The Parisienne airport authority has been buffing up the capital's main international gateway in an effort to compete with its main Continental rivals. Colin Ellson reports Paris CDG General Charles de Gaulle once complained that it was difficult to unite a country which has 265 varieties of cheese. The sprawling airport that bears his name has long faced similar problems of unity, accused by passengers of being too complex, with saturated facilities, and a ground transportation system ripe in choice but lacking the essential element of a rapid rail link to the city centre. Aeroports de Paris, which operates Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, in Roissy, north of Paris, is acutely aware of the problems, acknowledging that it could lose out to Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt as the main continental hub unless it addresses the twin worries of overcrowding and access. In fact, CDG has been undergoing a major overhaul for a number of years. Not without setbacks. In 2004, the roof of the new Terminal 2E collapsed, causing four fatalities. Recovered from this disaster, the authorities have been pushing ahead with a €220 million (US$304 million) renovation of Terminal 1 which has eased congestion.
And in June this year, newly elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy inaugurated a €645 million (US$882 million) extension to Terminal 2E designed to be the hub of European operations for Air France/KLM and its Skyteam alliance partners. At a stroke, the new light and airy complex, built specifically to handle the giant Airbus A380 when it enters service with Air France in 2009, increased capacity at CDG by 8.5 million passengers a year. At present dedicated to long-haul flights, it comes with 22 boarding gates, stands for parking six Air France A380s simultaneously, seating for 5,000, a variety of shops, cafes and bars, biometric security checks, and screens at the Terminal 2E check-in area showing the estimated waiting time at each desk so travellers can decide which queue to join. After which, they are expressed to their aircraft at the satellite gates by automated train in 45 seconds. Moving around the airport in general – previously a time-consuming circumnavigation by shuttle bus – has also become easier since the launch of CDGVAL in April this year. The free, driverless train links all three terminals, RER-TGV stations and long-term car parks. Stopping at five points en route, it covers 3.5 kilometres in eight minutes, compared to 25 minutes by bus. Internal improvements apart, Aeroports de Paris has also set out its plans for the wider Paris area with the unveiling of the CDG Express project, vital it says for the efficient running of the airport andthe capital. Not before time: 80% of trips between the centre of Paris and CDG are currently made byroad, with daily traffic jams on the A1 and A3 autoroutes meaning the journey time can vary from 30 minutes to over two hours. In addition, the RER B Line serving the airport is packed with commuters during rush hours, creating chaos for air travellers. The CDG Express link aims not only significantly to reduce traffic snarl ups but also to provide a more environment-friendly mode of transport. Named Virgule, the route will travel on 32km of track, using a modernised RER B Line, 8km of new high-speed track and a short underground section. Connecting CDG with the Gare de l'Est, the direct, non-stop service will offer a transit time of 20 minutes, with trains running at 15-minute intervals. Work on the €64 million (US$86 million) will begin in 2008, with completion scheduled for 2012.
All of which should mean French without tears for passengers at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. At-a-glance guide
Location: 23km (14.5 miles) north east of Paris
Transport links: Roissy Bus service departs from all three terminals every 15 to 20 minutes for Place de l'Opera, with an average journey time of 45 minutes and a single fare of €8.20 ($11.20); Air France Coach Lines 2 and 4 operate to various points in the centre of the city every 15 or 30 minutes, charging from €10 ($13.65) to €11.50 ($15.70); and shuttle buses connect the terminals with the TGV-RER train station at the airport's North Terrace, from where the RER B train links with the Metro at destinations such as Gare du Nord (fare €7.75 /$10.60). A taxi from the airport to central Paris costs around €38 ($60), while the chauffeur-driven Aeroports Limousine Service is €103 ($140)
Annual passenger throughput: 56.8 million
Minimum connecting time: 90 minutes
Executive lounges: Business/First Class facilities include the Air France Business lounge in the new boarding satellite, Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge, American Airlines Admirals' Club, El Al King David lounge, Lufthansa Senator lounge, SAS business lounge, and United Airlines Red Carpet Club
Facilities: duty-free areas, with an extensive range of outlets selling jewellery, fashion, lingerie, perfumes, electronics etc; Childrens World, Gourmet Shop; chemists; post offices (T1 and 2); business centre with eight meeting rooms (T1), two business lounges with wi-fi (T2); medical centres (T1 and T2); restaurants/cafes, including L'Escale Parisienne, Café Ritazza, McDonald's, Paris Café, Brioche Doree, Café Corner, Hippopotamus, Bill Bentley Bar, L'Autre Café; Chapel, synagogue, mosque (Terminals 1 and 2)
Banks/cashpoints: available in all terminals
Airport hotels: Sheraton Paris Airport, Sofitel Roissy, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt Regency, Comfort Hotel
Car rental desks: Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt, Avis, Budget
Website: www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
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