Follow these tips to avoid travel disruption in Paris during the Olympics.
Despite the latest deal averting a strike at the Paris airport on July 17, the union is still threatening strike action ahead of the Olympics.
As a result, Paris Orly and Ruissy-Charles de Gaulle airports may be affected by public movements on the day of the opening ceremony.
The strike notice issued by the Force Ouvrière (FO) union, which represents 11.5% of Paris airport workers, is due to start at 5am on July 26 and last until 7am the following day.
Why do Paris airport workers always threaten to strike?
The agreement reached last week between the CGT, CFDT and UNSA unions and the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group met one of their main demands: a global bonus of 300 euros for all workers.
But the FO union believes that this does not go far enough. In particular, he calls for bonuses to be increased to 1,000 euros.
No serious disruption is expected as other unions have not joined the FO’s strike notice.
The impact of the strike will also be minimized by a no-fly zone from 6.30pm to midnight during Friday’s Olympics opening ceremony to avoid disruption and improve security.
Landings at the airports will be suspended during this period. Airlines have already canceled flights in advance to comply with the ban, and passengers have been informed and rerouted if necessary.
Travel tips for attending the Paris Olympics
Paris is set to welcome more than 15 million visitors during the Olympic Games, which will be held from July 29 to August 11.
If you’re going to the French capital, it’s worth planning your trip outside the airport.
GuruWalk, which offers free walking tours of Paris and other cities, warns that while many Olympic events will be held on the Seine River, several streets and bridges near iconic monuments such as Notre-Dame will be closed.
Check the Paris Municipality website for the latest closures and interruptions and the official Paris 2024 website for schedules and updates.
You can also find a list of connected metro and tram lines on the RATP website. So plan extra travel time on public transport to account for closures and crowds. Better yet, consider walking to your destination if it’s not too far.
Finally, download alternative navigation apps for your trip to Paris, recommends GuruWalk expert guide Fabien Percuha. By combining Google Maps with Citymapper and the official Bonjour RATP app, you’ll be able to better monitor street closures, station closures and congestion in the city.