For the second time in a year, the capital of the world’s leading tourist nation has been the scene of coordinated mass murders. The latest atrocity in Paris has traumatised the city and its people. The tragedy also has profound implications for travellers. As security on all forms of transport is stepped up, tens of thousands of tourists and business travellers will be considering their options for leaving the city.
Many more are booked to travel to the French capital and may feel they would be trespassing on the grief of a city in mourning. In the longer term, the combined effect of the two massacres in Paris this year could change the face of tourism in the capital and beyond. Simon Calder assesses the impact of a night of terror.
Q Immediately after the attack, President Hollande said he had closed the borders. What does that mean?
It does not mean that travel to and from France has stopped - rather, that full border controls are being established on the land frontiers with its neighbours, with passports or ID cards instituted for travel from Schengen countries. These checks were being temporarily introduced for a month anyway, as part of the precautions put in place by the French government ahead of the UN United Nations Climate Change Conference starting on 30 November.
Q What effect is there on transport in Paris itself?
Eleven Metro stations are closed. RER (suburban train) and many bus services are disrupted. There is also extremely tight security at transport terminals, notably the city’s airports and main train stations, and on trains; in August there was a terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-Paris high-speed train.
Eurostar passport and security checks at Paris Gare du Nord are likely to be stepped up (with passengers advised to check in an hour before departure, instead of the usual 30 minutes).
Random searches of other rail passengers may be instituted.
The Foreign Office says: “British nationals are advised to exercise caution in public places and follow the advice of the local authorities.”
Q Are Eurostar trains running - and what are the options for travellers who either want to leave or no longer wish to travel?
The cross-Channel train operator says services should be operating normally, but advises: “Check our web site for further updates before travelling. Eurostar is offering free exchanges “to all customers who choose not to travel today [Saturday].” That will allow them to change the dates of the journey, but not to get a refund. Passengers should call 03432 186 186 between 9am-5pm GMT to change tickets.
While Eurostar has not made clear what arrangements are in place for passengers wanting to leave the city early, past experience makes it likely that anyone who goes to Gare du Nord with a ticket for a future train will be allowed to travel on a standby basis.
Q What about Eurotunnel vehicle services and cross-Channel ferries?
Eurotunnel says: “Currently, border controls have been strengthened overnight but services are running as normal.” It is a similar picture at the ports. Increased security and tighter border controls could cause some delays.
Q How have flights been affected?
Many transatlantic flights to Paris were delayed when news of the massacre reached US airports. One Air France flight from New York to Paris was turned around in mid-air on Friday evening; it later, but two hours later departed JFK airport again for the French capital where it landed safely. The American Airlines flight from Dallas was cancelled, while its flight from Chicago was delayed by four hours. Domestic flights are delayed by up to two hours.
Air France, says flights will operate as normally as possible, but warns: “Departure and arrival delays are to be expected following the reinforcement of controls at the borders by the authorities.”
Passengers booked to travel this weekend on Air France are allowed free postponements to 22 November; if you wish to postpone your trip beyond that date, or change your destination, you can get a voucher valid for one year on Air France or KLM. British Airways says anyone booked to travel to Paris up to 17 November will be able to delay their flight to another day in the next two weeks (up to 28 November), or re-book to an alternative destination.
easyJet says: “Our schedule will operate normally.” However, passengers are advised to “allow extra time for security checking due to security measure reinforcement”. Passengers booked to travel on Saturday or Sunday can call easyJet customer service on 0330 365 5000 to rebook flights for alternative dates or cancel for a full refund.
Flybe says: “Any customer who is travelling today or tomorrow (i.e.14/15 November 2015) and who doesn't wish to now do so may rebook a later date to any alternative destination or obtain a credit note for future travel by the calling Flybe Customer Contact Centre on 0371 700 2000 (from outside the UK +44 1392 683 152).”
Q I have friends or family in Paris. Is there a number I can call to find out about their welfare?
The Foreign Office has set up an emergency number, 020 7008 1500, though clearly at this stage information is confused and patchy.
Q What are the long-term effects likely to be?
Paris will remain one of the most-visited cities in the world. However, the nature of big, open cities means that future attacks cannot be ruled out. Security at national monuments and tourist sites throughout France was already tight following the Charlie Hebdo massacre and will be stepped up still further. The existing rules on identity checks are likely to be more tightly enforced. Visitors may be asked to prove their identity when asked or within four hours at a police station.
In the longer term, other Schengen countries are likely to reintroduce passport checks in a bid to have more control over their borders.
