You have probably already flown through Orly Airport as a passenger, somewhere between a line at the security check and a distracted glance toward the runways. But have you ever thought about what happens on the other side of the barriers, in the areas usually reserved for airport teams?
A few years ago, I had the chance to discover the behind-the-scenes areas of Orly Airport during a special tour of the restricted area. Between the runways, the snow-clearing vehicles, the airport fire brigade, the traffic rules on the tarmac and the surprising Pavillon d'Honneur, the experience gave me a completely different perspective on Orly.
In this article, I'll take you through the experience while also explaining what you can visit at Orly today, how to book a guided tour of Orly airport and what to expect once you're there. If you enjoy discovering the hidden side of major facilities, aviation-related jobs or unusual outings around Paris, this is a fascinating option.
- The behind-the-scenes tours of Orly airport start at the Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly, located in Athis-Mons, on the edge of the runways.
- You travel through the restricted area by bus under staff supervision. Expect an ID/security check, a temporary badge, and a high-visibility vest.
- Depending on the tour and airport operations that day, the tour may include views of or access near the runways, winter operations, the role of the fire brigade, traffic rules or even some iconic buildings such as the Pavillon d'Honneur.
- Taking photos in the restricted area is now strictly regulated, or even prohibited depending on the rules that apply on the day of your tour.
- The tour is booked directly with the Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires or via the Entre Voisins program of Groupe ADP.
- From Paris, it's easy to get there by public transit, particularly via tram line T7 or the RER with a bus connection.
I did this tour as part of the Paris Face Cachée event, which used to give the public access to places that are normally off-limits. The itinerary described here reflects the tour I took at the time: entry points, stops and demonstrations may vary depending on the time of year, security requirements and airport operations. At the time, we had also been granted permission to take photos, which is no longer necessarily possible today in the restricted area.
The starting point of the Orly tour
The tour begins at the Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly, located in Athis-Mons, very close to the runways. It's the starting point for guided tours designed to show visitors a different side of the airport, far removed from the usual passenger experience.
Put on your magnificent fluorescent orange vest emblazoned with Aéroports de Paris (glamour, glory and beauty), take your seat on the bus, and you're ready to enter a world where the priorities are no longer boarding gates or duty-free shops, but safety, aircraft movements, weather-related disruptions and the day-to-day work of ground crews.
Going behind the scenes at Orly airport
Going behind the scenes at Orly means seeing the airport from the perspective of the people who keep it running, rather than from a passenger's point of view. Here, everything is regulated, controlled, clearly marked: the runways have their own rules, access is strictly supervised and every movement is governed by strict safety procedures.
Orly's operating hours and proximity to residential areas
Unlike Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly Airport does not operate flights throughout the night: takeoffs and landings are prohibited between 11:30pm and 6am, except in limited circumstances. This nighttime curfew was introduced to limit noise pollution, as the airport is very close to residential areas.
Once you're airside, this proximity is striking. You can clearly make out the roofs of nearby houses, sometimes separated from the airport area by a road, a fence and not much else. It becomes easy to understand why noise and operating hours are such a sensitive topic for local residents.
Security checks and badge system
Getting into the restricted area is nothing like entering a regular museum. Even as part of a guided tour, you have to go through a security check and show an ID. Depending on the procedures that day, you may then be given a temporary badge to move through the areas included in the tour.
There are red badges for airport personnel: they bear the letters "A" (aircraft area), "F" (access to the freight area), "B" (baggage area), or "P" (passenger area)… We were given a green badge that allowed us to access the restricted area as long as we were accompanied by someone holding a red badge.
Once you have passed the check, you really step into another world. The badge must remain visible, you move as a group, and being accompanied by authorized staff is essential. Even on a tour, you obviously do not just stroll freely on the tarmac, between two planes and three ramp trucks, leaving things to chance.
During my visit, airport personnel were wearing badges giving access to specific areas: aircraft, freight, baggage, passengers… By contrast, our temporary badges only gave us limited access, valid only as part of the supervised route. This immediately sets the tone: you can discover what goes on behind the scenes at Orly, but always under strict supervision and security rules.
Why photos are now so strictly controlled
Taking photos in the restricted area is now very limited, or even prohibited, depending on the tour, the instructions on the day, and the areas you pass through. During my visit, organized as part of the Paris Face Cachée event, we had special authorization to photograph specific areas. That is what allows me to illustrate this article.
So you should not necessarily expect to come away with a full set of photos if you book a tour today. Sensitive areas, security systems, certain technical buildings, or ongoing operations may be subject to restrictions. The tour is mainly worthwhile for what you see, what you understand, and what you learn about how an airport works, more than for the photos you can post on Instagram.
