I have to update this older post even if not been by it since the new version of Orly airport was open. Just for the memories of my other airport not in Paris but for Paris… Bear with me as I will try to describe the new airport and its four terminals becoming the old west as terminals 1 and 2, and the old south becomes terminal 4. There is a connecting terminal call terminal 3. The pictures are from the old Orly Airport.
I have written extensively on Roissy CDG airport (the other airport for Paris) and its terminals which I have taken profusely. However, I have, also taken Orly even if much less it has been several times over the years. And as by now usual , not written enough on this airport that can be a good value for long haul flights from the Americas at least. Therefore, let me tell you a bit more on the new Orly Airport.(see post on old airport), Orly airport is only 10 km from the city of Paris. Actually , the airport is within the city of Orly in Val de Marne dept 94 in the Ïle de France region. Even thus some of the landing runways are in the Essonne dept 91 as well. Distance wise it is closer than Roissy!
This is the new Orly airport for Paris but not in Paris! The names boarding halls and salles or rooms have disappeared in favor of the name boarding gates. Orly 1 departures registration 11 to 18 at gates A and B. Orly 2 departures registrations 21 to 26 gate C. Orly 3 departure registrations 31 to 36 gates D (international) E (Schengen). Orly 4 departure registrations 41 to 48 gates E (Schengen) F (international). Orly 4 L’Arche or arc registration 49.
The new maps of Orly terminals are:
Orly 3 Jonction or connector: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/docs/default-source/passager-fichiers/plans/orly-3—16-05-19.pdf?sfvrsn=1508fbbd_6
By the road , which I have come most of the time, you have panels on the N7 Evry but you have ,also, panels directing you to the Orly 1 2 3 4 as above. Only the panels names change the rest stays the same as before. There are free navettes to all parkings. The Inter terminal transport by Orlyval at terminal 4 by RATP counter; T 1 2 3 exit or sortie 14 departure level. Webpage ; https://www.orlyval.com/plans-horaires/plan-ligne-orlyval
The arrays of public transportation which I have, also, taken are numerous; these are all if not most me think. For instance, the long public transport road to me would be from Orly take the OrlyVal train to Antony, here change to the RER B train to Denfert-Rochereau, then Metro line 4 to Gare Montparnasse, and then TGV to Vannes ! About 4 hours,By car about 5 hours.
The Navette Orlyval links Antony with the RER B stop Orly 4 sortie 48 level 0, Orly 1-2-3 at T1 level 1 sortie/exit 12d departures, From Paris direction Antony take direction Saint Remy lés Chevreuse and from Antony to Paris direction CDG aeroport. Official webpage : https://www.orlyval.com/
OrlyBus from/to Orly Airport, to Denfert-Rochereau, webpage : https://www.ratp.fr/en/vos-lignes/busratp/orlybus
The bus 183 takes your from Orly 4 niveau or level 0 porte 47d arrêt or stop 4 to Pont de Rungis and then RER C to Paris. The RATP line is here: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes/busratp/183
The Tramway line 7 from Orly to Porte de Rungis and then RER C to Paris or continue to Villejuif-Louis Aragon terminus of metro line 7 to Paris. Map and info here: https://www.ratp.fr/plans-lignes/tram/t7
The Bus Express 91-10 links with the TGV train station at Massy-Palaiseau from Orly 4 sortie 47 arrêt 3, Orly 1-2 sortie 22 arrêt 18. It connects there with the RER B and C to Paris. More info in French here: https://www.transdev-idf.com/ligne-9110/orly-montigny-le-bretonneux/006-261
The navette Magical shuttle takes you to Disneyland . It stops at Orly 4 sortie 47d arrêt 3 ,Orly 1-2 level or niveau 0 arrêt 15 sortie 18a. Webpage : https://magicalshuttle.co.uk/shuttle/orly-shuttle/
Taxi stands at Orly 1-2 porte 14a, Orly 3 porte 32a, and Orly 4 porte 48a. Forfait rates posted to Paris rive droite are 37 euros and to Paris rive gauche 32 euros. The best for me are the G7 taxis. Webpage : https://www.g7.fr/en/
Briefly on services inside the new terminals. The post office is at Orly 1-2 arrivals gate 14a there are mailboxes at various locations. Urgent medical care is at Orly 1-2 street level arrivals porte 10a. Pharmacies are at Orly 1-2 public zone departure gate 21d, Orly 3 reserve zone, Orly 4 public zone first floor (2nd US). My favorites hangouts in the old Orly airport, and still there are at Orly 1-2: Paul, Eric Kayser, Relay, Bellota Bellota, and FNAC . At Orly 3, FNAC, Paul, Italian Trattoria, and La Maison du Chocolat. At Orly 4: Berts, La Maison du Chocolat, ExKi, and Brioche Dorée. The Buy Paris duty free are ok but you need to know your prices.
And by now you know me, I could not leave this post without telling you about bits of the history of Orly airport that I like.
Inaugurated on May 23, 1909, Port-Aviation, located in Viry-Châtillon, on the banks of the Seine, is the first organized aerodrome in the world. This is where most of the air shows of the time were held. The site of the current Paris-Orly airport, the Longboyau plateau, located east of the national road 7 (N7), is then occupied by fields. These fields will be used as relief ground at Port-Aviation, as during the floods of 1910 which made it unusable. At the start of the Great War or WWI, the site, easily identifiable and accessible, served as a rescue ground for Allied planes, and farmers on the plateau frequently saw them land there. In 1918, the War Ministry requisitioned eleven hectares on the Longboyau plateau and built a hangar there. It is the beginning of the “Orly – Villeneuve” aviation camp. More and more planes are sent to the front from this terrain. On March 31, 1918, the Americans established their air base on the Orly plateau. At the beginning of 1919, the department of general warehouses of civil aviation (SEGA) is installed in Orly. It is taken in charge by the American army for the storage of air war material. On this military ground, the French, the Belgians and the Americans rub shoulders until 1919. After WWI , a civil airport is installed to the north of the site, welcoming civilian passenger planes. During WWII, the land was first attacked by the Luftwaffe (Nazis Air Force), then became a Nazis military base. On August 23, 1944, the US Army Air Forces moved to Orly. It is at this time that the old control tower is built, still visible today, as well as the north-south tracks, one of which is now abandoned, but still present. In 1945, the company Aéroports de Paris was created, responsible for operating the airports around Paris. In 1946, the Americans returned the management of the airport to France. The French army and the American army however continue to sometimes use Orly airport. For example, it was from Orly that the last French troops left for Indochina in 1954. The old south terminal built from 1957-1960 marked a development, it was officially inaugurated on February 24, 1961 by General de Gaulle.
The information is as current as possible but due to current situation with the wuhan virus (covid19) you need to check before coming. In addition, I have not yet try the new configuration as my last trips by here was early mid 2019, when still name Ouest or West and Sud or south terminals.
The official Aéroports de Paris on Orly airport : https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/orly-airport
The un official Orly Facile or easy Orly webpage : https://www.orly-aeroport.fr/paris-orly-airport/
And there you go folks, another nice airport yours truly has walked and run inside to get to flights over the years and even connecting with CDG Roissy! Hoping the information is helpful for visiting folks , welcome to the new Orly Airport!! not yet Paris but you are near!!!
And remember, happy travels, good health , and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 