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We investigate using the GIRAFE cold-atom gravimeter during an airborne gravity survey for improving gravity field and quasigeoid modelling. The study is conducted over the Bay of Biscay, France. Geoid/quasigeoid determination is usually a major challenge over such coastal areas due to scarce and inconsistent gravity data. In a first step, the GIRAFE dataset is analysed and compared with available surface gravity data as well as with global altimetry models from UCSD and DTU. The comparisons indicate that the DTU model is better than the UCSD model within around 10 km from the coastline. Furthermore, recent satellite altimeter missions significantly improve the altimetry models in coastal areas. A significant bias (− 4.00 mGal) in shipborne data is also found from this comparison. In a second step, eight quasigeoid solutions are calculated to evaluate the contribution of GIRAFE data. This contribution …