CEO Ben Smith said a shortage of jetways has created a daily struggle for aircraft parking spaces and higher operating costs. — Reuters
PARIS: Air France-KLM’s CEO has urged Aeroports de Paris (ADP) to improve the French capital’s Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, saying a shortage of jetways has created a daily struggle for aircraft parking spaces and higher operating costs.
Speaking to reporters to mark the Franco-Dutch airline group’s 20th anniversary, chief executive Ben Smith said that in the morning peak dozens of planes are left without a jetway or “contact” gate, forcing passengers to use buses to reach the terminal.
“We have to have a negotiation every morning with ADP, depending on what the other airlines have, to try to find parking positions for our fleet,” Smith said.
ADP did not respond to requests for comment.
In 2021, President Emmanuel Macron’s government asked state-controlled ADP to come up with new proposals after ditching plans for an all-new terminal at CDG.
Smith has no regrets over the government’s decision to axe Terminal 4, citing a costly 15-year transition and the lack of a direct link to a proposed new rail line to the capital.
Instead, he urged more investment in existing facilities.
“We’re not talking about new capacity. We’re talking about improving what’s already there. It’s really important for us.”
Other group executives said discussions have begun with ADP over potential changes.
Smith reeled off a list of other perceived faults including the long distance to maintenance hangars, tying up planes for hours in extra towing times.
He also bemoaned a lack of border control staff and “baggage systems that are old”.
The spat comes as ADP and Air France prepare to handle tens of thousands of visitors for the Olympics. Both say they are fully prepared and cooperating well with each other.
“The infrastructure is ready, the staff have been recruited and processes have been defined,” ADP’s deputy CEO Edward Arkwright told the Paris Air Forum last week.
Smith’s comments in part reflect fierce competition between hubs in Paris, London, Frankfurt, Istanbul and the Gulf. He demonstrated on Google Maps how some airport maintenance facilities are closer to the terminals, avoiding CDG’s long towing times for regular maintenance checks.
French network Air France operates a hub at CDG’s Terminal 2 and makes up 55% of ADP’s traffic.
A company-commissioned study said on Wednesday that it contributes 3.2% of regional GDP. — Reuters
