Air France-KLM CEO Voices Frustration Over Jetbridge Shortage at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

With the Paris Olympics and the summer travel rush on the horizon, Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith has raised concerns about the shortage of jetways and other infrastructure issues at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). This situation is costing the airline money and causing operational inefficiencies.

During the group's 20th anniversary celebration, Smith discussed the daily struggle for adequate aircraft parking space at CDG. He emphasized that the lack of enough jetways, especially during morning rush hours, forces Air France to transport passengers by bus due to insufficient "contact" gates.

Smith highlighted that Air France has to negotiate with Aeroports de Paris (ADP), which operates CDG, to secure parking positions for its fleet. Currently, 10% of medium-haul flights and 5% of long-haul flights are parked on remote stands, leading to additional operational challenges.

Rather than building a new terminal, Smith advocates for upgrading the existing infrastructure to improve efficiency. He pointed out that long distances to maintenance hangars at CDG result in extra towing time, unlike more efficient global airports.

Terminal 2 at CDG, where Air France primarily operates, was designed in 1982 with a layout that is now considered suboptimal. Both Smith and Air France CEO Anne Rigail have acknowledged the operational difficulties posed by the terminal's design.

As CDG braces for a busy summer travel season and the influx of tourists for the Paris Olympics, ADP's deputy CEO Edward Arkwright has assured that the airport's infrastructure is ready, with staff recruited and processes defined. Air France is also making changes to enhance the airport-side experience for La Première passengers and expanding its international operations to meet increased demand.