The new Paris airport, the third major hub after Charles de Gaulle and Orly, will be sited 125km north of the capital at Chaulnes, the French Government announced last week. Air traffic controllers are opposing the decision, complaining that they were not consulted and would prefer a site further south. The government predicts 35 million more passengers by 2020, making the new airport vital in the long term, although there is ample capacity now. The government will also try to help provincial airports by lobbying the European Commission to permit them to provide long-haul flights, and setting up a Fr5 billion ($672 million) assistance fund.
Source: Flight International