The airport was evacuated at around 8.30am on Saturday after the man was shot dead by soldiers.
Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said the man had tried “but not succeeded” in his bid to grab the rifle of the female soldier who was on patrol with two male colleagues.
No one was wounded in the airport incident.
Flights were suspended for Orly South and West terminal, with police urging the public to avoid the airport.
By mid afternoon air traffic was slowly getting back to normal.
As for the attacker, police sources say he was a 39-year-old Frenchman with several previous convictions, including for drugs and armed robbery, who was being sought by police.
#Orly #airport On going special operations led by the #Police. We advise passengers & families not to come to the airport. #en
— Paris Aéroport (@ParisAeroport) March 18, 2017