What international travel services still run in France?
France has entered its second lockdown of 2020 and will remain there until at least December 1st, but the borders remain open, although travel is heavily restricted. Here's a look at what services are running if you do need to travel.
While travel from outside the EU will remain limited for the time being (more details on that here), travel within Europe (including the UK) may continue, albeit at a much-reduced level due to the lockdown in France.
When the country entered its second confinement, the government banned all non-essential travel, bar a few exceptions such as travelling for work or to help a sick or vulnerable person.
Currently the lockdown is set to end on December 1st, but that date will depend on how the health situation develops until then.
Just a few days into the new lockdown, the country's SNCF rail company saw its number passengers plunge, leading it to slash its number of trains to a fraction of normal services. As was the case during lockdown this spring, international travel companies could do the same.
Here’s a look at the services running.
Flights
New rules have made it forbidden to enter an airport without a valid ticket. Only travellers going to take their flight may access the airport, except if they are accompanying a child or a vulnerable person.
Several airlines have reduced their services, including Air France, which said on their website that "last minute cancellations cannot be excluded." Check your airline's website for last minute changes before leaving. Most lines offer flexibility for bookings due to the exceptional health situation.
Face masks are compulsory inside all of France's airports and throughout the flight.
Paris Airports
Paris' northern Charles de Gaulle has closed several terminals, which means your flight might be leaving or entering a different terminal than usual. Click here for details.
All passengers coming into Paris will be subject to general temperature screens on arrival. Those showing a temperature over 38C will be asked to do an individual temperature check and subsequent a Covid-19 test if they present a fever.
Channel Tunnel
The tunnel was open throughout the lockdown this spring, albeit with somewhat reduced services and terminal buildings closed. When this article was published, the company’s website stated that shuttles were running “regularly” and that terminals were open.
An update on November 4th said: "Following the French and UK governments announcements, we keep on running our services as scheduled, as we did throughout the height of the pandemic, to transport those whose travel is essential and those customers who might be travelling to other European destinations."
Eurostar
Eurostar will be running on skeleton services in the coming weeks, ensuring only 15 percent of its normal train lines.
In the event of a cancellation, travellers will be informed approximately seven days before departure, according to the company.
For up-to-date information go to the Eurostar's travel information website (here).
Business Premier travellers may exchange or cancel their tickets free of charge, while those travelling on a Standard ticket can exchange (not cancel) their journey for for free 14 days before departure. Later exchanges will be met with a fee (€40 for Standard tickets, €50 for Standard Premier).
Everyone travelling with the Eurostar must wear a protective face mask throughout the journey. Onboard catering services remain closed.
Thalys
Thalys reduced its services between France and Belgium and the Netherlands to 30 percent of the normal this week, with train schedules in the coming days also affected. For realtime updates on all lines, click here.
All travellers must wear a face mask on board or risk a €95 fine unless they present a medical prescription to a Train Manager before boarding.
Lyria
Trains between Switzerland and France will continue to run, although the company asked travellers to keep an eye on their website for schedule updates (link here).
Face masks are mandatory onboard trains and in stations in both Switzerland and France. Travellers from a number of French regions, including the greater Paris region, must comply with a 10-day quarantine upon their arrival on the Swiss side.
Renfe
Renfe-SNCF trains between Spain and France continue to operate as usual for the moment, with face masks obligatory onboard and travel documents needed in France (details below).
Ferries
Brittany Ferries was running freight services only during the spring lockdown and will be running on reduced passenger services moving forward.
Tickets will be exchangeable free of charge, until October 2021, according to the company's website. For their updated timetables click here.
P&O ferries had on November 4th not announced amendments to their passenger services and currently run 23 crossings between Dover in the UK and Calais in France per day.
Passengers may amend their ticket free of charge, although not cancel them.
DFDS had not reduced services either by the time this article was published. For updated travel information on sailings between the UK and France, click here. Face masks are compulsory on board.
Driving
You may still drive into France from another EU country, however anyone entering French territory must comply with the rules stated below.
Travel rules
If you are travelling into France you will need to fill in a travel exemption form, which under this lockdown is the regular attestation (permission slip) that everyone in France must bring on outings.
Attestations: The three permission forms you need in France to leave your home
You need to be travelling for one of these essential reasons, or to return to your home (whether that is in France or another country) - if you are returning home, tick the 'vital family reasons' box on the form. If you don't have the form or are travelling for a non-essential reason you could face a €135 fine.
Travelling to a second home does not count as an essential reason for travel.
New lockdown in France: Your questions answered about international travel
If you are travelling from France to the UK you will need to fill in a passenger locator form before you travel. All travellers from France must isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in the UK.
