This is an important and symbolic step for the Parisian airport of Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle. After more than two years of closure as a result of the covid epidemic (which caused the drop in air traffic) and important works started in 2016, Terminal 1 (T1), historically dedicated to intercontinental flights, reopened its doors this Thursday, April 1. december.
The most visible change is the gradual repatriation of around 50 airlines that were previously based at Terminal 2B. This affects operators such as Swiss, Lufthansa or even Eurowings. This migration will be completed on January 13.
Here is the schedule for this migration:
- December 1: Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, SWISS
- December 2: Aegean Airlines, Icelandair, LOT, Norwegian, SAS
- December 5: Air Algeria, Bulgaria Air, Egyptair, Srilankan Airlines
- December 6: Air India, Fly One, Oman Air, SATA Azores, Sky Express, Ukraine Intl. airlines
- December 7: Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines
- December 8: Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways
- December 9: Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabia
- January 9: United Airlines, Aer Lingus
- January 10: Emirates, Iran Air
- January 11: Air Canada, Air Madagascar
- January 12: Air Senegal
- January 13: All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines
Capacity increase
This reopening will also have consequences in Terminal 2 as British Airways leaves Terminal 2C for Terminal 2B on December 5, while American Airlines moves from Terminal 2A to Terminal 2B from January 9, 2023.
“For a hassle-free trip, check out theflight information de Paris Aéroport and consult in real time the information of your departure or arrival terminal”, warns ADP (Aéroports de Paris).
Specifically, these modernization works involved the creation of a new 36,000 square meter building, connected to boarding satellites 1, 2 and 3. Enough to increase the capacity of the terminal by 1.2 million passengers per year for a total of 10.2 million passengers.
Enough to allow the Parisian site to better support the rapid resumption of air traffic. In fact, ADP expects a return to normality between 2023 and 2024 in Roissy compared to the current 80%. In 2019, the last “normal” year for the air sector, Paris-CDG as a whole welcomed more than 76 million passengers.
There remains the question of police personnel for controls. To date, according to our information, there are still 300 PAF (Air and Border Police) officers in Orly and Roissy, causing long queues for international flights to arrive.
A setting for the “Extime” experience
For ADP, it is also about testing its new approach to supporting travelers through the “Extime” brand that is already deployed in the 2G terminal and intends to roll out to all terminals.
The idea that the airport is no longer just a convenience but a stage of the journey as such, reinventing the waiting time generally perceived as irritating or even stressful by passengers. Make it a kind of “hospitality brand without a hotel”.
This “experience” also includes airline lounges, catering, entertainment, duty-free for all passengers, the manager insists, and not just for business-class passengers.
There are sofas, easy chairs, game tables, a fountain, lighting and designer sculptures… But also a “Housekeeper” who will ensure the satisfaction of the passengers and help them.
Source: BFM TV
