Roland Garros Airport
Sainte-Marie, Réunion
Roland Garros Airport
Réunion's primary international gateway serving the Indian Ocean island.
- ›Named after Roland Garros, the French aviator and WWI pilot born in Saint-Denis, Réunion, in 1888.
- ›Roland Garros Airport is considered one of the busiest airports in the Indian Ocean region.
- ›Air Austral, a regional airline serving the Indian Ocean islands, is headquartered at this airport.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 66 feet (20 meters) above sea level on the northern coast of Réunion.
- ›Réunion is a French overseas department, so flights between RUN and metropolitan France are domestic EU flights.
Roland Garros Airport, named after the pioneering French aviator born in Saint-Denis, serves as the primary international gateway to Réunion, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. Opened in its current form in the 1940s and continuously modernized, the airport handles connections to metropolitan France, regional Indian Ocean destinations, and beyond. Its location near Sainte-Marie places it within easy reach of Saint-Denis, the island's capital, making it the commercial and travel hub for this volcanic island.
- Terminal 1 (International) — Handles long-haul and international flights, including services to Paris and regional Indian Ocean connections.
- Terminal 2 (Domestic/Regional) — Serves shorter regional routes and domestic French territory flights within the Indian Ocean zone.
- Car rental agencies available at the arrivals hall (Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Sixt)
- Taxi ranks outside the terminal with fixed-rate zones to Saint-Denis and beyond
- Car-Jaune public bus network serving routes toward Saint-Denis and the island's east coast
- Private transfer and shuttle services bookable in advance
- Ride-hailing apps with limited availability on the island
- Mercure Créolia Saint-Denis
- Best Western Mascareignes Saint-Denis
- Hôtel Le Juliette Dodu Saint-Denis
- Iloha Seaview Hotel (Étang-Salé)
- Austral Hôtel Saint-Denis
Inside the terminal, travellers will find a modest selection of cafés and snack bars offering Creole-influenced light meals alongside standard French pastries and coffee. Outside the airport, the Sainte-Marie and Saint-Denis areas offer excellent local restaurants serving Réunionese specialties such as carry, rougail saucisse, and fresh seafood. Supermarkets and small local eateries near the airport road are budget-friendly options for those with time before departure.
- Renting a car is strongly recommended as public transport coverage across the island is limited, especially for reaching volcanic and highland sites.
- Check baggage allowances carefully on Air Austral regional hops, as weight limits can differ from long-haul carriers.
- Arrive early during French school holiday periods, as the airport becomes significantly busier with travellers to and from metropolitan France.
- Currency is the Euro (EUR) as Réunion is a French overseas region, so no currency exchange is needed for those arriving from mainland France.
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Roland Garros Airport, formerly known as Gillot Airport, is an international airport located in Sainte-Marie on Réunion, France. The airport is 7 kilometres (3.8 NM) east of Saint-Denis; it is named after the French aviator Roland Garros, who was born in Saint-Denis.
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