cdg terminal map
The Problem
Paris Charles de Gaulle has a confusing terminal numbering system that includes Terminal 1, Terminal 3, and nine separate Terminal 2 designations (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, plus halls 2EK, 2EL, and 2EM). Anyone who has changed flights at CDG knows how annoying and frustrating this can be. How many times has anyone had to go through multiple security lines because of being directed the wrong way? (Ask me how I know)
International and connecting passengers report difficulty navigating the airport, despite CDG being ranked the best European airport for four consecutive years and serving as the EU’s busiest hub. Skytrax compiled the ranking, and it’s worth noting that it focuses specifically on service quality and passenger satisfaction. In terms of traffic volume, CDG is actually Europe’s second-busiest airport after Istanbul (IST), handling around 40 million seats annually according to OAG data.
More than 30% of CDG’s daily passengers are making connections. The renaming process impacts millions annually and, from personal experience, 2E is the most confusing.
The New System
Starting in March 2027, all CDG terminals will be numbered consecutively from Terminal 1 to Terminal 7, eliminating the current mix of letters and numbers. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Terminal 1 > stays Terminal 1
- Terminal 3 > Terminal 2
- Terminal 2A & 2C > Terminal 3
- Terminal 2B & 2D > Terminal 4
- Terminal 2E (including halls K, L, M) > Terminal 5 with departure halls B, C, and D
- Terminal 2F > Terminal 6
- Terminal 2G > Terminal 7
The numbering will follow the flow of passengers arriving by road and the RER rail service. Parking facilities will share the same number as their corresponding terminal.
The Massive Logistical Challenge
Making this change requires a lot of work. Hopefully, the workers won’t get confused.
From September to December 2026, more than 3,000 terminal signs, 600 parking signs, and 250 roadway signs will be replaced—equivalent to changing signage for one-third of the surface area of Paris. Behind the scenes, 10,000 video surveillance cameras and hundreds of computer applications will need to be reconfigured. The security impact will be equally massive.
The new signage will be installed, temporarily covered with stickers, and then unveiled all at once in March 2027, when the CDG Express rail link launches. Travelers should expect chaos, because that’s how it goes.
Airlines Adjust Early
From March 2026, airlines selling tickets one year in advance must begin incorporating the new terminal names in bookings. This will also come with complexities. Airlines serving passengers with text messages must update the messages and, in all likelihood, include both numbering systems. Good luck reading the message as your aircraft parks at a gate. How many greeters will CDG hire to meet these flights and help bewildered passengers wandering around? Do airlines also plan to have staffers to assist?
Timing with CDG Express
The renaming coincides with the launch of the CDG Express, a new premium rail service connecting Paris Gare de l’Est to the airport in 20 minutes nonstop—a project first proposed in the late 1990s that’s finally coming to fruition. If this project took over 35 years to complete, you know what to expect in 2027.
The project involves coordinating 900 companies and 90,000 airport employees to execute what ADP describes as bringing CDG’s system in line with international standards used at other major global airports. It’s going to be “interesting”.
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