Selected as the best airport of the year in the “10-25 million” passengers’ category by Airports Council International Europe, Lyon Saint-Exupéry has again expanded its range of services, from luggage management and catering to travel conditions for young children. Spotlight on the Lavignes family’s departure last August.

Every family has its own habits. Unchanging. For the Lavignes, their family ritual concerns the last week of August. Everyone has it noted in their respective diaries. No one would consider missing the gathering of the clan, with each generation present and correct: Édouard and Nicole Lavignes, the grandparents, Bertrand, their eldest son, who lives in Chicago with his wife Jenny and two daughters, and his younger sister, Elodie, accompanied by her son Elliott.

The destination changes every year but not the meeting point: everyone assembles at Lyon-Saint Exupéry International Airport, which sits on the outskirts of their hometown, before taking off to new lands. In 2019, the Lavignes have chosen to go to Sicily. For their latest trip, the Lyon airport, which has welcomed over two million passengers this summer alone, is offering new services that meet the needs of a family that is scattered far and wide.

Élodie, for example, arrived a few days early. She lives in Asia with her young son. Such a long flight with a child can be a logistical nightmare. The young mother was particularly worried about managing their luggage, but with the Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Rhônexpress Eelway service, an express tramline between the centre of town and the airport, their arrival went smoothly. Eelway takes care of luggage as soon as it hits the conveyer belt, then stores it if necessary, before delivering it to a specific address at a set time. Élodie Lavignes was able to travel to her parents’ house, on the banks of the Saône, unencumbered by her luggage.

A customised menu at the gate

When she joins her father, she finds him pondering a question that is crucial for anyone born and bred in Lyon: the day’s menu. To guarantee a perfect last week of the holiday season, leaving their meals up to fate was unthinkable, starting with the very first day! Fly Me to the Food has changed Édouard Lavignes’ perception of air travel. Travellers can use the service to order dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs, then pick them up from the Fly Me to the Food counter at the airport or even directly at the gate. While making his way to the airport, Édouard takes advantage of the Rhônexpress wifi and orders food for the whole family. The innovation improves the shuttle’s already stellar on-board experience, with features such as 24-hour and 48-hour tickets and interactive Pop’n’Link terminals providing important information about the trip. Services that have seen positive feedback from the ever-increasing number of passengers (+8,6% in 2018).

• 92%: Rhônexpress user satisfaction rate

A service dedicated to families

Bertrand and his family arrived in Lyon from Chicago. The prospect of having to wait at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport holds no fears for the eldest of the Lavignes, who never gets bored there. On the contrary, he sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his hometown. The airport offers 37 stores, including five new outlets opened this summer, 1,400 sq. m. of duty free and various brands dedicated to local specialities, such as La Toque Lyonnaise by Vatel Gourmet and Délices de Lyon. An authentic atmosphere that delights the Lyon native.

After landing, Bertrand and his family have to get to Terminal 1 where they are joining the rest of the Lavignes. The trip is seamless. Jenny organised the journey in advance thanks to the new marketplace available at store.lyonaeroports.com where you can find all the services offered by the airport (priority pass, lounge access, carparks, etc.) and its partners (Rhônexpress, Ouinus, Flixbus, etc.). The digital tool is supplemented by physical terminals that can be found in the baggage reclaim areas. This year, Bertrand and Jenny Lavignes, accompanied by their two daughters, can also benefit from a new service, specially designed for families, making each step of their trip as easy as possible. For example, it provides special access to security checks and baby-changing areas.

Cutting-edge experiments in improving traveller experience

These new solutions reflect the focus on innovation and services which has marked Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport over the past few years. This site, the number one VINCI Airports platform in France in terms of annual passenger numbers, has already carried out several cutting-edge experiments, such as the valet robot (2017) which has increased the number of vehicles in the carpark by 50%, shuttles running on biogas, and self-service Green On bicycles. Not to mention facial-recognition gates for certain destinations which minimise waiting time. The result is that, in 2019, the airport has become a centre for excellence as part of the VINCI Airports innovation programme; the goal is to share its experience and expertise with the rest of the VINCI network.

It’s almost time for everyone to gather together. Bertrand and Jenny leave one of the games areas, introduced as part of the new Family service, pick up one of the self-service pushchairs and set off to join the others. Like every year, the Lavignes have successfully performed their ritual. But this year, with the services now on offer, it has been an altogether smoother and easier experience.