After eight decades of almost uninterrupted operations, Air France has confirmed that it will close its remaining routes at Paris-Orly (ORY) on 26 March 2026 and concentrate all mainline activity at its Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) hub. The decision, first reported by Le Parisien on Thursday morning, means the French flag-carrier will vacate the airport at which it was born in 1946, leaving only its low-cost subsidiary Transavia to fly under the Air France-KLM banner at Orly. Although the airline’s domestic operation at Orly has been shrinking for years, the formal withdrawal is symbolically important. It follows the 2026 ban on French domestic flights where an equivalent rail journey under 2 hours 30 minutes exists, as well as the rise of remote working that has slashed demand for the traditional Paris-province ‘navette’ shuttle flights that once filled ORY’s schedule. Senior managers quoted by Le Parisien said Air France could no longer justify splitting resources between two Paris airports when 90 percent of its long-haul and connecting traffic is now handled at CDG. From an international mobility perspective, the consolidation should simplify itineraries for business travellers.
![Air France ends 80-year presence at Paris-Orly Airport]()
For organisations navigating these changes, VisaHQ can help by aggregating visa and passport requirements, supplying real-time Schengen updates and offering expedited processing through its France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/). The platform’s corporate dashboard allows mobility teams to keep employees compliant as flight routings and connection points evolve.
Corporate travel managers have long complained that mixed itineraries—long-haul into CDG and short-haul out of ORY—added ground-transfer time and increased the risk of mis-connected baggage. Once the move is complete, passengers will have single-terminal connections and can make full use of SkyTeam partner lounges and the CDG-based Customs & Immigration fast-track channels. Orly itself is not being abandoned; Transavia France plans to grow from 71 to 80 aircraft by the end of 2027, focusing on point-to-point leisure routes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. ADP, the airport operator, says it will use the extra capacity to court other low-cost carriers and to expand wide-body parking stands in anticipation of the 2027 CDG-Express rail link, which will finally connect both Paris airports via a 20-minute direct train. For mobility professionals, key take-aways are clear: (1) update all France-related travel policies to route employees through CDG rather than ORY after 26 March 2026; (2) review corporate airline agreements, as some historic Orly-based discount structures may lapse; and (3) anticipate fuller CDG peak-hour queues once the summer timetable begins. HR teams relocating staff to Île-de-France should also note that commuting patterns will shift, potentially reducing demand for Orly-side housing and increasing pressure on routes into Roissy-en-France.
For organisations navigating these changes, VisaHQ can help by aggregating visa and passport requirements, supplying real-time Schengen updates and offering expedited processing through its France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/). The platform’s corporate dashboard allows mobility teams to keep employees compliant as flight routings and connection points evolve.
Corporate travel managers have long complained that mixed itineraries—long-haul into CDG and short-haul out of ORY—added ground-transfer time and increased the risk of mis-connected baggage. Once the move is complete, passengers will have single-terminal connections and can make full use of SkyTeam partner lounges and the CDG-based Customs & Immigration fast-track channels. Orly itself is not being abandoned; Transavia France plans to grow from 71 to 80 aircraft by the end of 2027, focusing on point-to-point leisure routes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. ADP, the airport operator, says it will use the extra capacity to court other low-cost carriers and to expand wide-body parking stands in anticipation of the 2027 CDG-Express rail link, which will finally connect both Paris airports via a 20-minute direct train. For mobility professionals, key take-aways are clear: (1) update all France-related travel policies to route employees through CDG rather than ORY after 26 March 2026; (2) review corporate airline agreements, as some historic Orly-based discount structures may lapse; and (3) anticipate fuller CDG peak-hour queues once the summer timetable begins. HR teams relocating staff to Île-de-France should also note that commuting patterns will shift, potentially reducing demand for Orly-side housing and increasing pressure on routes into Roissy-en-France.
