Pierrefonds or Roland Garros: which Réunion airport to choose?
Pierrefonds or Roland Garros: which Réunion airport to choose?
Réunion has two airports. The big one, Roland Garros in the north (Sainte-Marie), known to everyone. The small one, Pierrefonds in the south (Saint-Pierre), much more discreet. If you''re planning a trip, or trying to understand where you''ll actually land, here''s an honest comparison, with transfer tips for each.
Contents
- Roland Garros: the international hub
- Pierrefonds: the southern regional
- Quick comparison
- Which airport for your destination?
- FAQ
Roland Garros: the international hub
- IATA: RUN
- Location: Sainte-Marie, northeast coast, 11 km from St-Denis
- Annual traffic: ~2.5 million passengers
- Airlines: Air France, Air Austral, Corsair, French Bee, Air Mauritius, Air Madagascar, Kenya Airways
- Destinations: mainland France (Paris CDG/Orly, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes), Mayotte, Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa, Bangkok, India (Chennai)
- Services: full duty-free, restaurants, lounges, long-term parking, car rentals
- Zoot VTC transfer to St-Denis: 15-25 min, from €25
It''s your airport 95% of the time if you''re coming from Europe.
👉 Download the Zoot app to book in 2 minutes
Pierrefonds: the southern regional
- IATA: ZSE
- Location: Saint-Pierre, southern coast, 5 km from downtown
- Annual traffic: ~150,000 passengers (60× less than RUN)
- Airlines: Air Austral, Ewa Air
- Destinations: exclusively Indian Ocean: Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar, sometimes Rodrigues
- Services: minimal, 1 compact terminal, 1 restaurant, limited rentals
- Zoot VTC transfer to St-Pierre center: 8-15 min, from €14
The airport for short regional hops or Réunion locals who want to avoid driving back north.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | Roland Garros (RUN) | Pierrefonds (ZSE) |
|---|---|---|
| Long-haul | Yes (Paris, Bangkok, India) | No |
| Indian Ocean regional | Yes | Yes |
| Distance to St-Denis | 11 km | 80 km |
| Distance to St-Pierre | 80 km | 5 km |
| Flights/day | ~50-70 | 3-8 |
| Premium lounge | Yes | No |
| Car rental on-site | Yes (8+ brands) | Yes (limited) |
| Zoot VTC service | Yes | Yes |
Which airport for your destination?
| Final destination | Best airport | Why |
|---|---|---|
| St-Denis, northern heights | Roland Garros | 15 min |
| St-Gilles, west coast | Roland Garros | No direct Pierrefonds → St-Gilles flights |
| Cilaos | Roland Garros | Better access from north (RN5) |
| St-Pierre, wild south | Pierrefonds if direct flight | Otherwise Roland Garros + south transfer |
| St-Joseph, Grand Bois | Pierrefonds | 20-25 min |
| Salazie, Hell-Bourg | Roland Garros | RN3 more direct from north |
| Plaine-des-Cafres, Volcano | Either | Equidistant |
Rule of thumb: from Europe → Roland Garros, period. From Mauritius or Mayotte with a southern stay, check if a Pierrefonds flight exists.
FAQ
Is there a shuttle between Roland Garros and Pierrefonds?
No dedicated shuttle. Transit (rare) is by VTC or personal car: 80 km, ~1h-1h15.
Does Car Jaune serve both airports?
Roland Garros has bus lines (ZE, Bus Zéclair) with Car Jaune connections. Pierrefonds has no direct bus.
Which airport for Madagascar and Mauritius?
Both. Check schedule and price: sometimes Pierrefonds is cheaper for Mauritius from the south.
Is Pierrefonds open at night?
No, limited daytime hours. Roland Garros is open nearly 24/7 for long-haul.
What if my Pierrefonds flight is diverted to Roland Garros?
The airline arranges a ground shuttle. Otherwise Zoot can take you to your final destination from Roland Garros.
See also
Related articles
Zoot · La Réunion 974
Get the Zoot app
Book a verified local driver anywhere in Reunion Island. Upfront price, secure in-app payment. iPhone and Android.