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Paris Beauvais ranked one of the world’s ten worst airports

Paris Beauvais airport has been ranked one of the worst ten airports in the world along with Juba International in war-torn Sudan. These airports "have the capacity to truly offend travellers," say those behind the ranking.

Published: 9 November 2017 11:19 CET
Paris Beauvais ranked one of the world's ten worst airports
Photo: AFP
Bosses at Paris Beauvais airport (which is 80km north of the French capital) are sure to be embarrassed that their airport has once again turned up a list of the world's worst. 
 
Beauvais airport was ranked the ninth worst airport in the world in a survey by travel site “Sleeping at Airports” just ahead of Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan, Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal and Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela.
 
However Beauvais bosses can take some comfort in the fact that the airport came ahead of Juba International Airport in war-torn South Sudan and Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria. 
 
And the travel site had some harsh words for the airports that made an appearance. 
 
Photo: Sergio Calleja/Flickr
 
“The airports that appear on our list of the worst in the world are ones that have the capacity to truly offend travellers. Within these terminals, there appears to be a general disinterest in a positive traveller experience.”
 
All the airports on the list were ranked according to eight categories: Comfort, services, food options, immigration/security, customer service, cleanliness, navigation and ease of transit and sleepability. 
 
As for Beauvais airport, used mainly by Irish airline Ryanair as its Paris hub, the travel site gave some some words of advice for travellers who venture to the airport.
 
“Planning will make your time here significantly more pleasant” said the site, highlighting that the airport is over 90 minutes away from central Paris. 
 
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Paris Beauvais in top 10 'world's worst airports' Photo: Juanedc/flickr

It advised travellers “to note that it closes from 11pm to 6am, and nearby hotels are not budget-friendly. If you have an early morning flight and you are planning to go to the airport the night before to sleep in the terminal – don't do it!”
 
Finally it said, “Be aware that the airport itself is extremely basic, offering a few dining options inside two bare-bones terminals. With these three facts in mind, consider whether buying a ticket from one of the budget airlines that serve BVA is worth it to you – and if it is, come prepared.”
 
beauvais airport
 
One person who responded to the survey had some stern words for Beauvais: “That damn airport closes it's two terminals between 10.45pm and 6am. Your only options are to wait the night on an uncomfortable steel bench outside or walk around the parking to keep warm.”
 
Boarding lounge at Paris Beauvais. Photo: ERIC SALARD/Flickr
 
But while airports bosses will be far from happy, it's unlikely to be much of a surprise, with Beauvais featuring on the annual list in previous years.   
 
Indeed in 2013, The Local reported that the airport had been ranked fifth worst in the world, with Manila NAIA (Terminal 1) taking the bottom spot. 

RYANAIR

Ryanair demands that Air France give up French airport slots in exchange for state aid

Budget airline Ryanair urged on Wednesday that Air France be forced to give up lucrative French airport slots if it receives more state aid.

Published: 10 February 2021 16:20 CET
Ryanair demands that Air France give up French airport slots in exchange for state aid
Could Air France be forced to give up airport slots if it accepts more aid from the French state? Photo: AFP

Paris is in talks with European Union officials on the delicate issue of state aid to the French flagship carrier, which has already received substantial help from the government.

“Should yet another enormous and illegal state aid bailout occur, then effective remedies must be applied to ensure fair competition in the French market and to protect the interests of the French consumer / visitor,” a Ryanair statement said.

The low-cost airline is based in Ireland and regularly underscores the amount of money being allocated to keep struggling rivals in the air.

In exchange for more aid, Air France must be prepared to give up “a substantial number of its take-off and landing slots at key French airports including Paris Charles De Gaulle, Paris Orly and Lyon,” Ryanair argued.

French officials and the European Commission are currently discussing the terms of a further recapitalisation of the Air France-KLM group, which has suffered from the Covid-19 crisis.

EU officials have already indicated that in exchange for their approval, Air France should give up coveted slots at Paris' Orly airport, which is essentially saturated now.

Air France on the other hand has indicated that such a move posed a serious threat because it was counting on Orly operations to help it rebound from the crisis.

French officials want to avoid putting Air France, which was struggling even before the pandemic, at a competitive disadvantage.

Ryanair urged EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager to “stand firm in her discussions with the French government.

“Either Air France gets no state aid or proper remedies should be put in place to ensure a fair and level playing field for all airlines,” it insisted.

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