RAM Announces Flight Disruptions Due to Paris-Orly Radar Failure

The technical malfunction has already forced approximately 130 flight cancellations on Sunday, creating major congestion at airport information counters.

Doha – Royal Air Maroc (RAM) announced numerous disruptions to its flights to and from Paris-Orly airport following a radar system failure. The technical malfunction, which began on Sunday, May 18, continue to impact flight operations today.

The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) requested airlines to reduce their flight schedule by 15% for Monday. This followed approximately 130 flights — representing 40% of the 330 scheduled rotations — that were canceled on Sunday.

RAM offered affected passengers two options. They could either postpone their travel free of charge within ten days of their original flight date or receive a full refund through their original payment method.

Passengers with updated contact information in their reservation received notifications via SMS and email. The airline recommended that customers check the “Manage My Reservation” section on its website to monitor their booking status or update their contact details.

The Moroccan carrier advised passengers affected by cancellations not to go to the airport. Instead, they were instructed to contact their original point of sale or the company’s call center to benefit from the assistance measures in place.

The DGAC confirmed Monday morning that the radar issue was not fully resolved. While the situation was gradually improving, it still required traffic regulation measures. The impact remained substantial with many flights delayed or canceled throughout the day.

Sunday’s cancellations created heavy congestion at information counters across the airport. Many passengers were informed of cancellations at the last minute.

RAM indicated that disruptions could continue for up to 48 hours, depending on how the technical situation at Orly evolved. The airline stated it was monitoring the situation to minimize impact on travelers.

The DGAC had initially demanded a 40% reduction in flights on Sunday evening until the 11:30 p.m. curfew. A source from the airport confirmed to AFP it was a radar malfunction.

Paris-Orly, located 10 kilometers south of the French capital, handled over 33 million passengers in 2024. This represented half the traffic of Paris’ central air hub, Charles de Gaulle airport, according to figures published by Aéroports de Paris (ADP).