Olympics: airspace around Paris closed for 150km on opening ceremony night
Anne Jea., CC BY-SA 4.0
A pre-planned airspace closure over Paris will occur during the highly anticipated opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. This unprecedented security measure aims to ensure the safety of the event, which is set to take place along the Seine River.
The 28,922 square mile patch of airspace from which all passenger planes will be excluded during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony (Source: DGAC)
From 5:30 PM to midnight on July 26th, all air traffic will be prohibited within a 150-kilometer radius of the French capital. This includes the complete closure of Paris' significant airports: Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Le Bourget, and Beauvais. These airports typically handle over 350,000 passengers on a peak summer Friday, but they will experience an unusual quiet on this day.
Airlines have been aware of this airspace restriction for some time and have made necessary adjustments to their flight schedules. However, travellers are advised to expect flight cancellations and delays during this period. EasyJet, for instance, has cancelled nearly 100 flights to and from Paris, while Air France has grounded hundreds more.
The decision to impose such a strict no-fly zone underscores the significant security challenges of hosting a global event like the Olympics. While it may cause inconveniences for travellers, it is a crucial step in safeguarding the ceremony and its attendees.
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