Modernization of Paris-Orly Aéroports de Paris presents the future face of the airport

Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aéroports de Paris and Franck Mereyde, Managing Director of Paris-Orly airport presented this morning a major modernisation project for Paris-Orly Airport, planned as part of the Horizon 2018 initiative.

Paris-Orly Airport has already been the subject of several development projects in recent years. Now, in order to better respond to passengers and airlines new expectations, Aéroports de Paris is launching an ambitious 6-year renovation programme.

This project will result in the unification of the two existing terminals, Orly South and Orly West, the construction of a brand new international departure lounge and the complete redevelopment of all the terminal entrances, amounting to 100,000 m² of new reception areas for passengers.

A regulatory framework that remains unchanged, without an increase in the number of aircraft

"Our objective is to completely transform Paris-Orly Airport, in order to provide Orly passengers with facilities matching the top international standards. We will strengthen the quality of our hospitality and will provide more space and a greater level of comfort for our passengers. This major project is fully compliant with the regulatory framework governing air traffic within the airport. It will not jeopardise the curfew in place nor the cap on the number of aircraft operations", declared Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aéroports de Paris.

The nature of traffic at Paris-Orly Airport has changed considerably in recent years. The number of national flights has fallen and the percentage of flights outside France has risen from 14% in 2000 to 28% in 2012. This would suggest that passengers are spending more time in the terminals. It has therefore become necessary to provide them with additional passenger concourses, so that their airport experience is as pleasant and smooth as possible.

A single terminal to better accommodate passengers

Paris-Orly Airport currently comprises two terminals and six departure lounges. By 2018, passengers will have a single terminal and three departure lounges at their disposal. Combining Orly South and Orly West is this project's flagship development. This building, to be commissioned by 2018, will alone provide 80,000 m² of new passenger welcome areas. More space, more fluidity, more service. It will concentrate all functions within a single terminal: check-in, security, baggage handling, retail facilities, etc. Passengers will be able to enjoy dedicated areas with shops, services and waiting areas, with a level of comfort and a quality of materials equivalent to the most recently constructed hall in terminal 2E of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. With this unique terminal in Orly, 10 remote aircraft stands will be replaced by contact stands directly connected to the departure lounges.

"This project is essential for both passengers and airlines operating at Paris-Orly Airport. We do not aim at increasing the handling capacity of the airport but rather at radically upgrading the quality of service for our passengers.At this stage, Aéroports de Paris will invest between 400 and 450 million euros", specified Franck Mereyde, Managing Director of the airport.

A new departure lounge dedicated to international flights

By 2015, the date of commissioning, 80% of the international passengers using the South Terminal will be welcomed into a new 20,000 m² international departure lounge, located to the east of the South Terminal. There too, Aéroports de Paris hopes to offer passengers - but also airlines - facilities with a level of quality op to the highest international standards. In order to streamline checking procedures (security, border control), the number of checkpoints will be increased. The baggage reclaim area will benefit from the installation of a third baggage carousel.

The complete redevelopment of the exterior facilities

In order to make accessibility to the two terminals more fluid, Aéroports de Paris will also completely redevelop the terminal entrances between 2013 and 2014. Thus, a new urban space, with quality facilities and rebalanced road and pedestrian areas will be created. For example, the footpaths will be enlarged, increasing from 6 m to 17 m. A drop-off area will also be created outside the West Terminal.

Over time, more than 5,000 jobs created
This major construction project will, over the course of the 6 years, create 750 full-time jobs. Once the developments are complete, with the opening of the 100,000 m² of new areas, almost 5,000 jobs will be directly created within the airport over time.

This project will further strengthen the economic dynamism of the airport. According to a study conducted by the BIPE in February 2012, it is obvious that the economic activity generated in 2010 by the mere presence of Paris-Orly Airport created almost 8 billion euros worth of added value. It also provides more than a total of 85,000 jobs, including 27,000 direct jobs.