Cannes-Mandelieu (LFMD) sits directly on the bay, twelve minutes by chauffeured car to the Croisette and three minutes by helicopter to the Palais des Festivals helipad. It accepts light and most super-light jets — Phenom 300, Citation CJ4, Pilatus PC-24.
Midsize and heavy jets (Challenger 350, Falcon 2000LXS, Global 6000) typically position into Nice Côte d'Azur (LFMN), eighteen minutes east, with a six-minute helicopter shuttle to Cannes. The choice between the two is governed by aircraft type, slot availability and the time of year.
During the Cannes Film Festival, Lions Festival and MIPIM, LFMD operates under strict slot control. Confirm aircraft, FBO and ground sequence five to seven days minimum in advance — same-day requests are almost never accommodated.
For yacht-based arrivals, the established protocol is LFMD → tender at Vieux Port → onward to your charter at anchor off Cap d'Antibes or the Lérins islands. No central Cannes traffic is crossed.
Empty leg liquidity on Paris ↔ Cannes peaks Thursday evenings and Sunday/Monday mornings. See also: the Atlas guide to Cannes Film Festival aviation.
