Next month, the French Open returns to Paris. This prestigious annual tennis tournament is held over two weeks, from late May till early June. Officially known in French as “Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros”, the event was named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros.
The French Open is the second of four annual Grand Slam tournaments, the other three being the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. The only major currently played on clay, the tournament marks the climax of the spring clay court season.
Established in 1891, the French Open is one of the oldest tournaments in the world. The men’s singles competition follows a five-set match format, with no tiebreak in the final set. This, coupled with the slower playing surface, make it arguably the most physically demanding tennis tournament on the international circuit.
Clay Tennis’s Most Iconic Venue
The event moved to its current venue at Stade Roland Garros in 1928. This iconic 21-acre complex contains twenty courts, including three large stadiums, an extensive restaurant and bar complex, and a press/VIP area known as Le Village. It is also home to France’s National Training Centre (CNE) and the Tenniseum, a multimedia museum showcasing the sport’s rich history. The iconic center court seats 15,000 spectators, and has hosted some of the most legendary matches in tennis.
To learn more about the history of the Stade Roland Garros, please visit the venue’s official website.
The Stade Roland Garros was opened in 1928, and is one of tennis’s most iconic venues.
Who Will Win?
Previous winners of the French Open title include Björn Borg (six titles), Rafael Nadal (a record nine titles), and Steffi Graf (six titles). Last year’s tournament saw Novak Djokovic defeat world number one Andy Murray in the men’s singles final. Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza triumphed over veteran Serena Williams in the ladies singles.
Tennis fans will be watching with bated breath to see who will come out on top this year, with Djokovic and Williams currently hot favorites to lift the trophy. However, anything can happen in this action-packed sport, and attendees are sure to be treated to a thrilling two weeks of tennis. Don’t miss it!
Airport Options for Attending the French Open
When flying to Paris, operators have a choice of airports. Paris Le Bourget (IATA: LBG, ICAO: LFPB) is Europe’s busiest airport for private jets. LFPB caters specifically to General Aviation (GA) traffic, and offers multiple services aimed at business aviation customers. Stade Roland Garros can be accessed by car in around 25 minutes.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (IATA: CDG, ICAO: LFPG) and Paris Orly Airport (IATA: ORY, ICAO: LFPO) also cater to GA, although both are subject to certain limitations. At Charles De Gaulle Airport, only business aviation passengers who are connecting to commercial flights may use the airport. Additionally, the plane can only stay on the ground for a limited amount of time. At Paris Orly, GA traffic is only permitted for diplomatic flights and for dropping off travelers who have an onward connection with a commercial airline.
Landing Permits, Slots and Parking
All non-EU registered charter flights require a landing permit. In general, these take around five working days to process. One of the main advantages of Paris Le Bourget is that it does not have allocated slots, and there are no limits on GA traffic. The only real restriction in place is that aircraft with wingspans over 53 meters must use a special parking area. These parking slots are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Charles De Gaulle and Paris Orly are both used mainly for commercial traffic, and slots are always required. Business aviation aircraft requesting to land at either will be denied permission, unless the passengers on board have connections to commercial flights. Hangarage is available at Paris Le Bourget, including for larger aircraft such as the Boeing Business Jet series and Airbus Corporate Jets. The hangars can accommodate planes with a maximum tail height of 12 meters, and wingspans of up to 40 meters.
Departure Times
Paris Le Bourget is open 24 hours a day, however restrictions are in place for jet engine take-offs. Planes with jet engines are not allowed to leave between 22:15 and 06:00 local time. At Charles De Gaulle, stage three aircraft are limited to taking off between 05:00 and 11:59, and stage two aircraft are restricted to departures between 06:01 and 11:14. Paris Orly operates only between 06:00 and 10:30.
Ground Transportation
A variety of VIP ground transport options are available at Paris Le Bourget. A car or limousine can be easily hired, however a reservation is generally needed prior to arrival. To find out more about the available options and book your transport, be sure to speak with our Paris Le Bourget team in advance. No ground transportation is available at Paris Orly or Charles De Gaulle for GA travelers, as all passengers must be boarding commercial airlines.
For the reasons outlined above, Paris Le Bourget remains the best available option for GA flights operating into Paris. It also offers the fastest direct journey to Stade Roland Garros.
Jetex in Paris
Travelling to Paris for the French Open? Jetex operates a state-of-the-art FBO at Paris Le Bourget Airport, which provides all the facilities you need to arrive in style. Relax in our comfortable executive lounge, while our expert team attends to all of your airside needs. We deliver a full range of aviation support services, including jet refueling, aircraft parking and ground handling. For further details on our Paris FBO, please click here.
The Jetex Paris FBO Terminal at Paris Le Bourget Airport offers outstanding facilities for travelers.
Beyond the airport, you can trust our friendly and knowledgeable concierge staff to look after every aspect of your stay. From arranging chauffeur-driven limos, to securing the best available accommodation or reserving tables at the finest restaurants, our team can cater to all of your desires. We will tailor a package to your exact requirements, allowing you to experience all the magnificent city of Paris has to offer.
Choosing Jetex guarantees an exceptional VIP experience for you and your group. Contact our team today to arrange your trip, on +33 17 437 2522 or fbo-lbg@jetex.com.
