Car Hire Carcassonne Airport

Car Hire

Located just over two miles from the Carcassonne city centre, Carcassonne Airport, formerly known as Salvaza Airport, hosts a growing number ski lovers, outdoorsman, history buffs, business travellers and foodies each year. Those arriving at this regional gateway can make the most of a visit to the area via renting a car; great attractions such as The Cite (walled fortress) and the Dame Carcas are within a few minutes’ drive, whilst Andorra and several other Pyrenees ski resorts are less than three hours away. Alternatively, travellers can opt for taxis or shuttle bus services that run regularly to the city centre.

Who to Book With
Several top brands have rental outlets at Carcassonne Airport. Passengers can find check-in counters for Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Thrifty, Alamo, National and Budget opposite the terminal building, 50m to the right. Vehicles are also on offer from local rental firm Dan Dooly.

Need to Know Essentials
Customers collecting a vehicle at Carcassonne Airport will need to bring:

- The credit card on file for the reservation
- A current driving license (UK licenses accepted)
- A copy of their booking confirmation
- Many companies will require a passport for non-residents

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Rules of the road are strictly enforced in France and laws are very similar to those seen in the UK. However, rural roads around Carcassonne Airport often require extra care, particularly those headed into the Pyrenees where winter conditions can show up unexpectedly on steep and curvy roadways. British drivers should be careful to turn to the right side of the road when leaving fuel stations and car parks.

See our guide to France for more information on driving here.

Transport

The most convenient method of ground transportation for arriving passengers is self-driving via rental or private cars. However, taxis can be equally convenient (albeit costly) whilst shuttle buses are available for city-bound passengers on a budget.

Taxis
Taxi service is on offer via a rank located directly in front of the Arrivals area. Journey time to the city centre (and to The Cite) is typically around 10-15 minutes; costs range from about £10 to £12. See below for other destinations:

Taxi prices:
Carcassonne Airport to Laure-Minervois is about £30 to £50
Carcassonne Airport to Rieux-Minervios is about £35 to £50
Carcassonne Airport to Narbonne is about £85 to £125

Trains
There is no rail link between the city and the airport. Carcassonne’s central SNCF station is only about three miles from the airport (accessible by shuttle bus). From there, passengers can connect to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon and Brussels via high-speed TGV trains or can head to Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Paris via slower Corail Téoz service.

Buses
Shuttle buses generally depart around 30 minutes after each flight. All buses make stops at the SCNF rail station, the main city gate and Davilla Cathedral; some stop at The Cite.

Facilities

Terminals
Carcassonne Airport is a fairly small facility; all commercial flights arrive and depart from the same terminal building.

Parking
There are two car parks at the airport – P1 and P2. Both are adjacent to the terminal and only a few minutes’ walk from the departures area. Parking is free for periods of 15 minutes or less; 16 minutes to one hour costs about £2; one to four hours is £5; four to 12 hours is about £6.50; and 12 to 24 hours is about £7.50.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi access is available in the terminal for a small fee.

Information services
There is a small tourism/airport information centre located in the Arrivals area of the terminal.

Useful Numbers
Airport information: +33 4 68 71 96 46
Agglobus: +33 4 68 47 82 22

Accessibility
Carcassonne Airport is in full compliance with EU regulations for passengers with reduced mobility. For assistance, phone your airline ahead of time or contact the information booth once you are inside the terminal.

Restaurants and Bars
Full-service dining and some light meal options are available at Le Salvaza restaurant inside the terminal building; diners can enjoy great views of the runway from here. Alternatively, cold and hot snacks as well as a variety of beverages are available from the small café in the Departures lounge.

Money and ATMs
Carcassonne Airport has little in the way of banking services, although there are ATMs located in the Arrivals area.

Shopping
Shopping at Carcassonne Airport is limited to a single outlet in the public area of the terminal building. Passengers can find numerous local goods here including olive oil, handmade soaps and fois gras, in addition to basic travel necessities including books, toys and newspapers.