Reims was one of the birthplaces of aviation and has played a major part in aviation history. In 1908, Henri Farman in his plane, the Voisin ("Neighbour"), made the first flight between two towns, Bouy and Reims. In 1909, the Bétheny air base hosted the first international air show, the Big Aviation Week in Champagne.
From 1967, work began on relocating the Reims Aviation company, which was then situated in Reims city centre, to the Reims aerodrome near the town of Prunay. On 25 May 1969, the Reims Prunay aerodrome was inaugurated by the Transport Minister Jean Chamant, the MP and Mayor of Reims, Jean Taittinger, the Mayor of Prunay, Rémi Morlet and the President of the Reims and Epernay Chamber of Commerce, Hérard De Nazelle.
The aerodrome was operated by the Reims and Epernay Chamber of Commerce between 1968 and 31 December 2012.
As part of the Public Service Delegation agreement drawn up between the Reims Metropolitan Area and Edeis, the S.E.R.A. (Company Operating Reims Airport) was delegated to develop and operate the airport from 1 January 2013.
The Reims Prunay aerodrome was renamed and became the "Reims in Champagne" Airport.
On 28 March 2017, the S.E.R.A. was renamed Edeis Reims Airport.
The owners
Since 1 January 2013, the Reims Metropolitan area has been the airport owner.
On 1 January 2017, the Reims Metropolitan area merged with 7 other federations of municipalities (Beine Bourgogne, Champagne Vesle, Fismes Ardre et Vesle, Nord Champenois, Rives de la Suippe, Vallée de la Suippe, Vesle and Coteaux de la Montagne de Reims) and 18 areas that were part of the Ardre et Châtillonnais area to create the Greater Reims Urban Community.
For more information: http://www.grandreims.fr/
Operator
EDEIS, LEADERS IN AIRPORT OPERATIONS IN FRANCE
We operate and develop airport and harbour facilities in Europe on behalf of local authorities.
Our infrastructure-management activities concern:
19 airports:
Angers, Aix-les-Milles, Annecy Mont Blanc, Auxerre Branches, Bourges, Castellon (Spain), Châlon Champforgeuil, Cherbourg Maupertus, Dijon Burgundy, Le Havre Octeville, Mayotte, Nîmes Alès Camargue Cévennes, Reims, Saint Martin Grand Case, Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees, Toulouse Francazal, Tours Loire Valley, Troyes, Vannes Gulf of Morbihan;
Pic du Jer funicular railway
The EDEIS teams were precursors in transferring ownership of airports from the French state to local authorities, by developing Public Service Airport Delegation projects in France.
Today, the team has developed unique skills in helping local authorities make their regions more attractive. The Group is now a vital partner for the French public authorities. Alongside them, we have helped boost their regions' economic development.
For more information about the EDEIS group, visit: http://www.edeis.com