Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris is said to be the largest international airport in France. Credit: NASA.

The Government of France is reportedly reconsidering plans to construct a fourth terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

Reuters quoted Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, who cited the reason as the global Covid-19 pandemic.

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Airport operator Groupe ADP had planned to construct a new terminal at CGG-Roissy that could accommodate around 35 million to 40 million passengers annually.

However, environmental activists and the local towns protested against the terminal. In addition, the decrease in passenger numbers due to the pandemic has raised doubts regarding the feasibility.

Djebbari was quoted as saying on Europe 1 radio: “The project to receive 40 million more passengers by 2030 is probably no longer justified as it was planned.”

He added that airports in France require investment to carry out upgrades. They will also have to ensure that hydrogen-powered aircraft and other new types of aircraft are able to land there.

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This year, the coronavirus pandemic has decreased passenger traffic at airports in France by around 40%.

Djebbari said: “Traffic is restarting very gradually. We will see in September whether business clients return, that will give an indication for the end of the year and next year.”

Based on the outlook, the airport projects will be modified, and the airlines will have to acclimatise their offer.

On 27 July, Groupe ADP stated that passenger traffic in the first half of this year at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports decreased by 62.2% to 19.8 million passengers.

Aéroports de Paris SA – Groupe ADP chairman and CEO Augustin de Romanet said: “This is the first time in 50 years that air traffic has experienced a downturn this abrupt and it is established that the recovery will be very gradual: a return to the 2019 traffic level in Paris is anticipated between 2024 and 2027.”