The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGCA) has warned travellers to Paris-Orly to expect long delays following a breakdown of air traffic control at the airport.
Paris-Orly Airport Facing Delays After Technical Issue
The Authority has also advised airlines to cut their flights down by 15% to alleviate the workload on Paris ‘second’ airport – following asking for a 40% reduction on Sunday.
In a statement, the DGCA said:
“The situation is improving. Despite these preventive measures, delays are expected.”
Paris-Orly predominantly focuses on internal and European flights, and with around 130 flights to Portugal, Spain, and Southern France being affected, the delays and cancellations will have a marked effect on the airport.
The good news is that, following specific cancellations to Porto, Helsinki, and Rome, amongst others this morning, fewer flights appeared to be delayed this afternoon.
Advice for Travellers
Under EU law, passengers will receive a refund for cancelled flights.
However, passengers will be unlikely to receive any further compensation for cancelled services at Paris-Orly. This is because airlines will argue that the air traffic control was under ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and that could not be avoided.
Meanwhile, any passengers facing a delay overnight, are obliged to contact their airline, who may find and pay for accommodation overnight.
More About Paris-Orly Airport
Initially home to two large Airship Hangars, Paris-Orly was opened as Villeneuve-Orly Airport in 1932.
During World War Two, the airport was occupied by the Luftwaffe, and predominantly used by both fighters and bombers, throughout the war.
Following the Allied victory, allied control was handed to the United States Army Air Force, before being returned to French control in 1947.
By 1958, Pan-Am, TWA, and Air France were regularly flying commercial flights to as far afield as New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
Always considerably smaller than Charles de Gaulle Airport, with 33.1 million passengers in 2024 compared to Charles de Gaulle’s 70 million, the airport has seen a number of issues and difficulties in recent years.
In 2015, during foggy weather, the system used to communicate with pilots during adverse weather failed. As a result, with pilots unable to communicate with the airport, flights were cancelled and the airport briefly suspended operation.
Finally, in 2020, Paris-Orly was closed entirely during the Covid-19 Pandemic, with flights redirected to Charles de Gaulle for the duration of France’s lockdown.
Have you been affected by the cancellations? Let us know in the comments below.
