{{Short description|Airport in Brittany, France}} {{Infobox airport | name = Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport | nativename = {{small|{{lang|fr|Aéroport de Rennes–Saint-Jacques}}<br />{{smaller|Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-27}}}} | image = RNS airport logo.svg | image-width = 250 | image2 = L'aeroport_de_rennes_st_jacques_-_panoramio.jpg | image2-width = 250 | IATA = RNS | ICAO = LFRN | type = Public | owner = | operator = CCI Rennes | city-served = Rennes, France | location = | metric-elev = yes | elevation-f = 124 | elevation-m = 37 | coordinates = {{coord|48|04|N|001|44|W|type:airport_region:FR}} | website = {{URL|www.rennes.aeroport.fr}} | pushpin_map = France Brittany#France | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport | pushpin_label = '''RNS'''/LFRN | pushpin_label_position = bottom | built = | metric-rwy = yes | r1-number = 10/28 | r1-length-f = 6890 | r1-length-m = 2,100 | r1-surface = Paved | r2-number = 14/32 | r2-length-f = 2,788 | r2-length-m = 850 | r2-surface = Paved | r3-number = 14L/32R | r3-length-f = 2,132 | r3-length-m = 650 | r3-surface = Unpaved | stat-year = 2018 | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 856,791 | stat2-header = Passenger traffic change | stat2-data = {{increase}} 18.2% | footnotes = Source: Air Journal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.air-journal.fr/2017-02-11-nouveau-trafic-record-a-rennes-en-2016-5176955.html|title = Nouveau trafic record à Rennes en 2016 | Air Journal|date = 11 February 2017}}</ref> Aeroport.fr<ref name=AER>{{cite web|title=Résultats d'activité des aéroports français 2018|url=https://www.aeroport.fr/uploads/Rapport%20d'activit%C3%A9%20final.pdf |website=aeroport.fr|access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref> }}
'''Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport''' {{airport codes|RNS|LFRN}} — also known as '''Rennes Bretagne Airport''' — is a minor international airport about {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Rennes,<ref name=AIP>{{AIP_FR|LFRN|name=Rennes Saint-Jacques}}</ref> Ille-et-Vilaine, in the region of Brittany, France.
==History== Before the construction of this airport, Rennes had a small hippodrome which was used as a landing strip in Gayeulles, to the northeast of the city.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1931, work started on a proper airport to service Rennes, and a plot of 380,000 square metres in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande to the southwest of the city was acquired and building began. On 28 July 1933, the new airport was officially opened by Pierre Cot.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
Seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the Battle of France, Rennes airport was used as a Luftwaffe military airfield during the occupation. Known units assigned (all from Luftflotte 3, Fliegerkorps IV):<ref name="ren1">[http://www.ww2.dk The Luftwaffe, 1933–45]</ref><ref>[http://www.rlm.at/cont/archiv02_e.htm Identification codes of units of the Luftwaffe 1939 – 1945]</ref>
* Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) – July – 23 August 1940 – Messerschmitt Bf 109E * Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27) – 27 July 1940 – April 1941 – Heinkel He 111P/H (Fuselage Code 1G+) * Kampfgeschwader 26 (KG 26) – 26 April – June 1942 – Heinkel He 111H (Fuselage Code 1H+) * Kampfgeschwader 77 (KG 77) – 30 May – 30 June 1942 – Junkers Ju 88A (Fuselage Code 3Z+) * Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 (SKG 10) – 10 April – 11 June 1943 – Focke-Wulf Fw 190A * Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11) – 7–20 June 1944 – Focke-Wulf Fw 190A
JG 53 and KG 27 took part in operations over England during the Battle of Britain (10 July–31 October 1940); KG 26 and KG 77 also engaged in night aerial attacks over England during 1942; JG 11 and SKG 10 were interceptor units primarily engaging Eighth Air Force heavy bomber (B-17; B-24) operations over Occupied Europe. In addition, numerous Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft FLAK batteries were controlled from Rennes.<ref name="ren1"/>
