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80 years of hospitality, innovation and connections
Connecting the planet, welcoming the globe to France and fostering regional growth. These are the ambitions that have inspired us for over 80 years and will continue to do so for many more. Supported by thousands of committed individuals striving every day to enhance our airports – making them more sustainable, more efficient and more welcoming. Together, we are shaping the future of aviation, creating a legacy we can all be proud of.
A look back in pictures at key dates in the history of Groupe ADP.
1945
The public institution “L’Aéroport de Paris” was established by the ordinance of October 24. The government's goal was to consolidate the management, planning, and operation of all civil aviation within a 50-kilometer radius of Paris under a single authority.
Photo : Paris-Le Bourget airport in 1945 (©Groupe ADP)
1961
On February 24, the President of France General de Gaulle inaugurated the South Terminal at Paris-Orly. At the time, Paris-Orly was a symbol of a France that was fully embracing modernity. As soon as it opened, the terminal was handling 9,000 passengers a day.
Photo : Inauguration of Paris-Orly by General de Gaulle (©Groupe ADP)
1974
On March 8, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport was inaugurated and opened for business. The airport was considered revolutionary at the time, with its Terminal 1, designed by architect Paul Andreu, consisting of a cylindrical central structure and seven satellite buildings. Two years later, the airport welcomed its first commercial Concorde flight.
Photo : Opening of Terminal 1 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (©Groupe ADP)
1994
Already a pioneer in intermodal air and rail travel, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport opened its own high-speed train station, located in the heart of Terminal 2, on November 2. This station, officially named “Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV”, is an architectural masterpiece designed by Paul Andreu.
Photo : TGV train at Paris-CDG Airport Station, Terminal 2 (©SNCF, Groupe ADP)
2003
Terminal 2E opened at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, for use by Air France and the SkyTeam alliance. Dedicated to international flights, the terminal at that time consisted of a central building and a pier (Hall K) for docking 18 aircraft. A year later, passenger traffic at Paris airports surpassed 75 million passengers a year.
Photo : Overview of Terminals 2 and 2F at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (©Groupe ADP)
2006
The company launched its initial public offering and started trading on the stock exchange on June 16. It was a popular success, with more than 2.6 million individual investors signing up. A year earlier, Aéroports de Paris had changed its legal status to become a public limited company with a board of directors.
Photo : Aircraft parked at Terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (©Groupe ADP, Stroppa Philippe, studio Pons)
2012
Major international expansion with the acquisition of a stake in the Turkish airport operator TAV Airports. This alliance created the world’s largest airport network. Groupe ADP now owns 46.1% of TAV Airports. Above is Ankara Airport in Türkiye.
Photo : Ankara International Airport in Türkiye, operated by TAV Airports (©TAV Airports)
2016
Creation of the brands Groupe ADP and Paris Aéroport. The first is the corporate brand that unites all business lines and subsidiaries both in France and internationally and embodies the ambitions of a global group. The second (pictured above) is a brand aimed at passengers, and used in Paris airports.
Photo : Paris Aéroport signage at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Terminal 1 (©Sylvain Cambon, Groupe ADP)
2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Groupe ADP set up health facilities including testing centers and, later, vaccination centers. During lockdown, it was forced to close Paris-Orly and some of the terminals at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Despite the pandemic, Groupe ADP continued its international expansion by taking a stake in GMR Airports in India.
Photo : COVID-19 testing center set up at Orly 4 (©Maxime Letertre, Groupe ADP)
2022
For the first time, Paris-Charles de Gaulle was voted “Best Airport in Europe” by passengers at the World Airport Awards organized by Skytrax, a benchmark for service quality rankings. Since then, it has retained the title, recognizing collective commitment to improving hospitality.
Photo : 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony. Paris-CDG named Best Airport in Europe in 2022 (©Groupe ADP)
2024
As an Official Partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Groupe ADP was the gateway to the Games and set up special facilities to welcome the athletes, including an off-site check-in desk located in the Olympic Village.
Photo : Arrival of the Olympic flame at Paris-Orly Airport (©M. André, C. Echandia, Groupe ADP)
2025
At the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, Groupe ADP launched a groundbreaking partnership with Air France called “Connect France” to boost the competitiveness of the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub.
Photo : Signing of the “Connect France” partnership with, from left to right, President Emmanuel Macron, Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, Philippe Pascal, CEO of Groupe ADP, and Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport (©Groupe ADP)
2026
The new Bhogapuram Airport in India is scheduled to open in June. GMR Airports has been awarded a 40-year concession to operate this airport. Its capacity, currently around 6 million passengers a year, will eventually reach 40 million passengers following various expansion phases.
Photo : Architectural rendering of the new Bhogapuram Airport in India (©GMR Airports)
2027
The CDG Express is set to enter service on March 28: a direct rail link between the airport and Paris-Est train station in 20 minutes. Here is an architectural rendering of the future CDG Express station at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.
At the time of this launch, the terminals at Paris-Charles de Gaulle will be renamed to make it easier for passengers to find their way.
Photo : Platform access at the future CDG Express station at Paris-CDG Terminal 2 (©Groupe ADP)