Toulouse Airport Mini Guide
What is Toulouse Like?
Toulouse has had a remarkable history and has a remarkable present too. Once a Roman city, even today many of the streets are set out along the old Roman grid system and the city’s unique architecture is in a Roman style. The city is one of colours too. It’s known as the ‘Rose City’ because of the colour of the bricks used to make its buildings and in its early days it grew rich on supplying blue pastels made from the local chalk, dyed with colouring from the woad plant that was harvested nearby. Today its position as the centre of the European aviation and space industries brings jobs and wealth to the area, ensuring its prosperity for another generation.
How Can I Get to See the Delights of Toulouse?
Toulouse has a major international airport, Toulouse-Blagnac, which last year brought over six million passengers to the city. The airport accepts arrivals from all over Europe and North Africa and is served from the
UK by BMI, BA and easyJet. The four mile journey to the city can be made by bus or taxi although many hire a car so they can spend time exploring the city and the region.
What Can you tell me About the airport?
The original terminal opened over thirty years ago but has been supplemented by three further halls, the last one, a state of the art building, was completed in 2004. It has a wide range of facilities and prides itself on doing its utmost to make the airport a pleasant experience.
So What can I Expect when I Arrive?
Depending on the airline you arrive with, you may disembark via a gangway from the plane or be bussed from the aircraft steps into the terminal. Passengers with reduced mobility should check with their airline which they are likely to encounter so that suitable assistance can be provided. Once inside the terminal, you’ll find passport control before joining the rest of the arrivals at the baggage reclaim. From there you’ll enter the vast arrivals hall which has banking facilities, the car hire companies, should you wish to hire a car for your stay, a selection of shops and more. If you are in need of first aid, there’s a small medical room where staff can help you. If you’re not able to locate a facility you need, the airport help desk is easy to find and can give advice as well as helping with onward transport information.
What are the Facilities Like for Departing Passengers?
You have the choice of staffed check-in or self-service check-in desks depending on the time you have and the level of skill of your skill with new technology. After collecting your boarding pass, the expanse of shopping opportunities is yours. There’s just about everything you’d want to buy and take on a plane there including clothing, jewellery, electronic equipment, books and magazines, a pharmacy, sports goods and more. Whilst there’s a range of options for food, none of them are very exciting being mainly bar or café food plus snacks and take away. Business travellers and those just wanting to keep in touch will appreciate the airport’s Wi-Fi network.
Toulouse Airport (which has the unique international airport code TLS) is also known as Toulouse Blagnac Airport. That is because Blagnac is located just to the north of Toulouse Airport.
With car hire in Toulouse Airport the journey to the city centre of Toulouse should only take about 15 minutes, depending on traffic. Be sure to book early though as this is one of the busier airports in France with more than six million passengers using it on an annual basis. Having your own vehicle also allows you to explore the fine region of the Midi Pyrenees in France.