Orly Airport: A Gateway To Southern France

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is one of two international airports serving Paris, France, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Located about 13-14km south of Paris, it is one of the busiest airports in France for domestic traffic. The airport covers a vast area of 15.3 km2, spanning over two départements and seven communes. It features two terminals, South and West, which are connected by freeways, the Orlyval metro network, and shuttles.

Paris Orly Airport's location

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located about 10 to 14 kilometres south of Paris, in the Île-de-France region. It is one of two international airports serving Paris, France, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris Orly Airport is partially located in Orly and partially in Villeneuve-le-Roi. It covers 15.3 square kilometres of land, spanning seven communes across two départements: Essonne and Val-de-Marne.

Paris Orly Airport is conveniently connected to the Paris city centre by the A6 motorway, also known as the Autoroute du Sud. The airport is easily accessible by train, tram, bus, and road. The nearest train station served by SNCF, Ouigo, and TER trains is Paris Montparnasse, approximately 14 kilometres away. The airport itself has two train stations, Orly 1, 2, and 3, and Orly 4, which can be reached using the RER B trains and the Orlyval metro network.

The airport is also well-connected to the city centre by bus services, with the most direct route being the OrlyBus, which departs from Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris every 10 to 15 minutes. The total journey time by bus is around 30 minutes. Taxis are also readily available at the airport, providing easy access to the main districts of Paris, such as Île de la Cité, La Défense business district, and Rive Droite.

Paris Orly Airport has two terminal buildings, the South Terminal and the West Terminal, which are connected by freeways, the Orlyval metro network, and shuttle services. The airport covers a vast area of around 3,700 acres and is operated by the Aéroports de Paris organisation. It serves as a hub for domestic and overseas territory flights of Air France and is the home base for Transavia France.

Transport to and from the airport

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located around 13-14km (8.1-9 miles) south of central Paris, France. It is one of two international airports serving Paris, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The airport covers a vast area of 3,700 acres or 1,500 hectares. It is connected to Paris city centre by the A6 motorway, also known as the Autoroute du Sud.

Paris Orly Airport is easily accessible by various means of transportation. It is served by one metro line, a tram line, and a people mover, which connect to the larger Paris transportation network. Here are some options for travelling to and from the airport:

• Metro Line 14: This line links the airport with central Paris and Saint-Denis. It takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Châtelet–Les Halles station from the airport.
• Tramway T7: The tram connects to Terminal 4 and offers service to Villejuif–Louis Aragon station on Paris Métro Line 7.
• Orlyval people mover: The Orlyval line connects the two stations at Orly terminals (Orly 1, 2, 3, and Orly 4) with Antony station, served by the RER B line. Orlyval is free to use between the two stations at Orly, but a premium fare is charged for the journey between Antony and the airport.
• Taxis: Taxis are readily available at the airport and provide a convenient way to travel to the main districts of Paris, such as Île de la Cité, La Défense business district, and Rive Droite, which includes the Bastille area.
• TGV High-Speed Trains: These trains run between the Orlyval Station at the airport and Gare du Nord, making several stops along the way.
• Buses: RATP bus 183 connects the airport to Rungis International Market, with connections to RER C at Pont de Rungis–Aéroport d'Orly station and to Tramway T9 at Robert Peary station. Additionally, the Albatrans bus 91-10 provides a connection to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines–Montigny-le-Bretonneux station (Transilien) via Massy-Palaiseau station (TGV).
• Night Buses: Noctilien night buses N22, N31, N131, and N144 provide connections to various locations in Paris during the late hours.

Terminals and airlines

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located in the southern suburbs of Paris, France, and is one of two international airports serving the city, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Orly Airport is located partially in Orly and partially in Villeneuve-le-Roi, about 13 km (8.1 miles) south of Paris. The airport covers 15.3 km2 (5.9 sq mi) of land and consists of four terminals, which are connected by corridors to form one large complex.

