Paris's second-largest airport, south of the capital.
Opened
1932
Location
Paris, France
Paris-Orly Airport is the second-busiest airport in France, located approximately 13 kilometres south of central Paris in the communes of Orly and Villeneuve-le-Roi in Val-de-Marne. It serves as a major hub for domestic and European flights, as well as intercontinental routes to Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Originally opened before World War II, Orly served as the primary international gateway to Paris until Charles de Gaulle Airport opened in 1974. It has since focused heavily on leisure, charter, and short-to-medium-haul traffic, complementing CDG's role as France's main long-haul hub.
The airport underwent significant modernisation, including the opening of a redesigned terminal structure in 2021, when its two historic terminals were merged into a single unified passenger building called Orly Terminal. This renovation improved passenger flow and consolidated airline operations under one roof.
Terminals
Orly operates a single unified terminal building (Orly Terminal), created in 2021 by merging the former Orly-Sud and Orly-Ouest terminals, with four distinct hall sections (1 through 4).
Getting to & from
Orly is connected to central Paris by the OrlyVal automated shuttle linking to the RER B line, the RER C line via Pont de Rungis station, direct bus services, and taxi or ride-hailing options.
Airlines here
Air France uses Orly as a secondary hub, while Transavia France, easyJet, Vueling, and Air Algérie are among the major carriers operating significant services here.
Notable facts
- ›Orly was the main international airport for Paris before Charles de Gaulle Airport opened in 1974.
- ›The airport was used extensively by US military forces after World War II before being returned to civilian use.
- ›In 2021, the former Orly-Sud and Orly-Ouest terminals were merged into a single renovated terminal.
- ›Orly handled approximately 33 million passengers in 2019, its peak pre-pandemic year.
- ›The airport temporarily closed in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first such closure in its history.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
