Air France-KLM CEO blasts main Paris airport over jet parking shortage

Air France-KLM's CEO has urged Aeroports de Paris to improve the French capital's Charles de Gaulle airport, saying a shortage of jetways has created a daily struggle for aircraft parking spaces and higher operating costs. Speaking to reporters to mark the Franco-Dutch airline group's 20th anniversary, CE Ben Smith said that in the morning peak dozens of planes are left without a jetway or "contact" gate, forcing passengers to use buses to reach the terminal. "We have to have a negotiation every morning with ADP, depending on what the other airlines have, to try to find parking positions for our fleet," Smith said. ADP did not respond to requests for comment. In 2021, President Emmanuel Macron's government asked state-controlled ADP to come up with new proposals after ditching plans for an all-new terminal at CDG. Smith has no regrets over the government's decision to axe Terminal 4, citing a costly 15-year transition and the lack of a direct link to a proposed new rail line to the capital. Instead, he urged more investment in existing facilities. "We're not talking about new capacity. We're talking about improving what's already there. It's really important for us." Other group executives said discussions have begun with ADP over potential changes. Smith reeled off a list of other perceived faults including the long distance to maintenance hangars, tying up planes for hours in extra towing times. He also bemoaned a lack of border control staff and "baggage systems that are old".<br/>