Travel chaos at Europe hotspot airport after control tower break down sees more than 100 flights cancelled
Thousands of passengers have been left scrambling for alternative travel routes after Paris Orly Airport, which handles over 30 million passengers a year, suffered a 'failure in their air traffic control systems', officials have said.
A spokesman for Aeroports de Paris, which operates the French capital's second busiest airport, said about 40 percent of the day's departures and arrivals had been called off.
Passengers hoping to travel to destinations including Spain, Italy, Austria and Germany have been left stranded after experiencing flight cancellations, while others endured lengthy delays.
France 's DGAC civil aviation authority blamed the 'significant' reduction in flight numbers on 'a failure of the air traffic control systems' that had taken place at the Orly tower early this afternoon.
Meanwhile, an aviation source revealed that the chaos at the travel hub had been caused by a radar breakdown.
The airport spokesman said about half of the 130 cancelled flights were departures, while half had been incoming flights.
Flights across France and to an abundance of other destinations across Europe and North Africa were among those most severely hit.
The DGAC were unable to confirm whether flights would return to normal on Monday.
Amid the mayhem and stood near a line of suitcases, Agnes Zilouri, 46, tried desperately to find a seat for her 86-year-old mother and six year old son after her flight had been cancelled.
The family had been meant to take a flight to Oujda in Morocco on Sunday evening to go to a funeral.
Speaking on the devastation of the chaos, Ms Zilouri added: 'The flight is cancelled. Fortunately I am with my mother'.
Meanwhile, another frustrated passenger took to X to share their dismay at their flight cancellation from Dublin to Paris, stating: 'My 19:45 flight to Orly from Dublin was cancelled. It's been almost two hours, and still no email that informs me of a cancellation. It's ridiculous to have to find out right as I walk into the airport.'
Pictured: a traveller looks on at the flight information board at Paris Orly Airport. France's DGAC civil aviation authority blamed the 'significant' reduction in flight numbers on 'a failure of the air traffic control systems' that had taken place at the Orly tower early this afternoon
Serving as a secondary hub for domestic and international flights, Orly Airport handled an estimated 33 million passengers last year, approximately half the number of the main Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) International airport.
Prior to the opening of CDG in 1974, Orly was the main airport of Paris.
The travel mayhem comes just a week after an IT meltdown sparked travel chaos for holidaymakers at the UK's Stansted Airport, with up to 10,000 passengers missing flights on Saturday, May 17.
Travellers faced 'utter carnage' and delays after an IT failure at around 2.30am brought operations to a standstill.
Holidaymakers were forced to queue for hours through check-in, baggage and security, while Jet2 and Tui delayed departures to wait for passengers to reach the gate.
Some were even made to enter huge queues stretching outside the airport terminal before they were able to enter the building.
