France scraps Paris airport expansion over climate concerns

(Reuters, 11 Feb 2021) Operator links decision to COVID-19 crisis and promises to turn Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports into 'leaders in green aviation'.

France has scrapped a major expansion of Charles de Gaulle, the main Paris airport, citing climate goals and broader environmental concerns over the 9 billion euro ($11 billion) plan.

The government asked operator Aeroports de Paris to drop the "obsolete project that was no longer aligned with environmental policy", Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili said in an interview published in Le Monde on Thursday.

ADP confirmed the project's cancellation, pledging to come up with an alternative strategy to transform Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports into "leaders in green aviation".

Airport expansions are in growing conflict with greenhouse emissions-cutting goals, often generating legal challenges. At the same time, the coronavirus travel slump has bought policymakers more time to review capacity ambitions.

The UK Supreme Court recently overturned an earlier ruling against London Heathrow's planned third runway, but the project still faces administrative and legal hurdles.

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Reuters, 11 Feb 2021: France scraps Paris airport expansion over climate concerns