Chambéry Aix les Bains airport — Chambéry, France

Winter transforms CMF from a sleepy regional field into a bustling gateway for skiers, as charter flights packed with British, Dutch, and other Northern European travelers descend on the airport en route to the famous slopes of the Trois Vallées, Courchevel, Méribel, and other resorts scattered across the French Alps. Named for the two towns it serves, Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains, the airport sits within a valley framed by dramatic Alpine peaks, giving arriving passengers a scenic introduction to the Savoie region. Outside the ski season, traffic drops sharply, with the airport reverting to limited domestic connections and general aviation. Ground transportation, including shuttle buses timed to flight arrivals, whisks winter visitors directly to resort towns, a logistical operation that has made this small airport disproportionately important to the regional tourism economy despite its modest year-round passenger numbers.