Airplane

French air traffic controllers take too much time off and risk safety

Unjustified leave requests are authorised to avoid strikes according to accident investigation body report

Boeing door detaches in flight: do French airlines use same planes?

The US aviation authority orders the grounding of 171 aircraft after blowout

Fatal plane crash near Nantes: brother of French singer among victims

Gérard Leclerc was one of France’s most prominent political commentators, and half-brother of singer Julien Clerc

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New Ouigo routes, airport rail link closed: 8 French travel updates

Our weekly wrap of transport news in France

Airbus and Air France cleared over plane crash that killed 228 people

‘All that remains … is despair, dismay and anger,’ said an association representing relatives of the crash victims

Would January’s controlled power cuts affect French airports?

It has been announced that the power outages could impact rail travel

French firm masters flying planes with sugar beet fuel in engines

The eco fuel is made from a chemical derived from the plant’s pulp, which also has uses in cosmetics

Hundreds of iconic Airbus A380 parts to be auctioned in France

Five hundred pieces of the former Emirates jet are set to go on sale this week, including a business class cabin bar, meal trolleys and an emergency cockpit rope

French air traffic controllers call off next week’s three-day strike

A previous strike on September 16 grounded over 1,000 flights in France and over 2,400 in Europe

New low-cost TGV routes, Irish flights: Eight France travel updates

As well as today’s air traffic controllers’ strike we also look at protests against cruises and how a pilot almost landed at the wrong Brittany airport

Man arrested after shining laser at aircraft in south of France

The man was found to have bought an illegal, powerful laser online. He said he had become exasperated at the training plane

French giant Airbus to auction off 500 pieces of iconic A380 jet

The proceeds of the auction – involving seats, trolleys, staircases and bars – will go to charity. Most come from a single plane

Shoeless pilot in stolen plane intercepted by French army jet

A fighter jet and army helicopter intervened over Toulon after the pilot, who was flying in socks, failed to respond to radio calls and flew through several no-fly zones

Nine-hour wait for EasyJet passengers trying to fly Toulouse to Paris

Passengers were initially told that the delay would be 45 minutes but nine hours later the flight had still not departed

Trains and planes: Ten updates for travel in and around France

SNCF plans website and app, a new tax is approved to help fund a Bordeaux-Toulouse high-speed rail link and France’s travel industry gears up for winter ski and city breaks

Innovative French service offering airline recycling and storage

Tarmac Aerosave, based across the runway from Tarbes Lourdes airport in Hautes-Pyrénées, is the world’s number one for aircraft and engine recycling

New report on error causing near runway collision of US plane in Paris

Air traffic control mistakenly instructed a United Airlines plane to land on a runway at the same time as an EasyJet plane was scheduled to take off

Flying taxi successfully tested in Paris ahead of 2024 Olympics

The electric VoloCity ‘helicopter’ flew at speeds of 30kph at 30 metres altitude and is the latest flying taxi model to be tested

Why you may hear military planes flying over your home in France today

50 military aircraft will be flying through French skies as part of a nuclear deterrent exercise this afternoon

Covid-19: Negative PCR test now needed for EU-France travel

President Macron announced the new rule – and discussed other travel restrictions - in a meeting with the European Council yesterday

France to oblige airlines to use green but expensive biofuel

Airlines will be required to use 1% of bio-jet fuel from 2022. It is 80% less polluting than normal fuels, but could lead to more expensive flight tickets

French airline head supports Covid 'travel passes'

The head of the International Air Traffic Association says mandatory testing and ‘health passports’ will improve passenger numbers, rather than enforced vaccination

Coronavirus: Ryanair to close Toulouse base for winter

The airline is reducing flights and staff as a result of the Covid-19 health crisis

Flying taxis to be tested in Paris in 2021

Plans are underway to unveil a flying taxi at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and RATP aims to sell tickets for public flights by 2030.

Airbus unveils plans for zero-emission air travel by 2035

The French aircraft manufacturer is aiming to be the first company in the world to launch eco-friendly, hydrogen-fuelled aircraft.

