Paris airport to remove passenger drop-off zones near terminals

Passengers being dropped off at Paris Orly airport by friends or family will soon face longer travel as private car drop-off zones near terminal entrances are to be removed.

It is part of plans by the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group that manages the airport to reduce the airport’s on-ground CO² emissions.

These drop-off zones (often called ‘kiss and fly’) will be placed further away from terminals, with passengers arriving this way required to use shuttle buses or internal public transport to reach Orly’s terminals.

The current zones will be reserved for professional drivers (taxis, private hire vehicles, and ride-hail app chauffeurs), official hotel or other shuttle buses, and people with reduced mobility. 

Long-term parking passengers who plan to leave their vehicle at the airport for the duration of their travel will not be affected and will retain parking access close to the terminals.

“The creation of parking lots and a drop-off zone at the airport entrances, connected to the terminal by a dedicated public transport lane, should help to decongest the road network,” said the ADP.

The changes are set to be made by 2030, with works potentially beginning as early as the end of 2026.

Public transport improvements

Airport authorities also hope for less reliance on private vehicle drop-offs as Orly’s public transport infrastructure improves. 

Line 14 of the Paris Metro was recently extended south to Orly airport, offering direct access to the city centre in around 30 minutes through the line’s high-volume and automated service. 

In addition, the network’s future line 18 will see its eastern terminus at the airport, linking with Versailles in the west as well as Massy (which is a major TGV station) and the Paris-Saclay university.

A high-frequency bus service between the airport and Thiais suburb is planned for 2030.

“The airport will become one of the main transport hubs in the southern Île-de-France region,” said the ADP.