Paris-Orly Airport in Chaos as Air Traffic Control Breakdown Triggers Mass Flight Cancellations
Paris, May 19, 2025 – Paris-Orly Airport, France’s second-busiest airport, descended into disarray on Sunday, May 18, 2025, following a critical failure in its air traffic control (ATC) systems, identified as a radar system breakdown. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) ordered airlines to slash flight schedules by 40%, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 130 flights and widespread delays. The disruption, which extended into Monday with a reduced 15% flight cut, has stranded thousands of passengers and exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s aviation infrastructure.
The outage, which began early Sunday afternoon, crippled operations at Orly’s control tower, forcing immediate restrictions on air traffic. Major carriers, including Air France, Transavia, and Vueling, grounded flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa, including Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and several French cities like Toulouse and Nice. Passengers reported chaotic scenes, with families, business travelers, and vacationers left scrambling for alternatives. “We were seated, ready to go, when they made us disembark,” said Azgal Abichou, a 63-year-old business owner. “The ordeal began.” Others, like 22-year-old student Romane Penault, faced exorbitant rebooking costs, with no guarantee of departure.
The DGAC, in a statement, cited the need for “regulation” to manage the crisis but provided no details on the cause of the radar failure, prompting questions about system redundancy and maintenance. “Our teams are fully mobilized to restore normal operations as soon as possible,” the authority said. By Monday, the situation was “improving,” but delays persisted, with airlines like easyJet, Iberia, and TAP still canceling flights, particularly to Italy, Spain, Portugal, and southern France. Aeroports de Paris, which operates Orly, reported that 40% of Sunday’s scheduled flights were affected, impacting both departures and arrivals.
Orly, which handled 33 million passengers in 2024—half the volume of Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle—serves as a vital hub for domestic and medium-haul international routes. The breakdown’s timing, amid surging summer travel demand, amplified its impact, with ripple effects felt across European and North African routes. Passengers took to social media, expressing frustration over poor communication, with one traveler from Dublin learning of their cancellation only upon landing. Posts on X highlighted the crisis, with users questioning whether global aviation infrastructure is “buckling under pressure.” @Global_NewsWire noted, “Paris Orly Airport hit by major air traffic control failure, slashing 15% of Monday flights.”
This incident follows a string of aviation disruptions worldwide, including IT failures at London’s Stansted Airport on May 17 and similar ATC issues in Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, and the U.S. in recent months. Analysts warn that aging infrastructure and underinvestment in modernization are exposing systemic weaknesses. “The radar failure at Orly reveals the fragility of critical aviation infrastructure,” said a Travel and Tour World report. “One weak link can cause systemic collapse.” The DGAC faces mounting pressure to explain the failure and ensure robust backups, especially with Paris preparing for increased traffic during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The disruption has broader implications for traveler confidence and the global travel industry. Repeated incidents at major hubs like Orly could prompt passengers to reconsider plans, impacting airline revenues and regional tourism. For now, Orly remains in recovery mode, with the DGAC urging travelers to check flight statuses and expect delays. As France grapples with this aviation nightmare, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to keep pace with modern travel demands.
Sources: AP News, The Independent, ABC News, Bloomberg, Euronews, Travel and Tour World, Aviation24.be, France24