Rennes was attacked by Eighth Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on 9 January 1944 (Mission 180), and was overflown on several night leaflet drops during the spring of 1944.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/221/903.xml USAFHRA Document 00221903]</ref> The airport was also attacked during the Allied invasion of Normandy during June 1944 on several occasions by Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers of IX Bomber Command, 323d Bombardment Group.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/083/353.xml USAFHRA Document 00083353]</ref> The medium bombers would attack in coordinated raids, usually in the mid-to-late afternoon, with Eighth Air Force heavy bombers returning from attacking their targets in Germany. The attack was timed to have the maximum effect possible to keep the Luftwaffe interceptors pinned down on the ground and be unable to attack the heavy bombers. Also, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of Ninth Air Force would be dispatched to perform fighter sweeps over Rennes after the Marauder raids, then meet up with the heavy bombers and provide fighter escort back to England. As the North American P-51 Mustang groups of Eighth Air Force began accompanying the heavy bombers all the way to their German targets by mid-1944, it was routine for them to also attack Rennes on their return to England with a fighter sweep and attack any target of opportunity to be found at the airfield.<ref>Derived from information in USAAF Film "Target For Today" (available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGL7vuC2A4)</ref><ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/233/753.xml USAFHRA Document 00233753]</ref>
thumb|right|Control tower
It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 7 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign. Almost immediately, the United States Army Air Forces IX Engineering Command 820th Engineer Aviation Battalion cleared the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft. Subsequently, Rennes Airport became a USAAF Ninth Air Force combat airfield, designated as "A-27" about 10 August.<ref>Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php |title=IX Engineer Command ETO Airfields, Airfield Layout |access-date=2009-09-22 |archive-date=2019-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609090806/http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Under American control, the 362d Fighter Group operated P-47 Thunderbolts from the airport from 10 August though 19 September. In addition, the 10th Reconnaissance Group operated various photo-reconnaissance aircraft during August and September, and it became the headquarters of IX Air Defense Command on 25 August.<ref>Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.</ref> The fighter planes flew support missions during the Allied campaign in Central and Eastern France, patrolling roads in front of the advancing ground forces; strafing German military vehicles and dropping bombs on gun emplacements, anti-aircraft artillery and concentrations of German troops.
The combat units moved out by the end of September, and Rennes Airport was used as a supply and maintenance depot for American aircraft for several months, before being returned to French civil control on 30 November 1944. Completely reconstructed after the war, the airport returned to its normal civil use.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} Some World War II bomb craters can still be seen in grassy areas north of the main runway.
==Facilities== The main runway can be used by aircraft with up to around 180 passengers, and it is best fitted for middle-range flights. For cargo transportation services, it is suitable for planes like Boeing up to the 757 and the 767, the Airbus A310, or the Ilyushin IL-76. It is equipped with an ILS. The secondary paved runway is suitable for light motorized planes (business and leisure).
