Flights at Paris-Orly Airport have been severely disrupted for a second consecutive day following a major breakdown in the air traffic control system. The issue has led to widespread cancellations and delays, affecting thousands of passengers and causing frustration across the aviation sector.
The French civil aviation authority, the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), reported that the disruption began on Sunday when it issued a directive to airlines operating out of Orly to cut their flight schedules by 40 percent. This emergency reduction resulted in the cancellation of around 130 flights. Though the situation slightly improved on Monday, operations were still limited, with airlines required to scale back by 15%.
⚠️Attention, lundi 19/05 : suite à une panne des dispositifs du contrôle aérien à l'aéroport #Orly, des retards et des annulations de vols sont à prévoir. Rapprochez-vous de votre compagnie aérienne pour plus d'informations. https://t.co/0xBaSaZ26Z
— Paris Aéroport (@ParisAeroport) May 18, 2025
While the DGAC has not provided a full technical explanation, industry sources and French media have linked the issue to a radar system failure at one of the control centres managing the Paris area airspace. The malfunction hindered controllers’ ability to safely manage air traffic, prompting immediate restrictions.
The disruption has primarily impacted short-haul routes, particularly flights to Italy, Spain, Portugal, and southern France. Passengers have been left stranded at terminals, facing long queues and sparse information. Many travellers have been critical of the communication from both airlines and airport staff.
Passengers left in limbo and airlines urge caution
Speaking to France 24, several passengers expressed frustration at the lack of updates. “No one could tell us whether our flight was going today or not. We were just told to wait,” said a passenger trying to reach Barcelona.
Air France and Transavia, both of which operate numerous flights out of Orly, have confirmed that dozens of their services were affected. Airlines are advising travellers to check their flight status online and avoid arriving at the airport unless their flight is confirmed to operate.
✈️❌ Quelque 15 % des vols prévus à l'aéroport de #Paris–#Orly pourraient être supprimés ce lundi après une panne de contrôle aérien survenue ce dimanche.
— FRANCE 24 Français (@France24_fr) May 19, 2025
Les voyageurs sont excédés ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/TdqLhoX6Rt
Orly’s critical role in French aviation
Paris-Orly Airport, the second busiest airport in the French capital after Charles de Gaulle, handled over 33 million passengers in 2023. The ongoing disruption is being monitored closely by both domestic and international aviation bodies.
France’s Minister for Transport, Patrice Vergriete, said in a statement that technicians are working urgently to restore full functionality to the affected systems. He added that safety remains the top priority and praised the efforts of air traffic controllers under difficult conditions.
Passenger compensation unclear
Many affected passengers are asking: “My flight was cancelled, am I entitled to compensation?” Under EU Regulation 261/2004, compensation may not apply if the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances—such as air traffic control system failures—outside the airline’s control. However, passengers are still entitled to care and assistance, including meals, refreshments, and accommodation where necessary.
Operations at the airport remain limited as authorities test and gradually restore the systems. Although no significant incidents have been reported, the breakdown highlights the vulnerability of air travel infrastructure to technical failures. The DGAC has not indicated when full service will resume but has pledged to provide regular updates.
