Airports and surrounding areas

With Orly Airport and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, Paris Region boasts the sixth largest airport system in the world. Air transport is essential to Paris Region residents and to the regional economy, but relations are difficult between the airports and the local areas in which they are located, because of the major problems of noise and pollution that are generated by them.

More broadly, the debates on the future of air transport illustrate the divides that run deep through our society as to the type of development that is desirable.

In view of the major role it plays in regional planning and development issues, IAURIF has, for about ten years now, been addressing the theme of airports.

This issue of Les Cahiers is an opportunity to take stock. Its reflections are mainly focused on the Paris region, but they are also enlightened by the involvement of IAURIF in various European projects and networks. They are also enriched by contributions from air transport players, academics, and representatives of associations.

The prospects of growth in traffic at the Paris region airports remain considerable for the period up to 2020.

Like the other major airport regions of Europe, Paris Region must find the means for containing and managing this growth, while meeting the conditions for sustainable development, and the legitimate concerns of local residents - less noise and pollution, and greater transparency - without jeopardising the region's influence, its competitiveness, and its economic performance.