If you are travelling to another European country, check their national rules before your journey to see if they too have restricted travel.
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While travel from outside the EU will remain limited for the time being (more details on that here), travel within Europe (including the UK) may continue, albeit at a much-reduced level due to the lockdown in France.
When the country entered its second confinement, the government banned all non-essential travel, bar a few exceptions such as travelling for work or to help a sick or vulnerable person.
Currently the lockdown is set to end on December 1st, but that date will depend on how the health situation develops until then.
Just a few days into the new lockdown, the country's SNCF rail company saw its number passengers plunge, leading it to slash its number of trains to a fraction of normal services. As was the case during lockdown this spring, international travel companies could do the same.
Here’s a look at the services running.
Flights
New rules have made it forbidden to enter an airport without a valid ticket. Only travellers going to take their flight may access the airport, except if they are accompanying a child or a vulnerable person.
Several airlines have reduced their services, including Air France, which said on their website that "last minute cancellations cannot be excluded." Check your airline's website for last minute changes before leaving. Most lines offer flexibility for bookings due to the exceptional health situation.
Face masks are compulsory inside all of France's airports and throughout the flight.
Paris Airports
Paris' northern Charles de Gaulle has closed several terminals, which means your flight might be leaving or entering a different terminal than usual. Click here for details.
All passengers coming into Paris will be subject to general temperature screens on arrival. Those showing a temperature over 38C will be asked to do an individual temperature check and subsequent a Covid-19 test if they present a fever.
Channel Tunnel
The tunnel was open throughout the lockdown this spring, albeit with somewhat reduced services and terminal buildings closed. When this article was published, the company’s website stated that shuttles were running “regularly” and that terminals were open.
An update on November 4th said: "Following the French and UK governments announcements, we keep on running our services as scheduled, as we did throughout the height of the pandemic, to transport those whose travel is essential and those customers who might be travelling to other European destinations."
Eurostar
Eurostar will be running on skeleton services in the coming weeks, ensuring only 15 percent of its normal train lines.
In the event of a cancellation, travellers will be informed approximately seven days before departure, according to the company.
Business Premier travellers may exchange or cancel their tickets free of charge, while those travelling on a Standard ticket can exchange (not cancel) their journey for for free 14 days before departure. Later exchanges will be met with a fee (€40 for Standard tickets, €50 for Standard Premier).
Everyone travelling with the Eurostar must wear a protective face mask throughout the journey. Onboard catering services remain closed.
Thalys
Thalys reduced its services between France and Belgium and the Netherlands to 30 percent of the normal this week, with train schedules in the coming days also affected. For realtime updates on all lines, click here.
All travellers must wear a face mask on board or risk a €95 fine unless they present a medical prescription to a Train Manager before boarding.
Lyria
Trains between Switzerland and France will continue to run, although the company asked travellers to keep an eye on their website for schedule updates (link here).
Face masks are mandatory onboard trains and in stations in both Switzerland and France. Travellers from a number of French regions, including the greater Paris region, must comply with a 10-day quarantine upon their arrival on the Swiss side.
Renfe
Renfe-SNCF trains between Spain and France continue to operate as usual for the moment, with face masks obligatory onboard and travel documents needed in France (details below).
Ferries
Brittany Ferries was running freight services only during the spring lockdown and will be running on reduced passenger services moving forward.
Tickets will be exchangeable free of charge, until October 2021, according to the company's website. For their updated timetables click here.
P&O ferries had on November 4th not announced amendments to their passenger services and currently run 23 crossings between Dover in the UK and Calais in France per day.
Passengers may amend their ticket free of charge, although not cancel them.
DFDS had not reduced services either by the time this article was published. For updated travel information on sailings between the UK and France, click here. Face masks are compulsory on board.
Driving
You may still drive into France from another EU country, however anyone entering French territory must comply with the rules stated below.
Travel rules
If you are travelling into France you will need to fill in a travel exemption form, which under this lockdown is the regular attestation (permission slip) that everyone in France must bring on outings.
Attestations: The three permission forms you need in France to leave your home
You need to be travelling for one of these essential reasons, or to return to your home (whether that is in France or another country) - if you are returning home, tick the 'vital family reasons' box on the form. If you don't have the form or are travelling for a non-essential reason you could face a €135 fine.
Travelling to a second home does not count as an essential reason for travel.
New lockdown in France: Your questions answered about international travel
If you are travelling from France to the UK you will need to fill in a passenger locator form before you travel. All travellers from France must isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in the UK.
If you are travelling to another European country, check their national rules before your journey to see if they too have restricted travel.
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