Lois Larson
Paris, France, is served by multiple airports. Officially, there are four airports serving Paris: Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Beauvais, and Châlons Vatry. Charles de Gaulle is the largest international airport in France and one of the busiest airports in Europe. It is directly connected to central Paris by the RER B, a hybrid suburban commuter and rapid transit line. Orly Airport is France's busiest airport for domestic traffic, although it also serves international flights.
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What You'll Learn
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport, is the primary international airport serving Paris, France. Located in Roissy-en-France, 23 km (14 mi) northeast of Paris, the airport is named after World War II leader and French President Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970). The airport is operated by Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris) under the brand Paris Aéroport. Charles de Gaulle Airport serves as the principal hub for Air France and is used by other legacy carriers, as well as an operating base for easyJet and Norse Atlantic Airways.
The planning and construction phase of the airport, then known as Aéroport de Paris Nord (Paris North Airport), began in 1966. The airport opened on 8 March 1974 and was renamed Charles de Gaulle Airport. Terminal 1, designed by the architect Paul Andreu, is a ten-floor circular building surrounded by seven satellite buildings, each with six gates allowing sunlight to enter through apertures. Terminal 2 opened in 1981 and was officially inaugurated in March 1982 in the presence of then-President Francois Mitterrand. Terminal 2 was originally built exclusively for Air France but has since been expanded to accommodate other airlines. Terminals 2A to 2F are interconnected by elevated walkways, while Terminal 2G is a satellite building accessible by shuttle bus. Terminal 3 (formerly known as "Terminal 9") caters to charter and low-cost airlines.
The airport features a free automated shuttle rail system, consisting of two lines (CDGVAL and LISA), which connects the terminals and parking lots. The CDG Express, a direct express rail link from Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport, is scheduled to open in early 2027. In 2024, the airport handled 70,290,260 passengers and 460,916 aircraft movements, making it the world's ninth busiest airport and Europe's third busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers.
The complex includes the head office of Air France, Continental Square, the Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and le Dôme building. Le Dôme houses the head office of Air France Consulting, an Air France subsidiary. Continental Square is home to the head office of another Air France subsidiary, Servair, and the Air France Vaccinations Centre.
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Orly Airport
The airport has undergone various developments and renovations over the years. The West Terminal, now consisting of two floors and a gate area with four "fingers," was previously known as Villeneuve-Orly Airport. The arrivals facilities, including baggage reclaim and various services, are located on the ground level, while the departures area and additional restaurants and stores can be found on the upper level.
In recent years, Orly Airport has implemented initiatives to enhance sustainability. In 2023, Paris Aéroport announced a tree-planting project along the route nationale 7, involving 900 tree species and 14,000 forest seedlings. This project is expected to capture 329 tonnes of carbon annually. Additionally, Air France announced that it would largely cease its operations at Orly Airport by summer 2026, except for one public service obligation flight to Corsica.
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Paris-Le Bourget Airport
Paris–Le Bourget Airport, located 11 kilometres north-northeast of Paris, is the original city airport. It started commercial operations in 1919 and was the only airport in Paris until the construction of Orly Airport in 1932. It is now used for general aviation, including business jet operations, and hosts air shows such as the Paris Air Show.
The airport is famous as the landing site for Charles Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic crossing in 1927 in the Spirit of St. Louis. It also served as the departure point for the French biplane L'Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird), which attempted a transatlantic flight but mysteriously disappeared. Le Bourget Airport has been featured in various movies and literature, including the 1935 novel "Death in the Clouds" by Agatha Christie.
In 1940, Adolf Hitler began his first and only tour of Paris from Le Bourget Airport. The airport was closed to international airline traffic in 1977 and to regional airline traffic in 1980. However, it continues to serve both domestic and international business aviation. Due to capacity constraints, Air France transferred all its operations to Orly Airport in 1952.
Le Bourget Airport has been the site of several notable aviation incidents. In 1958, the first jet-powered transcontinental flight, operated by Pan Am, landed at Le Bourget. In 1973, a supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashed during the Paris Air Show. In 1995, a Dassault Falcon 20E operating as Leadair Unijet Flight 001N crashed after takeoff due to an uncontained engine failure.
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Beauvais–Tillé Airport
The airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it was used by the Luftwaffe and later by the United States Army Air Forces. After the war, the airport was returned to French control and was even offered to NATO as a Cold War development site. However, these plans were discontinued, and the airport was returned to private hands in 1953.
In terms of infrastructure, Beauvais–Tillé Airport has two terminals, with the new control tower becoming active in 2019. The airport has a main runway equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), enabling aircraft to land safely even in low-visibility conditions.
The airport has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives. It aims to create a sustainable development plan for the economic and touristic development of the local area, focusing on energy, water, air, noise, and waste management.
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Châlons Vatry Airport
Paris, France, is served by multiple airports, one of which is Châlons Vatry Airport (IATA: XCR, ICAO: LFOK). This airport is located in the heart of the Champagne-Ardenne region, about 150 kilometres (91 miles) east of central Paris and approximately 105 kilometres (65 miles) from Disneyland Paris. It is situated 22 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of Châlons-en-Champagne, near Vatry, in the Marne department, at an elevation of 586 feet (179 metres) above mean sea level.
The airport has a history rooted in the Cold War, initially opening as Vatry Air Base in 1953 under the control of the French Air Force. It served as a training facility for military aircraft until around the year 2000 when it transitioned to civilian ownership and use. Today, it continues to be a site for pilot training for both commercial and military planes.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four airports serving Paris: Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Paris-Beauvais, and Châlons Vatry. However, only Charles de Gaulle and Orly are considered "main" airports.
Charles de Gaulle Airport is the primary international airport serving Paris. It is one of the busiest airports in Europe, handling over 70 million passengers in 2024.
Charles de Gaulle Airport is located 23 kilometers (14 miles) northeast of Paris. It is easily accessible by train, bus, or car.
Both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports offer shuttle services to Disneyland Paris. Orly is the closest airport to the city center, but Charles de Gaulle may be more convenient depending on your location.
Paris–Le Bourget Airport, located north-northeast of Paris, is used for general aviation and private jets. Beauvais–Tillé Airport and Châlons Vatry Airport are also advertised by low-cost airlines as serving Paris, despite being further away from the city.
