Summer Olympics 2024 - Paris, France

This year, the Summer Olympics will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 26th to August 11th. Any restrictions put in place for aviation will be detailed in a dedicated aeronautical information publication (SUP AIP), scheduled to be released between the end of April and early May. However, there is some information that is known today. This resource article concentrates on business and general aviation (BGA) and will be updated as new information is released leading up to the games.

This article will be updated as new information becomes available. If you are planning a trip to the Olympics, try to plan ahead, stay flexible and patient, and expect higher-than-normal prices. For more information or help setting up a trip, feel free to contact the Trip Support team at [email protected].

Known Airspace Restrictions

Per French DGAC, they are closing Parisian airspace during the Opening Ceremonies on July 26th. The no-fly zone will be from the ground to unlimited out to 150 KM from the city center and valid from 1900L-2359L (1700Z-2159Z). Only emergency flights will permitted in the restricted area during this time.

Slots and Parking – What we know so far

All Paris airports, including Charles de Gaulle (LFPG), Orly (LFPO), Le Bourget (LFPB), and Beauvais (LFOB), will be inside the closure radius on the 26th, so there will be no flights in or out during the period, even for heads of state. Also, slots will not be issued for these airports between 1530Z and 2200Z.

LFPG and LFPO are commercial airports without any BGA facilities or services, and parking is not possible. The only BGA flights permitted are quick turnarounds for VVIP passengers transferring to/from commercial flights. During the Olympics specifically, these two airports will see an increased number of flights due to visiting Heads of State and the arrivals and departures of the Olympic teams. Therefore, unless a flight falls into these categories, don’t plan on using these airports.

Slots will be in effect for the rest of the games, with LFPB specifically slot coordinated between July 12th to September 16th. Slot requirements at other BGA-accessible nearby airports will vary.

While specifics are not yet known on how to apply, how many can be had by an operator, etc., it is expected that they will be issued on a “first come, first served” basis. Nothing has been mentioned about slot tolerances at this point, but it would not be surprising if they are very tight so as to accommodate as many aircraft as possible. Keep this in mind when planning flights. Parking will be at a premium and, again, is expected to be “first come, first served.” If you are able to get slots but not parking, which is highly likely, reposition to another French airport or even to another neighboring country. Once you have slots and/or parking confirmed, don’t change the schedule. Doing so could result in losing one or both reservations.

Pontoise (LFPT)

1:30 hours away from Paris downtown
Runway 05-23: 5,541′ x 154′ with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 91,190 pounds and a maximum landing weight (MLW) of 83,500 pounds.
Runway 12-30: 5,413′ x 164′ with a MTOW of 88,080 pounds and a MLW of 83,500 pounds

Vatry (LFOK)

2:00 hours away from Paris downtown
Runway 10-28: 12,664′ x 148′ with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 103,600 pounds and a maximum landing weight (MLW) of 83,500 pounds
Huge amount of parking space.

Albert (LFAQ)

1:40 hours away from Paris downtown
Airport built for Airbus and large enough to accommodate their Beluga Transporter
Limited parking space for BGA traffic

Le Mans (LFRM)

2:30 hours away from Paris downtown
Runway 02-20: 4659’, width 98’
Max size/type of aircraft are aircraft less than 15T in commercial flight/less than 45T in private flight
Parking space readily available

More Information

More information on these airports can be found at https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/dvd/eAIP_22_FEB_2024/FRANCE/AIRAC-2024-02-22/html/index-fr-FR.html

Click the AD 2 AERODROMES CIVILS DOTES DE PROCEDURES IFR link on the left side menu, scroll to the airport name, and select airport name. Note the different restrictions - Mon-Fri only, PPR for customs in general, PPR for customs if outside Schengen, etc.

Safety Protocols

There may be more stringent safety protocols implemented during the games. When these have been seen before, they have typically impacted what the required documents are for slots and/or landing permits.

Landing Permit

France does require a charter landing permit, so if entering the country as this type, be sure to know what documents are needed and process those as soon as possible. Typically, the lead time for a landing permit is two (2) days, but assume it will take a little longer due to a larger request volume.
Specific Routings

Due to the increased traffic, local ATC and EuroControl may implement specific routings in and out of northern France. Ensure these are used as ATC will change the plan to the specific route they require if it is not filed initially. Any changes will most likely result in departure delays and, thus, loss of slot times.

Hotels

Try to book rooms as early as possible, but watch the cancellation policy. The rooms may be non-refundable or have a cancellation policy of several days or weeks’ notice. Rooms may also be hard to come by due to blocks of them being reserved. It is highly likely that hotels further away from the event will need to be sought out if reservations have not been made already.

Fuel

Like everything else, fuel will be in high demand. Depending on the situation, you may want to plan on tankering through rather than fueling at the location. This will prevent delays due to long waits for fuel or brief periods of shortages. The myWorld Tankering program is a great tool to help you with your fuel planning needs. Go here to find out more.

Slow Confirmations, Less Choice, and Inflated Prices of Services

Most of the time, services at a given location are confirmed in the same amount of time every visit. However, with the movement volume increasing due to the games, there will inevitably be slower response times.

Additionally, due to all that traffic, there may be fewer options. It’s wise to have not only a Plan A but also a B, C, and D ready, just in case. Things like staying for a shorter period of time, repositioning, staying in a hotel further away than normal, etc. should all be on the table.

Finally, prices are going to be higher due to supply and demand; be prepared for sticker shock. Hotels are the typical example. As mentioned earlier, the room rates are higher and there is no cancelation policy. One example of a Plan B here could be renting an apartment. One month’s rent may be cheaper than three (3) king-size crew rooms at a three (3) star or better hotel. Retail fuel prices may also be higher, so a good solution would be to use contract fuel instead.

Pop-up Trips

All the topics above apply even more to a pop-up trip. When a trip is planned near the start time or during the event, expect the unexpected. There will be very little in the way of selection, so more flexibility will be required. Also, be prepared for prices to be inflated even higher than if planning ahead of time. A trip can still go off without any problems if the right expectations are had.