Major European airport closes runway through 2026 — disrupting 3,000 flights

| Lifestyle Reporter Published August 12, 2026 12:30pm Updated August 12, 2026 12:30pm Around 35 million people travelled through Paris-Orly Airport in 2025 (Picture: Getty Images) If you’re planning a trip to Paris in the coming months you might want to take note. On August 10, Paris-Orly Airport officially closed one of its runways in order to carry out crucial improvements works. Airport officials announced that Runway 4 will be out of use until December 17, meaning a large number of flights expected to take place over the next five months will either be cancelled or diverted to another airport. Already, easyJet has shared that it was asked to cancel flights from August 10 to October 24. According to the airport, which happens to be the second busiest in France, the refurbishment will include renovating the pavements, upgrading lighting, and improving the aircraft stands. Thousands of passengers will likely be impacted by the refurbishment works (Picture: Getty Images) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Served by over 20 different airlines, Paris-Orly is a major transport hub — connecting passengers to approximately 130 destinations worldwide. And with only three runways, closing just one will have an immediate impact. In an official statement on the airport’s website, officials explained that ‘during the work on the runway at Paris-Orly, some flights will be transferred to Paris-Charles de Gaulle’. The distance between the two airports is around 31 miles, which equates to a either a 45 minute drive or an hour and 10 minute train journey. So, being diverted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle isn’t exactly the end of the world. However, with the airport prompting all passengers to check their flight information, it’s likely that some flights may be cancelled altogether. Which airlines will be affected? It’s been estimated that around 3,000 flights will be impacted by the runway closure. That boils down to about 750 flight each month. The airline is encouraging all passengers to check their flight information prior to travelling (Picture: Getty Images) UK flights to and from the airport are generally operated by easyJet and Air France. Flights from these carriers land in major cities across the UK, including London, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. As previously mentioned, easyJet has been instructed to cancel flights to and from the UK from now up until October 24. However, the airline has confirmed that all passengers have already been offered alternative flights. Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you The airlines expected to be most heavily impacted by the runway closure are: Air Algérie, KM Malta Airlines, RAM, Pegasus, Iberia and Tunisair. Keen for a summer in Brussels? I'd go quickly! In other news, it was recently announced that Brussels South Charleroi Airport will be closing in 2028 for almost three months during the summer holidays, no less, between August 15 and October 31. The travel hub, which is the second largest airport in Belgium and serves both Brussels and nearby Charleroi, is getting a major runway upgrade – expected to cost €50 million (£42.8 million). Ryanair has a base at Charleroi, and it currently operates flights to the likes of Tirana, Vienna, Sarajevo, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, and Barcelona. Wizz Air also flies from there, including to the likes of Skopje, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest, and Pristina, while Air Arabia and Air Corsica offer seasonal flights to Oujda, Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari. According to reports in, all existing flights will need to be diverted, though there’s currently limited information on the interim plans. Arrow MORE: The Greek island with otherworldly beaches, mythical festivals and friendly locals Arrow MORE: Why I’ve been going back to the same UK seaside town for 17 years Arrow MORE: Direct trains between two European countries resume after being scrapped in the 90s The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.