Flying during the Olympic Games: instructions

Here we are: in one month, Paris will host the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and, among the 15 million cumulative visitors (Olympic and Paralympic Games) expected by the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, some of them will arrive by plane, accentuating the summer peak in attendance at our airports. Whether you are planning to take to the skies to attend the events or to go on vacation: everything you need to know to manage your trip during this busy period.

How much overcrowding can you expect?

A total of 64,000 people accredited to the Olympic and Paralympic Games will pass through Paris airports (52,000 via Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, 12,000 via Paris-Orly), accompanied by 114,000 bags… A major operational challenge for the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group which expects thousands of additional arrivals and departures per day between July 18, the opening of the Olympic village, and August 12, which should be a record, the day after the end of the Games.

On the airline side, one in five athletes travelling to Paris during the Olympic and Paralympic periods will do so via Air France, the French airline announced on Tuesday 11 June at a press conference. Up to 125,000 customers per day are expected on the airline’s planes, with a sharp increase in passengers with Paris as their final destination instead of being in transit, and up to 10 times more oversized baggage.

For its part, Transavia, a low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group, has put more than a million seats on sale (50,000 more than in 2023) and expects average occupancy rates for its planes by 92%…

What systems are there in Paris airports?

Openings of additional terminals (2C and 2A at Charles de Gaulle), multiplication of automated passage devices (188 Parafe airlocks compared to 121 in 2023), plus new security scanners, passenger and baggage routes adapted for accredited persons, new signage, etc. The developments planned by the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group for accredited people are substantial. But will they be enough to avoid longer waiting times at check-ins, security checks or at the Border Police for “normal” travelers?

And at Air France?

In anticipation of this peak in attendance, the French company is planning an unprecedented number of “reserve” planes (15). 1,000 additional recruitments on seasonal contracts have been made, and a dedicated registration system for delegations will be installed outside the airport directly at the Olympic village. Note that the company will open an 850m2 space, with a restaurant, at the Palais de Tokyo during the Olympic Games.

How long before your flight should you arrive at the airport?

Some airlines, like Transavia (which operates from Paris-Orly), recommend that its customers, during the Olympic Games period, check in online 30 hours before departure in order to save time at the airport. airport. “Given the waiting times for security checks and airport routes, we recommend that passengers respect the check-in times indicated on the emails sent by Transavia: up to 3 hours before departure time”, indicates the management of the Air France-KLM group company.

What days should you avoid when flying this summer?

Of course, some days are expected to be more disrupted than others this summer. This will be particularly the case for:

• July 27, August 3 and 4: cycling road race.
• August 10 and 11: marathon event.
• September 3 to 8: Paralympic road event.
• August 10 to 12: departures of athletes.
• And especially from July 26day of the opening ceremony (read below).

Fly on July 26

This is a radical decision taken by the organizers of the Olympic Games for the opening ceremony on July 26: air traffic (takeoff, landing, and overflight) will be prohibited within a radius of 150 km around Paris between 7 p.m. and midnight. The decision having been communicated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) last fall, the companies operating at CDG and Orly have all already adapted their flight programs for this day. For example, Transavia does not schedule takeoff or landing after 5:20 p.m. Please note that transport, RER B and taxis included, will operate normally to and from the airports.

In the event of a delay, can my flight be rerouted?

However, what happens if my flight supposed to land on the 26th is delayed and arrives in Paris during the fateful time slot? The DGAC provides a very simple answer: “no takeoff or landing is authorized, if this situation arises, the flight will be immediately diverted to another airport.” Lille, Brussels, Vatry? “Everything will depend on where the flight is arriving from,” tells us the communication from the government body, specifying that “the airlines having been informed well in advance, such a scenario seems very improbable and would really be bad luck.” “We are in regular discussions with ADP and the DGAC to take sufficient margin so that our currently broadcast flight program is stable and thus avoid any diversion”indicates for example the direction of Transavia.

And in Paris-Beauvais?

Concerned by this 150 km perimeter around Paris for the evening of July 26, Paris-Beauvais airport, a specialist in low-cost flights, will also be closed during the airspace closure window. If “The companies have been making arrangements for weeks now”, “delayed flights will be diverted to other airports, except in emergency situations of course”, indicates the direction of the airport Figaro, specifying that a “Specific signage and a promotional system for the Olympic Games are already in place at the airport.”

Public transport, taxis, VTC: how to reach the airports during the Olympics?

“If you plan to go on vacation from July to September 2024, accommodations may be necessary,” warns the government site anticipateerlesjeux.gouv.fr, which already predicts greater traffic jams around airports due to the influx of travelers.

For public transport: beyond closed or busy stations, the transport offer to airports will be increased by 15%. Note the marketing of a “Paris 2024 pass”, sold for €16 per day, including services to the two airports.

For taxis and VTC: Be careful to reserve well in advance, at drop-off zones in the red or blue perimeters, and with time margins so as not to be delayed by controls or slowdowns (see the “Olympic lanes”).

All information at this address and access to the interactive map of impacts on travel here.

A metro in Orly: the extension of line 14 ready for the Olympics

On June 24, in time for the Olympics, the extension of line 14 of the Paris metro will be inaugurated, linking Saint-Denis-Pleyel to the north, and, above all, Paris-Orly airport to the south. The southern Paris airport platform will thus be accessible in 23 minutes from Gare de Lyon and 25 from Châtelet, a time saving of 50% compared to the RER B / Orlyval. During the Olympics, line 14 should carry around 800,000 passengers, connecting the airport to several Olympic sites. Please note that specific pricing will be in place from July 20 to September 8: the price of a single ticket to reach Orly by metro will be €16 (€11.50 after, and at no additional cost for ticket holders). a monthly or annual Navigo pass).

By road: what about the “Olympic routes”?

During the Olympic period, 185 kilometers of special lanes on the roads around Paris will be reserved for accredited vehicles. Including, obviously, those leading to stations and airports, and in particular the A1 between Porte de la Chapelle and CDG. Two choices, therefore, for getting to the airports: anticipate the slowdowns caused by these reserved lines or choose a route that avoids them. All the information about it here.

Do air passenger rights change during this period?

No, obviously, they even need to be monitored carefully in the event of delays or disputes. All information from the European Consumer Center.