Yes, there is an airport in Cannes, but you probably can’t fly into it. Cannes-Mandelieu Airport, about 5 km west of the city, handles private jets, helicopters and light aircraft, not scheduled airline flights. Commercial travellers land at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, 27 km away, then reach Cannes by bus, train, taxi or private transfer.
Key facts (checked October 2026)
- Cannes airport: Cannes-Mandelieu (IATA code CEQ, ICAO code LFMD), France’s second business aviation airport after Paris-Le Bourget. No airline flights.
- Airport you actually book: Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), 27 km from Cannes.
- Taxi Nice Airport to Cannes: fixed fare of €85 in 2026.
- Express bus: ZOU! line 81 from Terminal 2, €21.40 bought in advance, about 50 to 55 minutes to Cannes station.
- Train: free tram to Nice Saint-Augustin station, then a TER to Cannes (€9.70 full fare from Nice).
Flying into Nice for a stay in Cannes? Our private chauffeur service in Cannes meets you inside the terminal and drives you to your hotel or villa in a Mercedes, at a fixed price agreed in advance.
What is the airport in Cannes called?
The airport in Cannes is Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (Aéroport Cannes Mandelieu). It sits between Cannes and Mandelieu-la-Napoule, about 15 minutes from the city centre and the Palais des Festivals, and it is reserved for business and private aviation.
The airport describes itself as the second business aviation airport in France and as a complement to Nice Côte d’Azur, which handles the scheduled commercial flights. Its three roles are business and tourist aviation, emergency and firefighting missions, and training for aviation careers (Cannes Mandelieu Airport). Cannes Tourism adds that it ranks second for business aviation after Paris-Le Bourget (Cannes Tourism). It lies 5 km west of Cannes, uses the codes CEQ (IATA) and LFMD (ICAO), and is run by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, the same operator as Nice airport (Wikipedia, FlightAware).
Practical details from the airport’s own access page: it is reached from the A8 motorway at exit 41, there is a taxi rank and free parking a few steps from the terminal, Europcar and Hertz have car hire desks, and you can even arrive by boat through the Port du Béal next door.
Cannes-Mandelieu opening hours
The airport is not open around the clock. These are the published local times for the passenger service (FBO) and air traffic control (ATC):
| Period | FBO opens | ATC opens | FBO and ATC close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 8 March | 06:30 | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| 9 March to 3 May | 06:30 | 08:00 | 21:00 |
| 4 May to 23 August | 06:30 | 08:00 | 22:00 |
| 24 August to 18 October | 06:30 | 08:00 | 21:00 |
| 19 October to 31 December | 06:30 | 08:00 | 20:00 |
Source: Cannes Mandelieu Airport, access and schedules.
Can you fly commercially into Cannes?
No. No airline sells scheduled flights to Cannes-Mandelieu, so if you search for “flights to Cannes” you will be booked into Nice. Even easyJet’s Cannes page explains that flights to Cannes arrive at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (easyJet).
Some flight comparison sites list “Cannes Mandelieu (CEQ)” as a destination. In practice that means a private charter, not a ticket on a regular airline.
What airport do you fly into for Cannes?
You fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE). It is the closest airport to Cannes with airline flights, 27 km away, and it hosts nearly 50 airlines (Cannes Tourism).
Nice calls itself France’s leading airport outside Paris. From the United States, Delta, La Compagnie and United fly non-stop between Nice and New York (Nice Côte d’Azur Airport), and Delta’s Nice to Boston route, launched in May 2026, became the airport’s seventh route to the US (Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur press releases). Nice has two terminals, so check yours before you land: our guide to Nice Airport Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2 explains the difference.
Cannes-Mandelieu vs Nice Airport at a glance
| Cannes-Mandelieu (CEQ) | Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Airline flights | None | Nearly 50 airlines |
| Who uses it | Business jets, private and light aircraft, helicopters | Almost every visitor arriving by air |
| Distance to central Cannes | About 15 minutes by road | 27 km, about 30 to 40 minutes by road |
| Opening hours | Daytime only (see table above) | Flights throughout the day |
| Public transport to Cannes | Taxi rank, car hire | Express bus 81, TER train, taxis |
| Best for | Private flights | All scheduled flights |
How far is Nice Airport from Cannes?
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is 27 km from Cannes, and Cannes Tourism says Cannes can be reached in less than 30 minutes. In real traffic, allow 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, which is the range given by the Cannes Lions festival’s travel page (Cannes Lions).
How do you get from Nice Airport to Cannes?
You have four options: the ZOU! 81 express bus, the train from Nice Saint-Augustin, a taxi at a fixed fare, or a pre-booked private chauffeur. The bus and train are cheapest, the taxi is simplest at the rank, and a chauffeur is best for luggage, groups and late arrivals.
| Option | Time | Cost (2026) | Runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOU! Express bus 81 | About 50 to 55 min | €21.40 in advance, €21.80 on board | First bus 07:35, last 21:55 from Terminal 2 | Solo travellers, light luggage |
| Tram + TER train | About 25 to 40 min on the train, plus the tram | €9.70 full fare (Nice to Cannes) | Every 15 min on weekdays, 05:50 to 22:00 | Budget and speed, small bags |
| Taxi | About 30 to 40 min | €85 fixed fare | At the terminal ranks | Short notice, up to a few passengers |
| Private chauffeur | About 30 to 40 min, door to door | Fixed price agreed in advance | 24/7, booked ahead | Families, groups, late flights, events |
Sources: ZOU! line 81 timetable, Nice Airport, getting there by train, TER Sud and Nice Airport taxi fares. Our full comparison is in Nice Airport to Cannes.
