Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG Terminals
All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.
Introduction & Historical Background
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (IATA: CDG, also known simply as Roissy Airport) is the main international gateway serving Paris, Île-de-France, and much of northern France. Opened in 1974, CDG was created to meet the explosive growth in air travel during the post-war era and to relieve congestion at the older Paris-Orly Airport.
Named after General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces during World War II and later President of France, CDG was designed from the outset as a major international hub. Its striking modernist architecture — especially the original circular Terminal 1 with its satellite pods — reflected visionary airport planning of the time.
Over five decades, CDG has expanded continuously. From its initial operations in the 1970s, the airport grew into a sprawling complex with multiple terminals, extensive rail connections, hotel facilities, and a dedicated TGV high-speed rail station. Today it is central not only to French aviation but also to global air transport networks.
Due to its vast size — covering more than 32 square kilometres — CDG spans parts of three French départements and six communes. This large scale supports full-service operations including passenger flights, cargo handling, aircraft maintenance, and airline headquarters.
Terminal Structure
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport comprises three main terminal areas, each with distinct roles and facilities:
Popular Routes from CDG
Below is a snapshot of some of the most frequently flown international and European routes from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, including approximate flight durations and common operators:
CDG Today — A Global Aviation Hub
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport remains one of the world’s busiest airports:
- It is the largest airport in France, surpassing both Bordeaux and Lyon in passenger numbers and aircraft movements.
- It consistently ranks among the top 10 busiest airports worldwide and the second-busiest in Europe, only behind London Heathrow in total passengers.
- CDG serves as a major hub for Air France, which offers an extensive international network connecting passengers to five continents.
If you’re connecting between terminals, allow plenty of transfer time — especially for international, long-haul, or alliance partner flights. CDGVAL — the free automated people mover — links the main terminal areas and the RER station for convenient transfers.
Currently, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport consists of three terminals:
Charles de gaulle Terminal 1
Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 1 is a circular shape building which reminds an octopus.
It is located opposite Terminal 3.
Even not having the boarding gates within its facilities, you can easily access to the seven satellite sub-building by covered walkways.
Terminal 1 is split into four levels where Departures, Arrivals and boarding sections are located.
Renovation program
Due to the renovation program that is undertaking Charles de Gaulle Airport, international gates of Terminal 1 will be unified in order to ease the international passenger traffic.
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Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2
Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 hasn’t a proper terminal structure – It is split into seven satellite buildings (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G).
While T2A, T2B, T2C and T2E are located close to each other, T2G is located apart, about 800 m, located in a separate building.
Renovation program
Boarding lounge of T2E is going to be also fully renovated, especially the boarding hall for L gates, which will be larger and will offer an extensive selection of food, drink and retail concessions.
These projects are part of the renovation program of both Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris-Orly Airport which begin in 2018 and it is expected to conclude on 2024.
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Charles de Gaulle Terminal 3
Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 3 is the farthest terminal.
It is located opposite Terminal 1, however it is at 1 km distance and 3 km distance walking.
Terminal 3 facilities are split into a couple of buildings: The Arrivals building and the Departures building.
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Charles de Gaulle Terminal 4
As part of the plan to accommodate more passengers and air traffic, Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 4 is expected to be operative by 2024, to come in time for the celebration of Paris Olympic Games.
Terminal 4 will be home of Air France and members of Skyteam on its first section to open, which is expected to host a total capacity of between 7 and 10 million passengers.
Roissypôle
Roissypôle is an amusement complex which contains several services such as retail stores, offices, hotels, ground transportation options, among others, in order to accommodate Charles de Gaulle Airport passengers.
Renovation program
The renovation of Roissypôle multi-modal Station is part of the Renovation Program of Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is going to last until 2024.
Renovation works will begin in 2018 and they are going to affect the multi-modal station operations.
Transfer between terminals
Paris-Charles de Gaulle CDGVAL automated metro connects all airport terminals every 4 minutes.
During off hours, from 01:00am to 04:00am, shuttle services are available between terminals.
Shuttles for connecting flights
There are several shuttles available to connect not only the airport terminals, also between international flights and Schengen flights.
See the shuttles schedule below:
Green shuttle
From 05:00 am to 00:00 am. Connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 AC.
Blue shuttle
From 05:00am to 11:45pm. Connects Terminal 2 AC and its satellite terminals 2D, and some gates (L & M gates) of T2E and T2F.
Yellow shuttle
From 05:30am to 09:45pm. Connects Terminal 2 AC, T2G and T2E (L & K gates). Currently closed.
Red shuttle express
From 05:30am to 02:00pm. Connects T2G and T2E concourse M. Currently closed.
Orange shuttle
From 07:00am to 10:00pm. Connects T2F and T2G. It only runs during Schengen connection.
Grey shuttle
From 05:30am to 09:45pm. Connects T2G to T2E (hall L) during international connection. Currently closed.
On the other hand, there are two additional shuttle bus services between Terminal 2 satellite buildings and several locations of Charles de Gaulle Airport:
N1 Shuttle
Transfer free of charge to 2A and C (exit 10), 2E (exit 16), PW Car Park, 2F (exit 2), SNCF Railway station north, Sheraton Hotel, Left Luggage and 2D (exit 6).
Schedule: 04:00am to 07:30am (every 7 minutes), 07:30 am to 01:30 am (every 8 minutes), 01:30 am to 04:00 am (every 15 minutes).
N2 Shuttle
This free inter-terminal shuttle connects to 2F (exit 2), 2E (only from 09:30 pm to 11:00 pm) and 2G (facing the main terminal building).
Schedule: 05:30am to 11:00pm (every 5 minutes). Travel time is about 15 minutes.