items that you may need during your travels. There are also taxis outside the airport’s arrival halls and you can also rent a car from the airport if you want to drive around the island.
If you prefer to use public transportation, you can either take the train or the Bastia airport shuttle to go to the city. Traveling by train to the Terminus Bastia station takes about 25 minutes. There are also train routes from this station to the airport. If you prefer to travel by bus, you can buy bus tickets at an agency, online, or directly from the bus driver. The travel time from Bastia airport to the city center by bus is about 35 minutes.
Calvi Airport Sainte-Catherine (CLY)
Calvi Airport Sainte-Catherine is located on the northwest side of Corsica and is about 4 km from Calvi’s city center. This is a smaller airport and has very limited facilities unlike in Ajaccio and Bastia airport. There is no direct bus route between the airport and the city center but, you can either take a taxi or an Uber to bring you to your destination.
Flights coming into Calvi airport can sometimes be diverted to Bastia airport depending on the weather conditions. There is also special training required for pilots to land at Calvi airport and flights landing outside of daylight hours cannot land at the airport.
Figari Sud Corsica Airport (FSC)
If you want to explore the southern part of the island, flying at Figari Sud Corsica Airport is your best option. It is about 3 km northwest of Figari and is the third-largest airport on the island. The airport is also 25 km from Porto-Vecchio and 21 km away from Bonifacio.
There are limited taxis outside the airport but, there are car rental services if you want to rent a car. There is also an airport shuttle service that will take you to the Porto-Vecchio bus station. The bus station in Porto-Vecchio also has routes going to Ajaccio if you are up for a visit to West Corsica.
Wrap Up
There are four airports in Corsica that you can fly into – Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport (AJA), Bastia Poretta Airport (BIA), Calvi Airport Sainte-Catherine (CLY), and Figari Sud Corsica Airport (FSC). Aside from planes, there is also another way to get to Corsica if you are coming from mainland France. There are Corsica ferries available daily to get to the island and you can get ferry tickets in advance.
The best airport to fly into will depend on which part of the island you are visiting first. The good thing is, that these airports are located in different regions. We have talked about where the different airports of Corsica are so you can plan accordingly. If you have any other questions, let us know via the contact form on our website!
