Ory Airport: Paris' Gateway To The South

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located 13-14km south of Paris, France, and is one of two international airports serving the city, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The airport is partially in Orly and partially in Villeneuve-le-Roi and covers 15.3 km2 of land. Paris Orly Airport is the busiest airport for domestic flights within France and was the main airport for the city before CDG opened in 1974.

Paris Orly Airport's location and transport links to the city centre

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located in the town of Orly, 13 kilometres (8.1 miles) south of Paris. It is accessible by car or taxi via highway A106. The airport covers 15.3 square kilometres (5.9 square miles) of land and includes terminals and runways that span over two départements and seven communes.

Paris Orly Airport is conveniently located for easy access to the city centre. There are six modes of transportation to the city centre: taxi, Orly Airport transfer, bus, train, tram, and metro. Here is some more information about these options:

• Taxi: Taking a taxi from Orly Airport to the city centre is one of the most convenient options, as they are available 24/7 from the ranks outside the terminals. The journey typically takes between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on traffic. The cost is charged at a flat rate, which is €36 for the Left Bank and €44 for the Right Bank.
• Orly Airport Transfer: Orly Airport transfers offer a door-to-door service and can be booked in advance. This option allows you to skip the queues at the airport taxi ranks and ensure a seamless arrival.
• Bus: Travelling to or from Orly Airport by bus is easy and affordable, with several services connecting to the Paris city centre. The main bus transfer services are the OrlyBus and Le Bus Direct. The OrlyBus is a direct shuttle bus service that takes passengers to 'Place Denfert-Rochereau' in the city centre in approximately 30 minutes. Le Bus Direct offers four lines connecting Orly Airport, Roissy de Gaulle, and Paris city centre. This service provides a high level of comfort and free Wi-Fi aboard, but it is more expensive than the OrlyBus.
• Train: There are no direct train lines from Orly Airport (ORY) to Paris. To get to the city centre by train, you need to take the Orlyval shuttle to Antony Train Station and then transfer to the RER B train line. The Orlyval shuttle provides transportation between all airport terminals and the RER station in Antony. From Antony Station, the RER B train connects to various destinations in Paris, including 'Denfert-Rochereau', 'Châtelet-Les-Halles', and 'Gare du Nord'.
• Tram: Tram line 7 connects 'Villejuif-Louis Aragon' to 'Athis-Mons' and stops at Orly 4. There are also stops within the Coeur d'Orly area, where hotels such as Ibis, Ibis Budget, and Novotel are located. However, the journey from Orly 4 to Villejuif-Louis Aragon Station takes approximately 45 minutes, and you will need to connect to another form of transportation to reach the city centre.
• Metro: As of June 2024, Orly Airport is connected to Paris metro line 14 (purple line), with the terminus station being 'Saint-Denis Pleyel'. However, please note that the line is not yet complete, and the full operation is expected in 2025. Central stops along the line include 'Gare de Lyon', 'Châtelet', 'Pyramides', and 'Madeleine' (close to Montmartre).

The airport's terminals and their facilities

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located about 13 kilometres south of the city centre. It is one of the major airports serving Paris and was once the city's principal air hub before the opening of Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in 1974. ORY is the busiest airport for domestic flights within France and the second busiest French airport overall in passenger traffic.

The airport operates four terminals, which are connected by corridors to form one large complex. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are combined in one building and form the more modern part of the airport. Terminal 4, the former South Terminal, is the largest and most spacious of all the terminals. It is also the oldest, dating back to 1961, and boasts the unique architecture of the time. Today, it serves mainly long-haul flights and flights to North Africa.

Terminal 1 is a concourse divided into three parts, with gates A, B and C. After passing through security, there is a significant shortage of seating. Terminal 2 is the smallest of the four terminals and is located between Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 3 is the most spacious and mainly handles Transavia and Air France flights. It includes around 5,000 square metres of duty-free shopping, several restaurants and lounges, and houses gates D and E.

The airport offers a range of amenities, including eateries and restaurants, shops, lounges, ATMs, currency exchange, unlimited free Wi-Fi, charging stations, baby feeding and changing rooms, medical services, smoking areas, a postal service, and a multi-faith prayer area.

Airlines and destinations

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is located 13km (8.1 miles) south of Paris, in the suburbs. It is one of two international airports serving Paris, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

Paris Orly Airport is the busiest airport for domestic flights within France and the second busiest French airport overall in passenger traffic. It is a hub for Air France and the home base for Transavia France.

