The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) published an updated NOTAM for Paris-Orly (LFPO) at 03:30 UTC on 18 July 2026, requiring airlines operating five or more movements to reduce their commercial schedules by 20 percent during the evening peak of Thursday 16 July. Although the mandated reduction applied retroactively, airlines scrambling over the weekend to re-protect passengers have warned of residual knock-on effects stretching into the new week. The restriction follows overnight completion of works extending runway-end safety areas (RESA) on Orly’s secondary runways 06/24 and 02/20. While the upgrades bring Orly into compliance with the latest European Aviation Safety Agency standards, temporary taxiway closures and restricted rapid-exit access have reduced hourly movement capacity from 72 to 58. Low-cost carriers—particularly Transavia France and Vueling—absorbed the majority of cancellations, prioritising long-haul feeder flights and connections to France’s overseas departments. Business travellers should note that slot re-timings have pushed several morning departures into late-afternoon windows, complicating same-day return missions to southern Europe and North Africa. Travellers holding flexible tickets may find it quicker to route via Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle or Lyon rather than wait for standby space at Orly. Ground-handling providers report longer taxi-in times and advise crew to carry additional fuel for potential holding. Cargo operators using night-time slots must still comply with a long-standing 23:30 curfew, making contingency fuel and re-routing plans essential for on-time deliveries. The DGAC says capacity should return to normal once new high-speed rapid-exit taxiways enter service in early August, but warns further short-notice NOTAMs are possible as calibration flights continue. Mobility managers should monitor NOTAM feeds and encourage travellers to enable airline push notifications to catch late gate-changes and terminal swaps.
Source: METAR Central – NOTAM Monitor
