Go behind the scenes of Parisian airports and discover the results of waiting times at border controls! Fasten your seat belts and prepare yourself for a captivating informational journey on this crucial topic for all travelers.
The Waiting Times Barometer
The Border Police Department and Groupe ADP recently published their monthly barometer on waiting time at border controls at Paris airports. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, this assessment is particularly interesting for travelers.
Ambitious Objectives
Since 2017, France has set clear objectives for border controls: a maximum of 30 minutes for European nationals and 45 minutes for non-Europeans. In April 2024, these objectives were generally respected, highlighting the constant efforts of the authorities.
The Results at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, out of more than 3 million passengers on international flights:
- 84.7% waited less than 10 minutes
- 13.4% waited between 10 and 30 minutes
- 1.4% waited between 30 and 45 minutes
- 0.6% exceeded 45 minutes
Performances at Paris-Orly
At Paris-Orly, the statistics are even more encouraging:
- 91.1% of 824,000 international passengers waited less than 10 minutes
- 8.6% between 10 and 30 minutes
- 0.3% between 30 and 45 minutes
Incidents and Waiting Peaks
However, despite these good results, certain incidents caused notable wait spikes. At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, weeks like April 8 were particularly affected, affecting up to 13,915 passengers with an average waiting time of 48 minutes. On Sunday April 14, at Terminal 1, around 900 passengers waited up to 70 minutes, an exceptional situation linked to school holidays.
Corrective Measures and Future Projects
To address these challenges, 200 new border guards have been recruited and the number of sas Parafe (automatic passenger screening) will be increased by 60%. In 2024, this will bring the total to 192 airlocks at Roissy and Orly, which should make border crossings more fluid.
Recent Experiences and Preparations for the Olympics
Despite continued efforts, some adjustments are still necessary. On the morning of April 24, technical malfunctions led to up to 1 hour of waiting for more than 2,000 passengers at Terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. With the 2024 Olympics in their sights, authorities are working hard to ensure a smoother experience for all travelers.
Please note, Air France and Aéroports de Paris are working closely with the Olympics committee to welcome and efficiently manage the nearly 60,000 additional athletes, journalists and delegates who will pass through Paris airports. During the opening ceremony of the Games on July 26, Paris airports will be closed from 7 p.m. to midnight.
In summary
THE waiting time at border controls at Paris airports show significant progress, despite a few isolated incidents. With corrective and preparatory measures in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, travelers can expect an increasingly seamless border crossing experience.