The airport offers flights to a range of destinations, including:

• Europe: Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin, Milan, Rome, Venice, Athens, and many more
• The Middle East: Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Jeddah, and Beirut
• Africa: Abidjan, Antananarivo, Bamako, Casablanca, Marrakesh, and many more
• The Caribbean: Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Port-au-Prince
• North America: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Montreal, and San Francisco
• South America: Cayenne, and Punta Cana

There are 29 airlines flying from Paris Orly Airport to 241 airports around the world, as of January 2024. Some of the airlines operating regular scheduled and charter flights include:

• Air Algerie
• Air Caraibes
• Air Corsica
• Air Dolomiti
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Air Malta
• Azul
• Chalair
• Corsair
• EasyJet
• Iberia
• ITA Airways
• Lufthansa
• Pegasus
• Royal Air Maroc
• TAP Portugal
• Transavia France
• Transcarga
• Volotea
• Vueling
• Wizz Air
• Wizz Air Malta

The airport's history

Paris Orly Airport (ORY), or Aéroport de Paris-Orly, was built in 1932 and is located in the town of Orly, 13 kilometres (8.1 miles) south of Paris. It is one of two international airports serving Paris, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

Before the construction of CDG in 1974, Orly was the main airport of Paris. It was originally known as Villeneuve-Orly Airport and served as a secondary airport to Le Bourget. Huge airship hangars were built on the site by the engineer Eugène Freyssinet from 1923 onwards.

During World War II, Orly Airport was used by the occupying German Luftwaffe as a combat airfield. As a result, it was repeatedly attacked by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), causing significant damage to its infrastructure. After the Battle of Normandy and the retreat of German forces from Paris in August 1944, Orly was partially repaired by the USAAF and used as a tactical airfield.

In the post-war years, Orly Airport continued to develop as a major aviation hub. The American United States Army Air Forces 1408th Army Air Force Base Unit was the primary operator at Orly Field until control was returned to the French Government in March 1947. The airport expanded its international routes, offering flights to cities like Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and London.

In 1958, Pan Am Douglas DC-7Cs flew to Los Angeles in 21 hours and 56 minutes, while Trans World Airlines, Air France, and Pan Am offered non-stop flights to New York in around 14 hours. Air France also introduced long-haul flights to Tokyo, with a seven-stop Lockheed Constellation service via India.

Despite the opening of CDG in 1974, Orly remains a significant airport for Paris. It is the busiest French airport for domestic traffic and the second busiest overall in passenger traffic, handling over 33 million passengers in 2024. The airport covers 15.3 square kilometres (5.9 square miles) of land and has four passenger terminals.

The airport's management

Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is one of two international airports serving Paris, France, the other being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Orly Airport is located 13km to 14km south of Paris and is partially in Orly and partially in Villeneuve-le-Roi. It is the busiest airport for domestic flights within France and was the main airport for the city before CDG opened in 1974. It is also the second busiest French airport overall in passenger traffic.

The airport covers 15.3 km2 of land and its area, including terminals and runways, spans over two départements and seven communes. The Essonne département includes the communes of Paray-Vieille-Poste (West Terminal and half of South Terminal), Wissous, Athis-Mons, Chilly-Mazarin, and Morangis. The Val-de-Marne département includes the communes of Villeneuve-le-Roi and Orly (half of South Terminal).

The airport has four passenger terminals (1, 2, 3, and 4) served by shuttle trains, taxis, and buses. The South and West Terminals are linked by a complimentary shuttle train service. The airport is managed by the Aéroports de Paris organisation, which also manages CDG, Le Bourget Airport, and several smaller airports in the suburbs of Paris.

In terms of ground transportation, Orly Airport is directly served by one metro line, a tram line, and a people mover. These offer connections to the larger Paris transportation network. Paris Métro Line 14 links the airport with central Paris and Saint-Denis, with a journey time of 25 minutes to Châtelet–Les Halles station. Tramway T7 connects to Terminal 4 and offers service to Villejuif–Louis Aragon station on Paris Métro Line 7. The Orlyval people mover connects the two stations at Orly terminals (Orly 1, 2, 3, and Orly 4) with Antony station, served by the RER B line.

Frequently asked questions