What can you see during a visit to Orly Airport?
What you actually see on an Orly tour varies depending on the time of year, security requirements, and airport operations. Some tours include access to restricted airside areas near the runways, while others focus more on the terminals or on how the airport operates as a whole.
The following section describes the tour I took. Even if some stops may have changed since then, it gives a good idea of the kinds of behind-the-scenes areas you may be able to see at Orly.
Riding alongside the runways: a very unusual experience
One of the most striking moments is riding in a bus very close to the runways and the taxiways used by planes. The bus moves slowly through an area that is normally off-limits to the public while a guide explains what is happening around you.
Sometimes the vehicle stops not for another car, but to let an aircraft taxi past or to wait while ground operations are underway. The wing sometimes seems so close that it feels almost within arm's reach.
The noise of the engines, the lighted beacons, the markings on the ground, and the constant activity give you a completely different perspective on the airport than the view you get from inside a terminal.
Snow removal equipment and winter operations
During my visit, our first stop was to see the impressive runway snow removal equipment used to keep the runways operational in winter. For example, when fully deployed, the largest snowplow is up to 8.40 m wide (about 27 ft 7 in).
These machines are designed to clear large areas quickly. Keeping the airport running during snow requires a complex operation involving on-call staff (between October 15 and April 15), specialized equipment, and carefully coordinated procedures.
As a passenger, you mainly remember delays or cancellations. Behind the scenes, you see just how much work goes into keeping air operations safe.
Why isn't salt used on the runways?
One of the most surprising details concerns how snow and ice are handled. Unlike ordinary roads, salt cannot be used on runways, as it is too corrosive for airplanes and their equipment.
The salt silos visible on the site are only used for roadways. For the runways, the airport uses aviation-specific chemicals to melt snow and remove ice… while aircraft are de-iced with propylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
The tour also highlights the environmental impact of these operations: collecting effluents, treating water, and limiting the impact on the soil are all part of managing winter operations responsibly.
Driving on the tarmac: a world of its own
Only specially trained drivers are allowed to operate vehicles airside. Drivers must complete specialized training and follow strict rules. Airside driving violations result in points being deducted from their regular French category B driver's license.
Signage, speed limits, holding areas, right of way: everything is governed by strict rules.
One rule takes precedence over all the others: aircraft always have the right of way. When you discover this environment, you quickly realize that the airside area operates almost like a miniature road network, with its own rules and procedures.
Firefighter training on a dedicated aircraft
Along the way, we also caught sight of an old aircraft used to train emergency crews.
This aircraft is used to simulate a range of emergency scenarios: fire, evacuation, emergency response inside the cabin, or fuel leak. It's a vivid reminder that air safety relies on ongoing training, long before an incident actually occurs.
The airport firefighters: organization and emergency response
Orly's emergency facilities have changed considerably since my visit. The old fire stations have since been replaced by more modern infrastructure that is better suited to the airport's current needs.
For a long time, Orly had two fire stations. I was able to visit one of them. Since my visit, the two stations have been replaced by a modern 3600 m² (about 38,750 sq ft) building, more centrally located, allowing firefighters to reach any part of the airport in under 3 minutes.
On average, firefighters respond to about one aviation-related incident per day (ranging from fuel leaks to landing gear deployment problems). They are equipped with highly advanced vehicles. One of their fire trucks can carry 15,000 liters of water (about 4,000 gallons), which can be discharged in exactly 3 minutes. In other words, you need to aim carefully…
The teams often point out that many callouts are precautionary. When a pilot reports an issue, even a minor one, emergency crews immediately stand by in case they are needed. In the vast majority of cases, everything goes perfectly well, but aviation safety depends on preparing for even highly unlikely scenarios.
Firefighters also respond to much more routine incidents: a traveler feeling unwell, a fall in a terminal, or a technical issue affecting a facility. After all, an airport is also a busy public space used by tens of thousands of people every day.
Orly's former control tower
The tour also gives you a glimpse of the old control tower, whose silhouette stands out from the airport's more recent buildings.
It once handled all of Orly's air traffic. Today, as the airport welcomes nearly 35 million passengers per year, it serves as a striking reminder of how much air travel and airport infrastructure have evolved.
The Pavillon d'Honneur: a stop sometimes included
During my visit, we also discovered the Pavillon d'Honneur, used to receive dignitaries and official delegations. Heads of state arriving in France on official visits may be received here… and the French President may also depart from here on official travel. The Pavilion consists of a large reception hall (see photo below), a room for journalists, and a small lounge reserved for high-ranking dignitaries.
There are three levels of official reception for visiting heads of state. The most elaborate one includes a 240-meter (about 790 ft) red carpet rolled out between the plane and the Pavilion, with the three branches of the armed forces forming an honor guard.
