Roland Garros Airport, International airport in Sainte-Marie, Réunion Island, France.
Roland Garros Airport is an international airport in Sainte-Marie on Réunion featuring two asphalt-paved runways measuring 3,200 meters and 2,670 meters at an elevation of 20 meters above sea level. The terminal includes arrival and departure areas for international and domestic connections, with facilities for passengers and cargo as well as parking positions for aircraft of different sizes.
The facility began as Gillot Airport before adopting its current name in 1994 to honor the aviation pioneer from Saint-Denis. The site has expanded repeatedly since its founding to accommodate growing traffic between the island and Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The facility takes its name from an aviation pioneer born in Saint-Denis who completed the first solo crossing of the Mediterranean and became a symbol of French aeronautical achievement. Travelers moving through the terminal encounter displays that reflect island life and traditions, including photographs and objects representing different periods of local heritage.
Travelers should expect waiting times during peak periods, particularly for flights to Paris and other European destinations that concentrate in certain parts of the day. The terminal offers enough seating and basic services, though moving through the halls can take longer when the space is busy.
The domestic flights linking Réunion to mainland France rank among the longest internal routes in the world, covering roughly 9,300 kilometers across the Indian Ocean. Some of these connections take over eleven hours, surpassing many international routes and often requiring stops in Mauritius or other islands.
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