Chambéry. The jet gateway to the Three Valleys, weather permitting.
For Courchevel and Méribel, Chambéry saves well over an hour of mountain road against Geneva. It is also a valley airfield with weather minima, crew training requirements and five arrival slots an hour on a winter Saturday. Both things are true.
The airport
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc at a glance
- CodesCMF / LFLBOn the Lac du Bourget in Savoie, between Chambéry and Aix les Bains, at the mouth of the Tarentaise valley.
- Runway18/36, about 2,020 metresWith an instrument landing system in one direction only, which matters in poor weather.
- Winter season1 December to 30 AprilThe business terminal publishes hours of roughly 07:30 to 21:00 daily in the season, with the tower from 08:00.
- Winter slotsFive arrivals an hour at weekendsWeekend traffic is formally managed, and prior permission is required for every flight.
The airport is among the busiest in France for business aviation in winter. Slots and prior permission are requested through the airport's handling system, and overnight parking from Friday to Sunday is limited and considered case by case. There is no hangarage.
Journey times
From Chambéry into the mountains
| To | Good conditions | Saturday or snow |
|---|---|---|
| Courchevel 1850 | 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 | 2 hours 30 to 3 hours 30 |
| Méribel | 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 | 2 hours 15 to 3 hours |
| Val Thorens | 1 hour 45 to 2 hours | 3 hours or more |
| Val d'Isère and Tignes | 2 hours to 2 hours 15 | 3 hours to 4 hours |
| La Plagne and Les Arcs | 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 | 2 hours 30 to 3 hours 30 |
| Megève | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 | 1 hour 30 to 2 hours 15 |
| Annecy | 35 to 50 minutes | 50 to 80 minutes |
| Geneva airport | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 | 1 hour 30 to 2 hours |
Realistic ranges, not promises. Every Three Valleys transfer funnels through Moûtiers, which is where a Saturday in February stops moving. The climb above it is where chains earn their keep.
Why it is worth the trouble
An hour and a quarter of mountain road saved
Geneva to Courchevel is two and a half to three hours in good conditions and can be four or more on a changeover Saturday. Chambéry to Courchevel is an hour and a quarter to an hour and three quarters. That gap is the whole reason the airport exists in a private client's itinerary, and on a Saturday in February it can be the difference between lunch in the chalet and dinner.
The reason it is not automatic is the weather and the terrain. The valley is narrow, there is an instrument approach in one direction only, and operators have to set their own operational instructions and pilot training for the airport because of the surrounding ground. In practice, crews need specific training to operate when the cloud base is below about 3,500 feet or visibility is under 5,000 metres, and after dark. Some operators simply will not go, and they are not being difficult.
So we plan Chambéry with Geneva behind it, every time. If the crew turn back at the last minute, the driver is already moving towards Geneva and the chalet knows what time you will arrive.
Operating reality
What your flight department will be working with
The questions worth asking your operator before the trip is confirmed.
- Is this crew trained and current for Chambéry? Ask it directly. Operators must set their own instructions and training for the airport because of the terrain
- What are the weather minima for this aircraft and crew? Training is required below roughly a 3,500 foot ceiling or 5,000 metres of visibility, and for operations after dark
- Have we got a slot? Weekend arrivals are limited to around five an hour in the season, and prior permission is needed for every flight
- Can the aircraft stay? Overnight parking from Friday to Sunday is limited and decided case by case, and there is no hangar. Many aircraft drop and reposition
- What is the fallback, and are we flying on a Saturday out of habit? Geneva is the usual alternative, and a Friday or Sunday movement is easier in the air and on the road
Onward
Where Chambéry passengers go next
Resorts
Request a quote
Tell us the week
Resort, dates, tail number or operator, passengers and the ski and bag count. We reply with a clear price, an honest transfer time for that day, and the fallback plan if the valley closes. Nothing is booked or charged online.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About Chambéry transfers
Are these your own cars?
No. Our own fleet and our own chauffeurs are in London and Manchester. Alpine transfers are arranged through operators we know, and one person at Odyssey holds the whole journey together.
What happens if the aircraft cannot land?
It goes to the airport we agreed beforehand, usually Geneva, and the car is redirected to meet it. You are told as soon as the crew decide, not when you land.
Why does our operator want to use Geneva instead?
Usually because the crew are not trained and current for Chambéry, or because the forecast is below the minima. It is a reasonable answer, and the extra road time is the price of certainty.
Can we fly in on a Saturday?
Often, but it is the hardest day of the week in the air and on the road. Arrivals are limited to around five an hour at weekends in the season. A Friday or a Sunday is easier on everyone.
Can we take a helicopter from Chambéry to the resort?
In daylight and good visibility, yes, and it turns the Moûtiers climb into a short hop. We always hold a road plan behind it.
Can you arrange the aircraft as well?
Yes. See private jet charter.