FRANCE. Group ADP has closed its shops and restaurants at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly airports because of the COVID-19 crisis in France and beyond.
“All non-essential shops at Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly Airports will be closed from midnight on Saturday [15 March] until further notice. Relay shops, mini-markets, pharmacies and take-away food-only stores will remain open,” Aude Ferrand, ADP Retail Director Shops, Food & Beverage, Advertising, Financial services under Terminals, told The Moodie Davitt Report.
Société de Distribution Aéroportuaire, the joint venture between Aéroports de Paris and Lagardère Travel Retail has closed its duty free and most specialist retail stores. Relay and other convenience shops such as M&S Simply Food will stay open as they are being considered ‘Essential Stores for the Continuity of Service’, Lagardère Travel Retail CEO France & Luxembourg Vincent Romet told us.
Some F&B units will remain open in the airside area, including Eric Kayser, Paul Brioche Dorée, and Starbucks but no seating is allowed.
On Saturday evening, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced the closure of all places “non-essential” to public life, including restaurants, cafes, cinemas and discos, effective midnight. “We must absolutely limit movement, meetings and contacts,” he said on Saturday evening. Food shops, tobacconists, banks and public transport will remain open.
SDA said in an email: “Following our Prime Minister’s announcement this evening, and after consultation with [Group] ADP, all sales points will be closed tomorrow morning.” All managers were told to inform staff not to turn up to work.
Orly 2 closed
In related news Paris-Orly Airport 2 will be temporarily closed from 17 March until further notice.
To make it easier for all passengers to travel and fulfil all boarding procedures, operations have been reorganised and some airlines have moved their operations to alternative terminals.
As advised by French health authorities, Group ADP has asked all passengers to avoid physical contact, ensuring a 1-metre distance away from other passengers while proceeding through all departures/arrivals procedures.
