Paris Transport Strike: How to Reach CDG or Orly Without Missing Your Flight

On a strike day in Paris, thousands of travellers live the same sequence: a stalled RER B, a metro too packed to board, a cab that never arrives, and a flight that will not wait. Since 2024, industrial action in the Paris transport network has become frequent enough that landing on one of these days is a real possibility — not an anomaly.

This guide explains, concretely, how to anticipate and which alternatives actually work to reach CDG, Orly, or Beauvais during a strike.

Check the strike notice 48 hours ahead

The first rule is simple: never leave for the airport without checking the traffic forecast the day before. French unions must file strike notices at least 48 hours in advance, and both RATP (Paris public transport) and SNCF (national rail) publish service-level estimates from the evening before — usually around 6 pm.

Reliable sources to consult:

• RATP — live traffic info for the metro, RER and Paris buses
• Transilien for RER B, RER A, RER C and suburban trains
• SNCF Connect for TGV and long-distance lines
• @RATPgroup and @Transilien on X for last-minute updates

If the announced service on RER B (the main line to CDG) is below 1 train out of 3, assume the rail option is not viable.

The RER B during a strike: what it really means

The RER B is the line most exposed to industrial action on the entire Paris network. In normal service, it reaches CDG every 8 minutes from Châtelet station in about 35 minutes. During a strike, three typical scenarios occur:

Partial service (2 out of 3 trains) — The journey is still possible but trains are packed. Plan to arrive at the platform 45 minutes earlier than usual. Real risk of not being able to board at central stations.

Heavily reduced service (1 out of 3 trains) — Technically possible but not recommended. Platforms are saturated, trains run every 25 minutes, and any minor incident can block everything for 45 minutes. If your flight is before 11 am, do not attempt it.

Service suspended — No direct rail alternative to CDG. Shuttle buses become the only public option, with unpredictable travel times.

Road alternatives: Roissybus and Orlybus

When the RER is paralysed, RATP shuttle buses take over... unless they are on strike too. The Roissybus connects Opéra to CDG in 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. The Orlybus connects Denfert-Rochereau to Orly in 25 to 40 minutes.

These lines are more resilient to strikes than the metro or RER (fewer staff required), but they share the same motorways as everyone else. On strike days, Parisians mass-switch to their private cars, and the A1 or A6 motorways can triple their usual travel time.

Paris taxis: limited availability, surge pricing

G7, Alpha and independent Paris taxis keep operating during strikes. But three issues arise:

1. Demand explodes — slots get booked hours in advance, and residential neighbourhoods are served last
2. Prices rise — night rates, public holiday surcharges and booking fees add up. A Paris → CDG trip normally at €55-75 on the meter can reach €110 on a strike day
3. Uncertainty — even booked taxis can cancel at the last minute if the driver is stuck in traffic

Private chauffeur VTC: the most robust option

That is why the VTC chauffeur booked in advance has become, for many seasoned travellers, the default solution during strikes. Three concrete reasons:

Fixed price locked the day before. With Dahab, you confirm your ride 24 or 48 hours ahead at the normal rate. No strike-day surcharge, even if demand quadruples. The price shown is the price paid.

Dedicated vehicle, dedicated driver. Your driver leaves empty from their parking spot, only for you. No route, no earlier drop-off, no detour.

Real-time traffic and flight tracking. On strike days, roads load unpredictably. Our system adjusts the pick-up time 2 hours before to guarantee your airport arrival with the right buffer — and if your flight is delayed, your driver knows before you do.

How long to plan for CDG on a strike day?

Typical transit times by private chauffeur during heavy disruption (for detailed rates per destination, see our dedicated pages: Paris ↔ CDG, Paris ↔ Orly, Paris ↔ Beauvais):

• Paris 1st → CDG T2: 70 minutes (vs 45 in normal traffic)
• Paris 7th → CDG T2E: 75 minutes
• Paris 11th → Orly South: 50 minutes (vs 30)
• Paris 16th → Beauvais: 1h45 (vs 1h15)

We systematically recommend adding 30 minutes to your usual pick-up slot on strike days, and 45 minutes if the strike also affects road hauliers (rare but possible).

How to book with Dahab during a strike

As soon as an RATP/SNCF strike notice is filed for the date of your flight:

1. Book your transfer on our booking page at least 24 hours in advance
2. Enter your flight number — our system tracks the airline live via Paris Aéroport
3. You receive the confirmation: driver's name, vehicle model, licence plate (see our Mercedes fleet)
4. On the morning of the flight, the driver adjusts arrival based on actual traffic

Our rates do not change on strike days. Availability, however, does. Slots fill up fast once a notice is confirmed — booking early is the only guarantee.

Never bet on "it'll be fine"

The last rule, the most important: on a notified strike day, never bet on a last-minute improvement. Notices are rarely lifted less than 24 hours before, and a service restored to 60% is not enough to handle normal volumes. Lock in a firm plan B as soon as the date is confirmed. The cost of a VTC is always lower than the cost of a missed flight — and the €200 of a rebooking on the next available carrier.