A controversial long-time project to build a large airport near Nantes, the Aéroport du Grand Ouest, some 80 km to the south of Rennes is still in an uncertain state.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} That airport was planned to serve both cities. It would require the building of faster and more frequent transit services to both cities and to their existing airports, through the modernization of the existing regional Rennes–Nantes railway link through Redon, and the interconnection with their fast TGV railway stations. On 17 January 2017, the French government decided to definitely cancel the project for this new airport, and allow credits to help development of Rennes airport.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
==Airlines and destinations== ===Passenger=== <!--DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE ROUTES WITHOUT GIVING A VALID INDEPENDENT SOURCE. EXACT DATES ARE MANDATORY FOR NEW ROUTES TO BE ADDED HERE. ALSO ADD INLINE CITATIONS IF POSSIBLE.--> {{Airport-dest-list <!-- --> | {{nowrap|Aer Lingus}} | '''Seasonal:''' Dublin{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} <!-- --> | Air Corsica |'''Seasonal :''' Ajaccio<ref name=ac>{{Cite web|url=https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/corse/haute-corse/bastia/air-corsica-ouverture-de-nouveaux-vols-entre-la-corse-et-rennes-a-l-ete-2026-les-clients-insulaires-seront-seduits-3244537.html|title=Air Corsica: ouverture de nouveaux vols entre la Corse et Rennes dès l'été 2026, "les clients insulaires seront séduits" – 05Nov25|website=frace3.region|accessdate=5 November 2025}}</ref>, Bastia (both begin 2 July 2026)<ref name=ac/> <!-- --> | Air France | Lyon,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241030-afnw24eu|title=Air France NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes|accessdate=30 October 2024}}</ref> Paris–Charles de Gaulle<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221026-afnw22cdg|title=Air France NW22 Paris CDG Europe Frequency Variations – 23OCT22|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' Ajaccio,{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Bastia,{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Calvi,{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Figari,{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Marseille,{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Nice{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} <!-- --> | easyJet | London–Gatwick,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220425-u2ns22|title=easyJet NS22 Network Addition Update - 24APR22|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=25 April 2022|accessdate=8 April 2025|language=en}}</ref> Nice,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Rennes, France|date=August 2023|volume=25|issue=2|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=901}}</ref> Geneva<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.24heures.ch/easyjet-ajout-de-trois-nouvelles-destinations-a-loffre-depuis-la-suisse-533770857251 | title=EasyJet ajoute trois nouvelles destinations à son offre| date=4 July 2025}}</ref><br> '''Seasonal:''' Manchester<ref>{{cite web |title=easyJet NS25 Network Additions – 19NOV24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241120-u2ns25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> <!-- --> | Finist'air | '''Seasonal:''' Belle Île{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} <!-- -->
| KLM | Amsterdam<ref name=Amsterdam>{{cite web|url=https://nieuws.klm.com/klm-voegt-rennes-toe-aan-europees-netwerk/|title=KLM adds Rennes to its European network}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221209-klns23rns|title=KLM Assumes Air France Amsterdam – Rennes Service in NS23|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | Transavia | Marrakesh,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230724-tonw23af|title=Transavia France NW23 North/West Africa Network Expansion – 23JUL23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=24 July 2023|accessdate=3 January 2025|language=en-ca}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' Ajaccio (begins 18 July 2026)<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|title=La compagnie Transavia annonce la prolongation d'une ligne vers le soleil au départ de Brest |url=https://actu.fr/bretagne/brest_29019/la-compagnie-transavia-annonce-la-prolongation-dune-ligne-vers-le-soleil-au-depart-de-brest_63167832.html|website=actu.fr|date=16 September 2025|accessdate=16 September 2025|language=fr}}</ref> <!-- -->| Twin Jet| Toulouse<ref>{{cite web |title=TwinJet NS23 Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230518-t7may23 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref> <!-- -->| Volotea | Marseille,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Marseille, France MRS|date=May 2025|volume=26|issue=11|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=695–698}}</ref> Toulouse<ref>{{cite web |title=Volotea NS25 Network Change – 30MAR25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250402-v7ns25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' Montpellier<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240813-v7nw24 | title=Volotea NW24 Network Additions – 11AUG24 }}</ref> <!-- -->}}
===Cargo=== {{Airport-dest-list <!-- --> | Swiftair| Cologne/Bonn <!-- --> }}
==Statistics== {{Airport-Statistics|iata=RNS}}
==See also== * Advanced Landing Ground
==References== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Rennes – Saint-Jacques Airport}} *[http://www.rennes.aeroport.fr/ Rennes Aeroport] (official site) {{in lang|en}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070109002013/http://www.aeroport.fr/les-aeroports-de-l-uaf/rennes-saint-jacques.php Aéroport de Rennes–Saint-Jacques] (Union des Aéroports Français) {{in lang|fr}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929123206/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=RNS Accident history for RNS] at Aviation Safety Network
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rennes-Saint-Jacques Airport}} Category:Airports in Brittany Category:Buildings and structures in Rennes Category:Transport in Brittany Category:World War II airfields in France Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in France Category:Airports established in 1933 Category:1933 establishments in France Category:Military airbases established in 1940 Category:Military airbases closed in 1944