Air France: Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the airport-turned-hub

This hub system, which connects short and medium-haul traffic to the airline's long-haul network was implemented in 1996 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, inaugurated in 1974. Prior to this date, in Paris, Air France operated its flights out of Bourget airport until 1952, and subsequently from Orly airport.

Paris-CDG, Europe's most efficient hub

At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the flight schedule is organized in six connecting banks, each of which consists in a wave of arrivals and departures, staggered throughout the day to offer passengers a maximum number of connections in as short a time as possible.

Paris-CDG is currently Europe's most efficient airport and, combined with Amsterdam-Schiphol, proposes more than 33,000 weekly connecting opportunities in under two hours in both directions.

A substantial potential for development

The potential for development at Paris-Charles de Gaulle represents a real opportunity for Air France.

In 2010, thanks to:

• the opening of the terminals E and F boarding satellite in 2007,
• the reopening of the terminal 2E boarding pier in summer 2008,
• the opening of terminal 2G reserved for regional flights in September 2008,
• the entry into service of additional baggage handling equipment,
• Air France is able to welcome 41 million passengers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

In 2012, the planned opening of a further boarding satellite will provide an additional handling capacity of more than 7 million customers.

These new facilities will enable Air France to improve its operational performance at Paris-CDG and provide its customers with enhanced services:

• a maximum number of aircraft will be linked to the terminals by jetways,
• connecting flight channels will be more efficient,
• the baggage sorting system will be fully integrated and modular.