Terminals

The four terminals at Orly Airport are:

• Terminal 1 (gates A, B, C)
• Terminal 2 (gates C)
• Terminal 3 (gates D, E)
• Terminal 4 (gates F)

Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are combined in one building and form the more modern part of the airport. Terminal 3 is the most spacious terminal and mainly handles Transavia and Air France flights. Terminal 2 is the smallest and is located between terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 1 is a concourse divided into three parts for different airline check-ins. The original Terminal 4 building from the 1960s serves mainly long-haul flights and flights to North Africa. It is the largest and most spacious terminal.

Airlines

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Orly Airport:

• Air Algerie
• Air Caraibes
• Air Corsica
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Alitalia
• Amelia International
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• British Airways
• Chalair
• Corsair International
• EasyJet
• French Bee
• Iberia
• ITA Airways
• KM Malta Airlines
• La Compagnie
• Pegasus Airlines
• Royal Air Maroc
• TAP
• Transavia
• Tunisair
• Twinjet
• TUIfly
• Volotea
• Vueling
• Wizz Air

History of the airport

Paris Orly Airport, originally known as Villeneuve-Orly Airport, is located in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It was opened to the public in 1932 as a secondary airport to Le Bourget Airport.

During World War II, the airport was used by the German Luftwaffe as a combat airfield and suffered extensive bomb damage from Allied forces. After the war, the airport was rebuilt by the US Air Force and placed under the control of the newly founded public company, Aéroport de Paris.

In 1947, a third runway was constructed to accommodate the airport's rapid growth. By 1952, Air France had made Orly Airport its hub, and the airport served over 1.2 million passengers that year.

The airport continued to expand and develop in the following decades. In 1958, the world's first medium-range jet airliner, the Sud Aviation Caravelle, was christened at Orly. In 1961, French President Charles de Gaulle inaugurated the new south terminal, and by 1962, the airport's annual visitor count exceeded that of the Palace of Versailles, reaching 3.4 million.

In 1969, the first jumbo jet, a Pan Am Boeing 747, landed at Orly. Despite the opening of the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1974, which became the main airport for international traffic, Orly retained its importance as Paris's second airport, particularly for domestic flights.

Over the years, Orly Airport has undergone modernisation and upgrades to enhance its capacity and facilities. It remains a vital transport hub, serving over 30 million passengers annually and offering flights to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and North America.

Hotels near the airport

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located around 13-14 km (8.1-9 miles) south of central Paris, in the communes of Paray-Vieille-Poste, Wissous, Athis-Mons, Chilly-Mazarin, Morangis, Villeneuve-le-Roi, and Orly. There are several hotels near the airport, including:

Novotel Paris Coeur d'Orly Airport

Located just a 5-minute walk from Terminal 4 of Orly Airport, with Terminals 1 to 3 also easily accessible via the Orlyval shuttle. The hotel features a restaurant, comfortable rooms, and helpful staff.

Ibis Paris Coeur d'Orly Airport

Situated just 984 feet from Paris-Orly Airport and a 3-minute walk from Terminal 4, connected by a covered walkway. The hotel offers a restaurant, clean rooms, and friendly staff.

Mercure Paris Orly Airport

This hotel is a 7-minute tram ride on the T7 tram line from Terminal 4 of the airport. It is praised for its proximity to the airport, quiet rooms, and friendly staff. The hotel also offers a variety of games, such as pool and babyfoot.

Ibis Styles Paris Orly Airport

Located in Paray-Vieille-Poste, about 10 miles from Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles, this hotel provides accommodations with a shared lounge, private parking, a terrace, and a bar. A free shuttle bus is available to the airport.

Grand Hotel Senia

Located in Southern Paris, about 2.5 miles from the international Market of Rungis and 3.1 miles from Orly Airport. The hotel offers spacious and clean rooms, great air conditioning, and a friendly front desk. A nice shuttle service to the airport is also provided.

Ibis Budget Paris Coeur d'Orly Airport

A basic but comfortable hotel located just a 10-15 minute walk from Orly Airport. The rooms are clean and have all the necessary amenities. The staff are friendly and check-in and check-out are efficient.

Frequently asked questions