Terminal 1

EasyJet and most non-Air France flights now run from Terminal 1

Terminal 1 at Lyon Saint-Exupéry handles EasyJet, Air France, and Transavia France, with most non-SkyTeam low-cost and leisure traffic using this newer complex. It sits next to Terminal 2, linked by a short indoor walk of around 5–10 minutes, and all check-in halls feed into a single central security zone. Layout is simple: departures on the upper level, arrivals and baggage claim on the lower level.

Queues at security and passport control here regularly stretch past 30–40 minutes in the morning bank for UK and Schengen flights, and several flyers report nearly missing departures because of these delays. Build the buffer: be at the airport 2 hours before a Schengen flight and 2.5–3 hours ahead for the UK, Israel, or North Africa. Border control for non-Schengen sits immediately past security on the way to the international gates, and reviews note almost no seating while you wait.

Post-security food in Terminal 1 clusters around the main airside atrium, with Burger King as the most visible landmark near several Schengen gates. For coffee and a quick pastry, Starbucks, Brioche Dorée, Paul, and Camden Food Co cover the basics from early morning until roughly the last departures around 21:00–22:00. Prices run typical French-airport high: expect about €5 for a latte and €3–€4 for a croissant or sandwich at the boulangerie chains.

For a sit-down meal before an EasyJet or Transavia departure, OL Brasserie and Hippopotamus are the main full-service options airside in Terminal 1. OL Brasserie leans into Olympique Lyonnais branding with burgers and salads in the €15–€20 range, while Hippopotamus serves steak-frites plates that usually land around €20–€25 with a drink. If you just want a glass of wine and a snack, Confluences Café, Le Bar à Vin, and Le Grand Comptoir sit along the departures concourse with boards of charcuterie or cheese from roughly €10.

Lounge coverage in Terminal 1 is better than you’d expect for a mid-size French airport, with four named spaces: Mont Blanc Lounge, Confluence Lounge, The Lounge by Club Airport Premier, and the Business Centre Lounge. These sit airside off the main departures corridor, generally open from around 05:30 until the last evening departures, and cater to a mix of airline status guests and paid-entry customers. Expect the usual French lounge spread of cold cuts, cheese, snacks, and self-serve drinks rather than full hot buffets.

Shopping concentrates around the central atrium after security, anchored by an Aelia Duty Free store that every passenger walks through on the way to the gates. Relay covers magazines, snacks, and last-minute chargers, while FNAC stocks books and basic electronics at standard French high-street prices. For higher-end brands, Hermès, Lacoste, and The Fashion Place sit on the main circuit, with L'Occitane and Société Lyonnaise de Chocolat selling Provence skincare and local sweets; La Cave à Vin highlights Rhône and Burgundy bottles that often start around €10–€12.

On the hybrid coffee-and-retail side, So! Coffee Shop Boutique and Hub Convenience mix takeaway drinks with travel necessities, and Boutique Only Lyon sells city-branded souvenirs tied to the local football club and regional themes. Most shops in Terminal 1 open around 06:00 and start closing after the evening peak, typically by 21:00, so don’t bank on late-night shopping if your flight leaves after 22:00. Duty free stays open longest, usually tracking the last wave of international departures.

Watch out for the security choke point that feeds both Schengen and non-Schengen gates, as lines can snake back toward check-in islands A–C during EasyJet morning peaks. If you have lounge access, clear security first, then head directly to your gate area cluster before doubling back to find Mont Blanc Lounge or Confluence Lounge, so you know exactly how long the walk takes; allow at least 8–10 minutes from the farthest gates back to central services in Terminal 1.

Practical tip: if your Air France or Transavia itinerary involves Terminal 2 on one leg and Terminal 1 on another, budget 15 minutes for the inter-terminal walk plus a fresh security check, and avoid tight self-made connections under 90 minutes at Lyon.