The Pavillon d'Honneur is not a standard stop on current tours. Access to it depends on the specific tour and operational conditions.
The K9 unit: a memorable demonstration
We also attended a demonstration by the K9 unit, whose duties include detecting explosives.
Watching the dog and handler at work is especially impressive. What stands out is not just the dog's performance, but also the precision of its training and the role it plays in the airport's security system.
Demonstrations by the K9 unit are not included on every tour. As with the rest of the program, whether they are included depends on staff availability and operational conditions.
Who is the airside tour of Orly airport for?
This tour is best suited to people who are curious about what goes on behind the scenes at a major airport.
It is not a tour centered on the planes themselves, but rather on the people who keep the airport running day to day: firefighters, ramp agents, maintenance teams, security, logistics, and protocol staff.
If you enjoy understanding how major infrastructure works, you would probably appreciate this kind of immersive tour. It gives you a new perspective on a place you often rush through, just before heading off on a trip.
Near Orly you will also find the Wissous postal sorting center, which I had the opportunity to visit as part of Paris Face Cachée. Even though photos were forbidden there, this look at postal logistics was a fascinating extension of my interest in places that are usually closed to the public.
How to visit Orly airport today?
If you would like to experience the airport as more than just a passenger, the easiest option is to check the tours offered by the Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly, which organizes activities and guided tours across the airport site throughout the year.
Contrary to what you might imagine, there isn't just one official Orly tour; several different tour formats are available, and they vary depending on the time of year, security requirements, and airport operations. Some tours let you discover behind-the-scenes operational areas, while others focus more on the terminals or on the wide range of jobs involved in running the airport.
The Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly
The Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly is an information and outreach center run by Groupe ADP. It helps visitors understand how a large international airport operates, the jobs and careers involved in running it, its history, its environmental challenges, and its relationship with surrounding communities.
It is also the main place to find and book guided tours of Orly.
Official information
To see the scheduled tours, timetables, registration requirements, and current activities, take a look at Groupe ADP's Entre Voisins program, which lists a range of initiatives for local residents and the general public. You can check the current program on the Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires de Paris-Orly website.
Not all tours include access to the runways
This is probably the most important point to know before booking.
The visit I describe in this article was a rare opportunity to enter a restricted area. It gave me access to restricted airside areas and facilities that are normally inaccessible to the public.
The tours available today may be quite different. Some tours take place in the terminals and public areas of the airport, while others focus more closely on day-to-day airport operations.
The exact content of the tour depends on which areas are accessible, current airport operations, and security requirements. It is therefore essential to read the tour description before booking.
How do you book a tour of Orly?
The tours are generally available by advance booking only, with a limited number of spots.
Depending on the itinerary, you may need to provide some personal information in advance and show ID on the day of the visit. For tours that include access to controlled areas, specific security rules may also apply.
The tours are generally:
- Free or available for a nominal fee.
- Available by reservation only.
- Organized in small groups.
- Supervised by airport professionals or staff from the Maison de l'Environnement.
- Subject to security requirements that may change at short notice.
How do you get there?
The Maison de l'Environnement et des Territoires is now located opposite Orly 3, right by the airport's transportation hub. It is much easier to reach than it was when I took the tour.
You can get there by:
- By Metro Line 14: get off at Aéroport d'Orly.
- By tram T7.
- By RER C or D to Juvisy-sur-Orge, then by bus.
- By car, via the airport parking lots.
Who is this tour suitable for?
Orly Airport tours are best suited to people who are curious about what goes on behind the scenes at a large airport: aviation enthusiasts, logistics enthusiasts, frequent travelers, students, or anyone interested in how airports operate.
Children who are fascinated by planes may also enjoy the experience, provided they are old enough to understand the explanations and follow safety instructions (several tours require a minimum age of 8).
Which tour should you choose?
| Type of tour | What you can discover | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Behind-the-scenes tour in a restricted area | Runways, specialized vehicles, airport operations, specialized airport roles, depending on which areas are accessible at the time. | Aviation enthusiasts, logistics enthusiasts, people curious about what goes on behind the scenes. |
| Terminal tour | How the airport works, the passenger experience, terminal-based jobs, and how the terminals are organized. | Families, school groups, frequent travelers. |
| Activities at the Maison de l'Environnement | History of Orly, environment, aircraft noise, airport jobs and careers, exhibitions, and themed events. | General public, local residents, families. |
Part of the appeal is that no two tours are exactly alike: an airport is a place in constant motion. The exact itinerary may vary from one year to the next, but that is also what makes each visit a little different.
The traveler's memo for visiting Orly airport
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit to Orly airport.
