Our Review of Beauvais Airport (BVA)

Our Review of Beauvais Airport (BVA)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Overall, reviews of Paris Beauvais Airport present a clear and fairly consistent picture. On the positive side, many travellers appreciate the airport for its low-cost focus. It is considered simple, compact and easy to navigate, with relatively quick processes for check-in and boarding. Passengers often mention that the airport is straightforward, with short walking distances and minimal complexity, making it convenient for short trips and low-cost travel.

However, the most common criticism by far is its location. Many users feel that calling it a “Paris airport” is misleading, as it is located quite far from the city and requires an additional journey that can be long and sometimes expensive. This is repeatedly mentioned as the main drawback.

Another frequent negative point is the limited range of services. Travellers often report a lack of dining and shopping options, as well as basic facilities compared to larger airports. During peak hours, the airport can become crowded, with long queues at security and limited seating available. Some reviews also mention that the infrastructure feels insufficient for the volume of passengers, especially during busy low-cost flight schedules.

Despite these drawbacks, the overall perception is not strongly negative but rather balanced. Most travellers understand that they are choosing a budget airport and adjust their expectations accordingly. The airport fulfills its purpose efficiently, but it does not provide a premium experience.

In conclusion, Paris Beauvais Airport receives average ratings, with a clear divide between travellers who prioritize price and those who value convenience and comfort.

Final rating: 6.5 / 10

This score reflects an airport that performs well in terms of efficiency and affordability, but loses points due to its distance from Paris, limited services, and overall comfort level. It is a solid option for budget travel, but not for a full-service airport experience.

 

 

Pros and Cons of Beauvais Airport (BVA)

Pros

• Very affordable flights with major low-cost airlines
• Simple and easy-to-navigate terminal layout
• Fast check-in and boarding processes
• Efficient airport shuttle connection to Paris
• Short walking distances within the airport

Cons

• Located far from Paris (around 85 km)
• Limited dining and shopping options
• No train or metro connection directly at the airport
• Not open 24 hours (no overnight stay)
• Can get crowded during peak low-cost flight times

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Paris Beauvais Airport (BVA) is a small, low-cost airport located about 85 km north of central Paris. Despite being marketed as a Paris airport, it mainly serves budget airlines and is best known for its affordability rather than its location. It is an important hub for low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, offering flights across Europe.

The airport has two terminals (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2), which are located very close to each other and can be reached on foot in just a few minutes. The layout is simple and easy to navigate, making it a convenient option for short-haul travellers. However, facilities are more limited compared to larger airports like Charles de Gaulle or Orly.

One of the key aspects of Beauvais Airport is transport. There is no direct train or metro connection, so most passengers rely on the official airport shuttle bus to Porte Maillot in Paris. From there, travellers can connect to the metro and RER network. The shuttle journey takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes and is synchronized with flight schedules.

Inside the airport, passengers will find essential services such as free Wi-Fi, cafés, duty-free shops and ATMs. Dining options include bakeries and coffee shops like Paul and Starbucks, although the variety is limited. There is no luggage storage and the airport does not operate 24 hours, meaning overnight stays are not allowed inside the terminals.

Security and boarding processes are generally efficient, but queues can become long during peak times due to the airport’s size. Boarding is often done on foot, so passengers should be prepared for outdoor conditions.

Overall, Paris Beauvais Airport is a practical and budget-friendly option for travellers who prioritise low fares over convenience. With proper planning—especially regarding transport—it offers a smooth and efficient travel experience.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Beauvais Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Beauvais Airport (last month)