Paris Airports: Traffic Declines by 4.9% in April, Middle East Weighs
Paris Airports released its April 2026 traffic report on Monday, showing a 4.9% decrease for the group and a 1.3% drop for Paris Airport. The operator attributes this decline to geopolitical instability in the Middle East and adjustments to flight schedules.
Group Traffic Declines Amid Regional Tensions
Paris Airports Group recorded 29.1 million passengers in April 2026, down by 4.9% year-on-year. Paris Airport, which includes Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, welcomed 9.2 million passengers, a decrease of 1.3%. According to the statement, the geopolitical instability in the Middle East affected traffic through adjustments in flight programs and restrictions on access to certain airspaces. Additionally, several airports in the portfolio experienced disruptions related to religious holidays and scheduled flight reductions independent of the geopolitical situation.
Regional Disparities and International Traffic Under Pressure
Within Paris Airport, Paris-Charles de Gaulle maintained stable traffic (0.0%) with 6.1 million passengers, while Paris-Orly saw a decline of 3.6% to 3.1 million. Traffic to and from the Middle East plummeted by 41.1% in April, representing 3.2% of the total traffic at Paris Airport, directly reflecting the impact of regional tensions. Conversely, Asia-Pacific recorded a 6.4% increase, and Africa saw a rise of 0.7%. From January to April 2026, the group reported a slight increase of 0.3% with 113.1 million passengers. The group is closely monitoring the geopolitical situation and its potential consequences on air transport, noting that the effects remain uncertain regarding traffic diversions and the impact of rising fuel prices.
