Paris (AFP)

The order relating to the temporary suspension of the operation of Orly airport from Tuesday was signed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, and published Sunday in the Official Journal.

As part of the state of health emergency relating to the Covid-19 epidemic, "Aéroports de Paris is thus authorized to temporarily suspend the commercial operation of Paris-Orly airport as of March 31, 2020 at from 11:30 pm, "said a press release from the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition.

"During this period, Paris-Orly airport will remain permanently accessible to state aircraft and to medical emergency or medical evacuation flights," the text underlines.

"This provision also applies to any passenger or freight transport flight necessary to manage the health crisis," added the press release.

Last Wednesday, Aéroports de Paris, which manages Orly airport, announced that it would temporarily stop its activity from March 31, victim of a collapse of more than 90% of air traffic under the effect of border closures related to the spread of coronavirus.

ADP has also closed most of the general aviation airports it manages in the provinces.

The four companies (out of more than a hundred previously) which currently continue to operate flights from Orly will transfer their activities to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, the airport in the north of the capital, from April 1.

No date has been given for the reopening of Orly airport.

Asked about Radio J on Sunday, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed that other airports would be closed to commercial traffic, notably that of Nantes.

"But we will need all French airports, especially regional airports, in particular to carry out medical evacuation and freight operations," said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.

He also did not rule out the possibility of nationalizing the airline company Air France-KLM, in which the State is a shareholder up to 14%, once the crisis linked to the coronavirus has passed.

"This is one hypothesis among others that we do not rule out. In times of crisis, we must have all the means, all the tools of public intervention, including this one. We do not let’s not rule out a priori, "said Djebbari.

On March 17, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had not already excluded nationalizations to face the coronavirus crisis, ensuring that for Air France the State was ready to "take responsibility as a shareholder".

© 2020 AFP