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An air transport system at the heart of the global network
This sheet helps you understand France's economic relations with the rest of the world. It also presents the main French airports.
Key points of the sheet
- Air transport makes the international movement of people and goods easier. France has a central place in these exchanges thanks to an efficient and well-connected air network.
- In 2024, more than 151 million passengers travelled between France and other countries.
- Air transport plays a key role in France. It matters for tourism, the economy, logistics and international relations.
- The French air network is dense. It has about 120 airports.
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), in Île-de-France, is the busiest French airport and the second busiest in Europe by number of passengers. It receives more than 70 million passengers each year.
- The other large French airports are Paris-Orly, Nice-Côte d’Azur, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry and Marseille-Provence.
- The air sector creates many jobs, direct and indirect. There are, for example, pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers.
Words to know
- air transport (transport aérien)
- It makes the international movement of people and goods easier. It plays a key role in France.
- air network (réseau aérien)
- The French air network is dense, with about 120 airports.
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- It is the busiest French airport, with more than 70 million passengers a year.
- air freight (fret aérien)
- It is one of the activities of the air sector that create jobs.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In 2024, how many passengers travelled between France and other countries?
In French, the language of the exam: En 2024, combien de passagers ont voyagé entre la France et l’international ?
In 2024, more than 151 million passengers travelled between France and other countries.
Which is the busiest French airport by number of passengers?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel est le premier aéroport français en nombre de passagers ?
Paris-Charles de Gaulle is the busiest French airport by number of passengers.
What jobs does the air sector create?
In French, the language of the exam: Quels emplois le secteur aérien génère-t-il ?
The air sector creates many jobs, both direct and indirect.
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Source
Sheet “Un système aérien au cœur du réseau mondial” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.