Airport Accessibility

Booking PRM Assistance

PRM stands for "Person with Reduced Mobility." Both CDG and Orly offer free PRM assistance through your airline. You should request this service when you book your flight, or at least 48 hours before departure.

To book PRM assistance:

1. Contact your airline directly by phone or through their website when you book your ticket.
2. Specify the type of help you need: wheelchair to the gate, help boarding, a meet-and-greet at arrival, or assistance with baggage.
3. Confirm the request 48 hours before your flight if you did not book it with your original ticket.
4. Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure (3 hours for intercontinental flights) to allow time for the assistance team to reach you.

When you arrive, go to the designated PRM meeting point in your terminal. Staff will meet you with a wheelchair (if requested) and escort you through security, passport control, and to your gate.

Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Terminal Accessibility Features

CDG has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (with halls 2A through 2G), and Terminal 3. All terminals have elevators, accessible toilets, and tactile floor markings.

• Terminal 1: Fully renovated with wide corridors, automatic doors, and elevators at every level change. The terminal is circular, so distances can be long. Request a buggy if you have limited stamina.
• Terminal 2: The largest terminal complex. Halls 2E and 2F are the newest and have the best accessibility. Halls 2A and 2C are older with narrower corridors, but all have elevators and ramps. A free shuttle (CDGVAL) connects the halls and is wheelchair accessible.
• Terminal 3: The smallest and most basic terminal, used by low-cost carriers. It has elevators and accessible toilets but fewer amenities overall.

Accessible Toilets at CDG

Accessible toilets are located in every terminal, marked with the international wheelchair symbol. In Terminal 2, you will find them near every boarding gate area. The toilets have grab bars, lowered sinks, and enough turning space for a standard wheelchair. Some are equipped with emergency call buttons.

Baggage Assistance

Free luggage trolleys are available throughout the terminals. If you booked PRM assistance, staff will help you collect your bags from the carousel and bring them to your transport. Oversized mobility equipment (electric wheelchairs, scooters) is returned at the oversized baggage counter, usually near carousel 1 in each terminal.

Getting from CDG to Central Paris

Option 1: Taxi (Recommended for wheelchair users)

Taxi ranks are outside every terminal. A taxi from CDG to central Paris costs a flat rate: 56 euros to the Right Bank (north of the Seine) and 65 euros to the Left Bank (south of the Seine). The trip takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Standard taxis can fit a folding wheelchair in the trunk. For a ramp-equipped van, pre-book a G7 Access taxi (see our Taxis guide).

Option 2: Le Bus Direct (Now called "RoissyBus")

RoissyBus runs between CDG and Opera Garnier in central Paris. The bus is not wheelchair accessible. It can work for travelers who can climb 2 to 3 steps and store a folding wheelchair underneath. The fare is 16.60 euros one way. Journey time is 60 to 75 minutes.

Option 3: RER B Train

The RER B train connects CDG to central Paris (Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel). The train runs every 10 to 15 minutes and costs 11.80 euros. However, many RER B stations in Paris lack elevators. Gare du Nord has an elevator but it is frequently out of service. Chatelet-Les Halles has elevator access, but the station is very large and hard to navigate. The gap between the train and platform can be 10 to 15 cm, which is difficult for wheelchair users.

Orly Airport (ORY)

Terminal Accessibility Features

Orly has four terminals (Orly 1 through Orly 4), all connected by the free Orlyval shuttle. Orly completed a major renovation in 2019, and the terminal buildings are modern and well-designed for accessibility.

• Orly 1 and 2: These terminals handle most European flights. They have wide corridors, automatic doors, elevators, and tactile floor guidance for visually impaired travelers.
• Orly 3: Used primarily by low-cost carriers. Similar accessibility features to Orly 1 and 2, though the terminal is smaller.
• Orly 4: Handles intercontinental flights. The newest terminal section with the best overall accessibility. Level boarding bridges connect to most gates.

Accessible Toilets at Orly

Accessible toilets are available on every floor of every terminal. They are spacious, with grab bars on both sides, lowered sinks, and automatic doors in the newer sections. Emergency call cords are installed in all accessible cubicles.

Baggage Assistance

Free trolleys are available at all baggage carousels. PRM staff will assist with bag collection if you booked assistance in advance. Mobility equipment is returned at the oversized baggage area near the main carousels.

Getting from Orly to Central Paris

Option 1: Taxi (Recommended for wheelchair users)

Taxi ranks are at the exit of each terminal. Flat-rate pricing: 37 euros to the Left Bank, 44 euros to the Right Bank. Journey time is 30 to 50 minutes. For a ramp-equipped vehicle, book a G7 Access taxi in advance.

Option 2: Orlybus

Orlybus runs between Orly and Denfert-Rochereau station in the 14th arrondissement. The bus is not reliably wheelchair accessible. It costs 11.20 euros and takes 30 to 40 minutes. Not recommended for wheelchair users.

Option 3: Orlyval + RER B

The Orlyval is an automated train connecting Orly to the RER B at Antony station. Orlyval is wheelchair accessible with level boarding. However, the same RER B accessibility issues apply once you transfer at Antony. The combined fare is about 14.10 euros.

Option 4: Tram T7

Tram T7 connects Orly to Villejuif-Louis Aragon metro station (Line 7). The tram is fully accessible with level boarding and a ramp. However, metro Line 7 at Villejuif is not wheelchair accessible, so you would need to transfer to a bus from there. The tram fare is a standard metro ticket (2.15 euros).

Comparison: CDG vs. Orly Accessibility