‘Help us’ French publicity pilots ask President Macron

Pilots who fly planes with advertising banners in France may see their profession banned under new climate regulations. They are appealing to the French President for help.

Plane from France landed ‘one minute’ into Norway quarantine

A plane travelling from Nice in France to Oslo in Norway landed just one minute after the mandatory quarantine was imposed, meaning all 158 passengers needed to self-isolate for 10 days, it has emerged.

France now requires Covid tests for at-risk airport arrivals

As of yesterday (August 1), proof of a negative Covid-19 test is mandatory for all arrivals to French airports from 16 “at risk” countries, with 556 people tested in Paris yesterday. We explain how the new system works.

France to add new airport measures as Covid-19 fears grow

France saw an increase of 1,130 new cases of Coronavirus between Thursday and Friday, adding to fears of a ‘second wave’

France introduces Covid tests for ‘at risk’ airport arrivals

Travellers arriving by air into France from at-risk countries will now be “systematically” tested for Covid-19 upon arrival, the French government has announced.

UK-France flights and restart plans for July

Airlines are slowly restarting flights for summer with more details of timetables announced last weekend.

Europe confirms list of non-EU borders set to open on July 1

Europe is set to reopen its borders with more than 15 non-EU destinations from July 1, including Canada, Australia and Thailand. And while the list includes China, it does not yet include the United States.

Water salute for first flight as Paris Orly airport reopens

The airport in Ile-de-France reopened this morning (Friday June 26) after being closed since March 31 due to the Covid-19 crisis. The first flight to leave was given a “water salute” from airport firemen.

French airports prepare to reopen

Following a speech from the French Prime Minister last night (May 28) confirming the second stage of deconfinement in France, airports around the country are preparing to reopen in June.

Can we travel to our second home in France in June?

As stage two of deconfinement begins in France, the rules on travel and entering the country are changing. However, restrictions remain if you are not a resident returning to your main home until June 15. We explain.

France travel: what will be possible this summer?

Travel within France is expected to restart this month as the country enters its second stage of deconfinement on June 2.

Airlines plead for law change over refunds

Airlines, backed by 12 European countries including France, are asking for European law to be changed so that companies do not have to pay refunds to passengers for cancelled flights due to Covid-19 but can offer travel vouchers instead.

Airline Ryanair says no holiday flights until July

Budget airline Ryanair has said that it will run a skeleton service only until July, alongside plans to cut up to 3,000 jobs, and close some bases, “until traffic recovers” in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Covid-19 in France: What impact on travel?

As French President Emmanuel Macron has announced tough measures across the country to reduce the spread of coronavirus Covid-19, we answer questions about travel on flights, trains, and ferries.

Airbus France tests first fully automatic jet take-off

European aerospace company Airbus, whose headquarters are in France, has successfully completed the first fully automatic take-off of a passenger jet, without the pilots.

New plans for Nantes airport confirmed

Nantes Atlantique airport is to receive changes to operations - including fewer night flights, and a longer runway - the French junior transport minister has announced.

Petit Prince writer’s château bought by French region

The childhood château of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of much-loved French book Le Petit Prince , has been bought by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, for a €30 million project.

Flying start and finish for furniture

Old Airbus aeroplane parts are being used to create unusual furniture, such as chairs made from nose-cones and tables from plane exhausts, for homes and offices.

Plans to help with rural transport in France

Airships, car-sharing apps and improved rail services are all part of plans to improve transport in rural areas.

French flights may be affected by Ryanair pilot strike

UK-based pilots of the low-cost airline Ryanair have voted for strike action in August and September, with some flights to and from France at risk of being affected by delays or cancellations.

France announces eco-tax on departing flights by 2020

A new “eco-tax” is to apply to all airline tickets for flights departing from French metropolitan airports by 2020, the French government has announced.

France wants more taxation on air transport pollution

France will push for more “taxation on the air transport” industry as a means to reduce pollution and work towards a carbon neutral future.

Toulouse airport privatisation cancelled by court

The planned privatisation of Toulouse-Blagnac airport (Occitanie) has been cancelled by the administrative Court of Appeal.

