For more than 30 years, the RoissyBus has been a familiar sight for travelers heading between central Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport. That era is now coming to an end.
Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) has confirmed that the RoissyBus will be permanently removed from the regional transport network on March 1, 2026. The line currently links the Opéra stop in Paris’s 9th arrondissement directly with France’s largest airport.
The decision follows the recent disappearance of the Orlybus and marks another major shift in Paris’s airport transport strategy. According to IDFM, the RoissyBus has become increasingly unreliable due to worsening traffic conditions.
Recurring congestion on the A1 motorway, combined with growing difficulties accessing central Paris, has regularly caused long and unpredictable delays. These issues, transport officials say, have undermined the service’s appeal.
At peak times, the RoissyBus journey can take anywhere between one hour and 1 hour 20 minutes. For international travelers with strict check-in times, that uncertainty has often proven stressful.
IDFM insists the removal of the RoissyBus does not mean fewer options for reaching Charles de Gaulle. Instead, it argues the change will result in faster and more reliable travel.
The solution is a brand-new bus route, line 9517, which will be operated by Transdev. Unlike the RoissyBus, it will not run directly from central Paris to the airport.
The new line will pass through Saint-Denis-Pleyel, a rapidly expanding transport hub north of the capital. This area has been transformed by recent investments linked to the Grand Paris Express project.
According to IDFM, rerouting the bus avoids the most congested sections of the A1. This strategic shift is central to the authority’s promise of improved journey times.
Officials estimate that total travel time using line 9517 will be reduced to between 50 minutes and a maximum of 1 hour and 10 minutes from central Paris. That includes a metro transfer.
Passengers will first need to take metro line 14 to Saint-Denis-Pleyel before boarding the 9517 bus to the airport. While this adds a change of transport, IDFM says the trade-off is worth it.
Line 14, which is fully automated, is regarded as one of the fastest and most reliable metro lines in Paris. Its recent extension has significantly improved north–south connectivity across the city.
At Saint-Denis-Pleyel, travelers will also have access to metro line 13 and the RER D. These links open up new access points from both central Paris and surrounding suburbs.
Line 13, though often criticized for overcrowding, serves a wide stretch of northern and western Paris. The RER D connects major stations across the capital and beyond.
IDFM believes this network-style approach better reflects modern travel patterns. Rather than a single, vulnerable direct route, passengers can choose from several interconnected options.
The authority argues that this flexibility will benefit not only tourists but also airport workers commuting daily from different parts of the region.
Still, the announcement has sparked nostalgia among frequent users of the RoissyBus. For many, its direct connection from the city center was simple and reassuring, especially for visitors unfamiliar with Paris transport.
As March 2026 approaches, the disappearance of the RoissyBus will symbolize the end of a long-running chapter in Paris travel. In its place, IDFM is betting on speed, reliability, and connectivity to shape the future of airport access.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members