Getting to Paris by Air

Aeroports de Paris (ADP) is responsible for the two major airports in Paris: Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Tel: (01) 4862 2280. Fax: (01) 4862 0752.
Website: www.adp.fr

The airport is located 23km (14 miles) northeast of the city. There are three terminals: CDG 1 serves international flights, CDG 2 national and international flights and T9 charter flights only (national and international). CDG 1 and CDG 2 are linked by free shuttle buses. Air France coaches and RER line B (see below) linkF Charles de Gaulle airport to Orly airport (journey time - approximately 50 minutes).

Major airlines: These include Air France/Air Inter (tel: (0802) 802 802 (within France) or (03) 8855 2605 (outside France)), Air Canada, Alitalia, American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Sabena Airlines, Singapore Airlines and US Air.

Airport facilities: These include bars, restaurants and boutiques, post offices, newsagents, chemists, banks, automatic cash dispensers, bureaux de change, insurance facilities and car parks, but no left-luggage facilities. Car hire companies include: Avis (tel: (01) 4862 3434), Budget (tel: (01) 4862 7021), National Citer (tel: (01) 4862 6581), Europcar (tel: (01) 4862 3333), Hertz (tel: (01) 4862 2900) and Sixt (tel: (01) 4862 4077).

Business facilities: Eight fully equipped meeting rooms, three offices and one VIP lounge are located within CDG 1 (tel: (01) 4862 2290; fax: (01) 4862 6129).

Transport to the city: The RER line B (tel: (08) 3668 7714) runs from the TGV station of CDG 2 to the Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, St-Michel and Denfert-Rochereau where there are metro stations (journey time - approximately 30 minutes; cost FFr49). Roissybus (tel: (08) 3668 7714) departs from the three terminals to the rue Scribe, metro Opera (journey time - approximately 45 minutes; cost FFr45). RATP buses depart from CDG 1 (gate 26, departure level); number 350 stops at Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est; number 351 at the Porte de Bagnolet and Nation (cost FFr26).

Air France coaches (tel: (01) 4156 8900 (information line in English)) depart from CDG 1 and CDG 2: to place Charles de Gaulle (journey time - approximately 40 minutes; cost FFr60); and to Paris-Montparnasse, rue du Commandant Mouchotte and Gare de Lyon and to boulevard Diderot (journey time - approximately 50 minutes; cost FFr70). The Airport Shuttle is a door-to-door airport minibus service, often cheaper than a taxi. Places must be reserved at least two days in advance (tel: (01) 4538 5572 (English speaking) or (1 888) 426 2705 (America only; toll free); fax: (01) 4321 3567; website: www.airportshuttle.fr). The journey lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes and costs FFr120 per person (cheaper for groups of up to eight). A taxi to the city centre costs FFr220 upwards and takes approximately 60 minutes (see the Taxis section); the Airport's chauffeur-driven limousine service (tel: (01) 4071 8462) costs FFr550.

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)
Tel: (01) 4975 1515. Fax: (01) 4975 5878.

Orly is located 14km (nine miles) south of the city, on the A6 motorway. There are two terminals linked by shuttle (navette): Orly Sud handles mainly international flights and Orly Ouest mainly domestic flights.

Major airlines: See the Roissy Airport section above.

Airport facilities: See the Roissy Airport section above.

Business facilities: Orly's fully equipped business centre (tel: (01) 4975 1233; fax: (01) 4975 0163) has 15 meeting rooms, six offices and a business lounge.

Transport to the city: RER line C and ADP shuttle bus (navette) depart from both terminals and stop at the Gare d'Austerlitz, St-Michel, Invalides and Porte Maillot (journey time - approximately 35 minutes; cost FFr47). Orlyval (tel: (08) 3668 7714) is the frequent Val train shuttle link to the RER line B station of Anthony which has metro connections to Denfert-Rochereau, St-Michel and Chatelet-Les Halles (journey time - approximately 30 minutes; cost FFr57). Frequent RATP buses (tel: (08) 3668 7714) stop at place Denfert-Rochereau. The Orlybus runs to Denfert-Rochereau RER and metro station (journey time - 25 minutes; cost FFr35 (one way). The Jetbus runs to metro Villejuif-Louis Aragon (journey time - approximately 15 minutes; cost FFr26.50). Air France coaches (tel: (01) 4156 8900) stop at the Porte d'Orleans, Gare Montparnasse, Duroc and Gare des Invalides (journey time - approximately 30 minutes; cost FFr45). The Airport Shuttle (see Roissy Airport section) takes approximately one hour and taxis about 35 minutes (cost approximately FFr150) to the centre of Paris. The Airport Limousine service (tel: (01) 4071 8462) provides chauffeur-driven cars, the price is fixed at FFr450.

Approximate flight times to Paris: From London is 1 hour 10 minutes; from New York is 7 hours; from Los Angeles is 10 hours 30 minutes; from Toronto is 7 hours and 20 minutes; and from Sydney is 23 hours 25 minutes (plus stopover and transfer in Singapore).

Arrival/departure tax: None.