Proposal to privatise Paris airports highly criticised

The French national parliament is expected to approve the privatisation of French airport company les Aéroports de Paris (ADP) imminently, a decision that is proving controversial.

France celebrates 50 years since Concorde first flight

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary since the maiden Concorde flight that “saved European aviation”, almost 50 years to the day since the aircraft’s first official take-off on Sunday March 2, 1969.

Paris-Orly residents protest against plane noise rise

Residents living near Paris-Orly airport have protested against aeroplane noise, and called for longer nighttime airport hours to give them more quiet time to sleep.

EasyJet and Ryanair expand in France

Ryanair and EasyJet are opening new French bases and routes, including to Dublin and Manchester, creating hundreds of jobs.

‘Stingy’ Ryanair kept €678 from bailiffs

A public body running Angoulême airport has accused Ryanair of penny-pinching after it withheld a few hundred euros from a sum of more than half a million it owed to get bailiffs to release a plane blocked on the tarmac at Bordeaux.

Ryanair to cancel 190 flights due to strikes

Low cost airline Ryanair is to cancel 190 flights this Friday (September 28) due to planned cabin staff strikes, with knock-on effects expected to be felt across Europe.

French firm Airbus reveals new non-stop 20 hour plane

French plane manufacturer Airbus has unveiled its new A350 XWB aeroplane, which can fly for 20 hours - or 15,000km - without stopping.

Pets face trip in X-ray scanner to travel in hold

Airline travellers with large pets will, if they are allowed to travel with them, have to put them in the hold as they are not allowed in the cabin, which may mean they will go through the baggage X-ray scanner like all luggage.

Airline passengers losing billions in compensation

Up to 85% of airline passengers do not know their rights in the event of a delay or cancellation, and it could be costing them up to €600 each per flight, and billions collectively, a new study has shown.

Military plane drops ‘bomb’ over Loiret, injuring two

A military fighter jet has dropped a replica bomb on to the roof of a working factory during a flight in Loiret (Centre-Val de Loire), injuring two people.

Air France chaos as strike cancels 1 in 4 flights

Today’s Air France strike has grounded one in four scheduled flights, just ahead of the Easter weekend (Friday March 30).

Take a selfie or miss air delay pay-outs

Photos could be important evidence in compensation battles

Air France announces two more days of strikes

Staff at Air France have announced two more days of strikes for April 3 and 7, in an ongoing dispute over proposed pay increases.

Airbus releases video of unmanned flying taxi flight

Toulouse-based aircraft giant Airbus has unveiled the first images of its new unmanned, flying taxi project, in a video showing the model’s maiden flight.

Toulouse airport scrutiny on noise and air pollution

Toulouse airport has come in for scrutiny over its pollution levels, as local residents complain about heightened plane noise and a new report shows that air quality in the city continues to deteriorate.

Pilot’s error ‘negligent’

Astronaut retrains for zero gravity plane

Thomas Pesquet has big plans for this year

Airbus A380 draws gigantic Christmas tree in the sky

An A380 double-decker plane - the flagship jet created by the Toulouse-based, European company Airbus - has drawn a giant Christmas tree over German and Danish airspace.

Hop! plane U-turns as man gets on wrong flight

An Hop! Air France plane was forced to make a U-turn on the tarmac at Orly airport this week after a passenger accidentally got on the wrong flight.

French plane firm Airbus soars ahead with record order

French-European aviation company Airbus has received a €42 billion order from an American investment group, marking the biggest sale in its history.

More to flights than price

It had to happen. The shine had to get knocked off the reputation of cut-price airlines sooner or later. No one can offer perfect service at cheap prices without the occasional failure.

Ryanair passengers due €250 but not told

Consumer group says compensation ‘obligatory’

Airbus tests new smooth wing to cut fuel use by 4%

Company says after French test flight that saving may ‘sound little, but for us this is huge’

New Air France airline aims for mid-market

A deal with pilots and cabin crew has given Air France/KLM the green light to start a new ‘hybrid’ airline operating online-only booking to cut costs but still offering similar services to Air France.