By bus: ZOU! Express line 81, step by step
- Go to the Terminal 2 bus station on the arrivals level, through exit doors A1 or A3. Line 81 leaves from bay 2. At Terminal 1, the stop is outside exit door A0 (Nice Airport).
- Buy your ticket in advance by SMS, online or at an agency for €21.40, or on board for €21.80. Children under 4 travel free and children aged 4 to 11 get 50% off.
- Ride the motorway to Cannes. The bus stops at Le Cannet (Place Benidorm) and ends at Cannes Gare SNCF, in the town centre. The 07:35 from Terminal 2 is timed to reach Cannes at 08:30.
- Watch the last departure. The final bus leaves Terminal 2 at 21:55 and reaches Cannes at 22:46. In the other direction, the first bus leaves Cannes at 05:10 and reaches the airport at 05:55.
Times and fares come from the ZOU! line 81 timetable and are given for normal traffic. Some tourism pages still show the older €20.50 fare.
By train: tram to Nice Saint-Augustin, then TER
There is no station inside the airport. Take the free tram (lines 2 or B) from either terminal to the Grand Arénas stop, or walk about 7 minutes from Terminal 1 (exit door A0) along the pedestrian walkway to Nice Saint-Augustin station. From there, trains towards Cannes run every 15 minutes on weekdays from 05:50 to 22:00, then every 30 minutes until 23:30, with later trains at weekends (Nice Airport).
The full single fare from Nice to Cannes is €9.70, or €6.80 with a ZOU! discount card (TER Sud). The train takes roughly 25 to 40 minutes depending on the stops, and Cannes station is less than 7 minutes’ walk from the Palais des Festivals (Cannes Convention Bureau).
By taxi or Uber
Taxis from Nice Airport to Cannes charge a fixed fare of €85 in 2026, the same as in 2025 (Nice Airport, Service Public). Some event guides still quote €88, which is out of date. Our article on how much a taxi costs from Nice to Cannes covers the details.
Uber also works on this route, but the price moves with demand. If you are thinking about it, read whether it is easy to get an Uber in Cannes first.
Landing late, or travelling with family and suitcases? We track your flight, meet you inside the terminal and drive you to Cannes 24/7. The Mercedes V-Class takes up to 7 passengers and 7 bags, the S-Class up to 3 passengers and 3 bags. Get a fixed-price quote →
Are there other ways to fly into Cannes?
Yes, by helicopter. Cannes has a public helipad at the end of the old port jetty, between the two lighthouses, used for on-demand helicopter transfers, and there is another helipad at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (Cannes Tourism).
Marseille Provence Airport is sometimes suggested as an alternative, but it is much further away: the train from Marseille to Cannes alone takes about 2 hours (Cannes Tourism). For most trips, Nice is the sensible choice.
Which option would a local chauffeur choose?
Fly into Nice, then pick the transfer that suits your arrival time, your luggage and who you are travelling with. This is what we tell clients heading to Cannes:
- Take the train if you travel light, land during the day and want the cheapest option. It is frequent and avoids motorway traffic.
- Take bus 81 if you want one direct ride with no changes and your flight lands before about 21:30.
- Take a taxi if you are two or three people with normal luggage and simply want to go: the €85 fixed fare is clear.
- Book a private chauffeur if you land after the last bus, have an early morning flight home (the first bus from Cannes only reaches the airport at 05:55), travel as a family or group, or are coming for the Film Festival, MIPIM or Cannes Lions, when the whole town is busy.
With Luxotica, the price is fixed and agreed before you travel, our English-speaking chauffeurs follow your flight in real time, and they meet you inside the terminal. See our Nice Airport transfer service for how it works, and our Nice Airport guide for the terminals, parking and arrivals. Flying privately into Cannes-Mandelieu instead? Mention it in your quote request and we will tell you what we can arrange.
Cannes airport: frequently asked questions
Is there an airport in Cannes?
Yes. Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (CEQ / LFMD) is about 5 km west of the city centre. It handles business jets, private flights and helicopters, not scheduled airline flights.
What is the closest airport to Cannes with commercial flights?
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, 27 km from Cannes. It is the airport you land at when you book a flight to Cannes, and the drive takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Can you fly from the UK or the US to Cannes?
Not directly into Cannes on an airline. Flights to Cannes from the UK land at Nice, and Nice has non-stop flights to New York with Delta, La Compagnie and United.
How far is Nice Airport from Cannes?
About 27 km. Allow 30 to 40 minutes by taxi or car, about 50 to 55 minutes on the ZOU! 81 express bus, or the free tram plus a 25 to 40 minute train ride from Nice Saint-Augustin.
How much is a taxi from Nice Airport to Cannes?
Taxis charge a fixed fare of €85 between Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and Cannes in 2026. A pre-booked private chauffeur is priced separately, at a fixed price agreed in advance.
Is there a bus from Nice Airport to Cannes?
Yes. ZOU! Express line 81 runs from Terminal 2 (bay 2) and Terminal 1 to Cannes Gare SNCF. A single costs €21.40 bought in advance or €21.80 on board, and the last bus leaves Terminal 2 at 21:55.
Can you arrive in Cannes by helicopter?
Yes. Cannes has a public helipad at the end of the old port jetty, and there is another at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport. Both are used for on-demand helicopter transfers.
Landing at Nice and heading to Cannes?
Cannes has an airport, but your flight will almost certainly land in Nice. If you would rather skip the bus timetable and the taxi queue, send us your flight number, your address in Cannes and the number of passengers, and we will reply with a fixed price.
Request a quote → or see our private chauffeur services on the French Riviera.
Written by The Luxotica Team, licensed VTC chauffeurs based in Nice. Updated October 2026.