Some May Transfer From Paris Airport
The futuristic terminal at Charles de Gaulle has been closed indefinitely after its roof caved a week ago, killing four people. Pierre Graff, president of the Paris airport authority, said in an interview published Saturday he had asked civil aviation officials to approve the transfer of some carriers to the capital's second-biggest airport, Orly. "That solution would allow us to get through the summer season more easily," Graff told Le Monde, conceding that people who live around Orly might fight the measure. The $900 million showcase terminal at Charles de Gaulle, was crucial to Air France's strategy to win customers from rivals British Airways and Lufthansa, whose London and Frankfurt hubs are operating at or close to capacity. Two investigations have been opened to determine whether the design, calculations or construction were at fault.