At the time, one furious passenger wrote on X: 'Some people are queuing outside just to get inside the airport terminal. Some have given up and gone home as they have missed their flights.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Locals hit out at the ‘Disneyfication' of this Paris suburb as overtourism strikes again
Montmartre, once a charming Parisian village, is losing its soul to overtourism, according to long-time resident Olivier Baroin, who is now selling his home in protest. When Baroin moved into his Montmartre apartment some 15 years ago, he cherished its village-like feel in the heart of Paris. Today, that sentiment has vanished. He laments the disappearance of local shops and the friendly atmosphere, replaced by "hordes of people shooting selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow cobbled streets" as overtourism takes its toll. The final straw came as local streets were designated pedestrian-only to accommodate the ever-increasing visitor numbers, prompting Baroin to put his apartment up for sale. 'I told myself that I had no other choice but to leave since, as I have a disability, it's even more complicated when you can no longer take your car, when you have to call a taxi from morning to night," he told The Associated Press. From Venice to Barcelona to Amsterdam, European cities are struggling to absorb surging numbers of tourists. Some residents in one of Paris ' most popular neighborhoods for tourists are now pushing back. A black banner strung between two balconies in Montmartre reads, in English: 'Behind the postcard: locals mistreated by the Mayor.' Another, in French, says: 'Montmartre residents resisting.' Atop the hill where the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur crowns the city's skyline, residents lament what they call the 'Disneyfication' of the once-bohemian slice of Paris. The basilica says it now attracts up to 11 million people a year — even more than the Eiffel Tower — while daily life in the neighborhood has been overtaken by tuk-tuks, tour groups, photo queues and short-term rentals. 'Now, there are no more shops at all, there are no more food shops, so everything must be delivered,' said 56-year-old Baroin, a member of a residents' protest group called Vivre a Montmartre, or Living in Montmartre. The unrest echoes tensions across town at the Louvre Museum, where staff in June staged a brief wildcat strike over chronic overcrowding, understaffing and deteriorating conditions. The Louvre logged 8.7 million visitors in 2024, more than double what its infrastructure was designed to handle. Paris, a city of just over 2 million residents if you count its sprawling suburbs, welcomed 48.7 million tourists in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year. Sacré-Cœur, the most visited monument in France in 2024, and the surrounding Montmartre neighborhood have turned into what some locals call an open-air theme park. Local staples like butchers, bakeries and grocers are vanishing, replaced by ice-cream stalls, bubble-tea vendors and souvenir T-shirt stands. Paris authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Visitors seemed largely to be enjoying the packed streets on a sunny Tuesday this week. 'For the most part, all of Paris has been pretty busy, but full of life, for sure," said American tourist Adam Davidson. "Coming from Washington, D.C., which is a lively city as well, I would say this is definitely full of life to a different degree for sure.' In Barcelona, thousands have taken to the streets this year, some wielding water pistols, demanding limits on cruise ships and short-term tourist rentals. Venice now charges an entry fee for day-trippers and caps visitor numbers. And in Athens, authorities are imposing a daily limit on visitors to the Acropolis, to protect the ancient monument from record-breaking tourist crowds. Urban planners warn that historic neighborhoods risk becoming what some critics call 'zombie cities' — picturesque but lifeless, their residents displaced by short-term visitors. Paris is trying to mitigate the problems by cracking down on short term rentals and unlicensed properties. But tourism pressures are growing. By 2050, the world's population is projected to reach nearly 10 billion, according to United Nations estimates. With the global middle class expanding, low-cost flights booming and digital platforms guiding travelers to the same viral landmarks, many more visitors are expected in iconic cities like Paris. The question now, residents say, is whether any space is left for those who call it home.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Tourist faces £1,200 fine after visiting one of the Europe's most historic sites
A BRIT was caught stealing precious stones from one of Europe's most historic sites - and now he faces a hefty punishment. Italian authorities found the man after he left the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, in Italy, with a backpack containing five stones and a brick, which had been taken directly from the historic site. 4 4 4 The 51-year-old Scot is now facing a hefty fine of up to €1,500 (£1,293) and a six-year prison sentence for taking the precious fragments from the archaeological site. The man was spotted by a tourist guide, near the Basilica, picking up the pieces from the pavement and placing them into his bag. The guide then alerted the park management team and the security guards, who alerted the Carabinieri (part of Italy 's armed forces). Officers then found the man, outside the excavation site, and upon looking in his bag discovered the five stones and fragment of a brick. The precious items were taken off the man and returned to the park. The director of the Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegem, said: "Congratulations and thanks to the attentive tour guide, to our excellent custodians and security staff, and to the Carabinieri for this collaborative effort to protect our heritage." On the visitor website for Pompeii, it states that it is forbidden to "get too close and touch objects, frescoes, furnishings, etc" and to "deface floors, walls, antique furnishings, frescoes, benches, statues, fountains, counters and any other surface". Visitors also cannot eat in certain areas or be bare-chested. Pompeii was an ancient Roman city that was destroyed following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Ancient Pompeii home unseen for 2,000 YEARS finally unearthed Buried under layers of ash, the city was preserved and today the site offers tourists from across the globe the chance to see what Roman living was like. Though, for many centuries, Pompeii remained hidden and was only rediscovered in the 18th century following excavations in the area. Every year, around four million people visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site. And as a result of becoming so popular, in November 2024 the park introduced a daily visitor cap of 20,000 people. To access the city of Pompeii and several of the other archeological sites like Boscoreale and Oplontis, it costs £19.01 per person. Back in 2022, another tourist was labelled a "barbarian" by locals after he was caught riding his moped through Pompeii. At the time he was promptly stopped and arrested for riding around the 2,000-year-old ruins and was later charged with "unauthorised access". What is there to do in Naples? SUN reporter Lauren Clark visited Naples, which is close to Pompeii, and here is what she thought... Naples is one of the few Italian cities that you can still very much enjoy on a budget. From pizza and football to castles and negronis, Lauren Clark serves up a slice of what the city – rich in culture and cuisine – has to offer. Naples, capital of the Campania region, is considered the birthplace of pizza — and you will be spoilt for choice, with award-winning margaritas served up for just £3 at the many restaurants on its bustling streets. One of the city's main selling points is that it's very walkable, with the main attractions easily accessible. From the city's waterfront you can get a good look at the still-active Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum with its 79 AD eruption. Another must-do is Napoli Sotterranea (entry £11.08), where you can explore a labyrinth of tunnels revealing 2,400 years of history, from Greek aqueducts to Second World War bomb shelters. Bargain hunters may want to eschew the A-list favourite island of Capri for the neighbouring, more affordable tiny island of Procida. The waiters at Trattoria da Nennella, in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighbourhood, spontaneously erupt into song and dance. There is also a Yorkshire town that's been dubbed the 'Italy of England' with historic viaduct and river boats. Plus, easyJet is launching a new flight route to an 'underrated' Italian seaside city with stunning golden beaches. 4
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Rail fares on track for inflation-busting increase
Rail fares in England are on track to surge next year after inflation rose at a faster pace than expected. Train passengers are expected to see a 5.8pc increase in ticket prices from April, following the latest data from the Office for National Statistics. Official figures showed the retail price index (RPI) rose to 4.8pc in July. Increases in train fares are traditionally calculated using July's RPI figure plus one percentage point. The Government has not confirmed how it will determine the cap on regulated fare rises in 2026, but this year's 4.6pc hike was equal to July 2024's RPI figure plus one percentage point. If that formula is used to set next year's fare increase, the cost of train travel will jump by 5.8pc. It would mean a typical annual rail pass from Woking to London would rise by £247 to £4,507, with a season ticket from York to Leeds climbing by £176 to £3,204. Ben Plowden, chief executive of lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Today's inflation figure could mean a big fare rise for rail passengers next year, especially if the Government decides to go with an above-inflation increase like we saw this year. 'With the railways now moving under public control, the fundamental question for the Government is how to use its role in setting fares policy to deliver a more affordable rail network and encourage more people to travel on it. 'Next year's annual rise represents the first real opportunity for the Government to show passengers – both current and future – just how it plans to do this.' A 5.8pc jump in rail fares would represent another inflation-busting increase in the cost of commuting for passengers. The official measure of inflation, the consumer price index, rose to 3.8pc in July. Poor punctuality It comes at a time when train punctuality in Britain is at its lowest level in more than five years. Office of Rail and Road figures show trains in Britain reached 66.7pc of scheduled stops within a minute of the timetable in the year to July 19. That is the worst performance since May 2020, during the height of the first Covid lockdown. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that an update on changes to regulated fares will be provided later this year. A DfT spokesman said: 'The Transport Secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them. 'The Government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways (GBR), delivering the services they deserve and driving growth. 'No decisions have been made on next year's rail fares, but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers.'
