Marseille flights and trains experience second day of disruptions as wildfires blaze in France

Marseille Airport was temporarily closed on Tuesday due to a wildfire raging close to the southern French port city.

An official update from the transport hub states that flights have now resumed without restrictions as of 9.30am on 9 July, although delays and cancellations are still expected.

Train traffic was also halted in most of the surrounding area, and some roads were closed and others tangled with logjams.

The prefecture said in a statement Tuesday evening that ’’the situation is under control,″ though the fire has not yet been extinguished. It described the fire as ’’particularly virulent.″

It urged people in the affected areas to stay indoors and off the roads.

Flights still delayed and cancelled at Marseille Airport

Flights to and from Marseille Provence Airport have resumed, but travellers are still advised to prepare for disruption.

"Delays or cancellations may nevertheless occur. We invite travellers to consult the updated list of departing and arriving flights in real time, and to contact their airline for more information," the airport says in a notice on their website.

"Travellers with a reservation on a cancelled flight are asked not to go to the airport and to contact their airline to find out the conditions that apply."

So far, flights that have been cancelled today are Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Air France to Paris CDG, Aegean Cronus Airlines to Athens, Iberia to Madrid, Brussels Airlines to Brussels, Lufthansa to Munich, and Pegasus Airlines to Istanbul.

Several arrivals are also delayed or cancelled.

The airport adds that access to the transport hub by public transport and by road from Marseille remains disrupted, and travellers should give themselves extra time for the journey.

On Tuesday, Marseille Airport closed at around midday and halted all flights as wildfires, fanned by winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour, raged nearby.

Some flights were diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports.

The disruption comes during a peak travel season as the French summer holiday period begins.

Train traffic halted around Marseille

The prefecture said train traffic was halted, notably after a fire neared the tracks in L'Estaque, a picturesque neighbourhood of Marseille.

SNCF, France's national rail operator, said rail travel to and from Marseille would remain "highly affected" on Wednesday.

Its website shows more than a dozen train services have been cancelled or delayed in and out of the city.

ZOU! rail service suspended its services in both directions between Marseille and Miramas.

French regions under red alert for wildfires

Several weeks of heatwaves combined with strong winds have increased the risk of wildfires in southern France, with several breaking out over the past couple of days.

More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing toward Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the prefecture said.

Nine firefighters were injured, according to the prefecture, or local administration. No dead have been reported.

Hundreds of homes were evacuated. The prefecture urged people in the affected areas to stay indoors and off the roads. With the fire approaching Marseille, the prefecture also advised residents in the north of the city to keep windows closed to prevent toxic smoke from entering their homes.

A red alert has been issued for forest fire risk in Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, and Vaucluse, France.

Wildfires threaten south of France tourism economy

The blaze in Marseille comes at a time when Mediterranean tourism is at its peak, placing additional pressure on local infrastructure and visitor perceptions.

Mabrian, a global travel intelligence platform, analysed the impact of this natural disaster on air connectivity and traveller sentiment.

According to the group, up to 45,000 air seats and 282 flights could potentially be affected between 8 and 9 July 8.

“Marseille Airport is the main gateway to Provence and the South of France, which welcomes 30 million tourists annually - especially during the summer season,” explains Carlos Cendra, partner and director of marketing and communications at Mabrian.

"Any disruption to air traffic at this time of year is always a cause for concern."

The wildfire is also significantly affecting two key drivers of travel demand: climate and safety perception. These factors are influencing overall sentiment toward the tourism offering and the broader visitor experience in the region.

Compared to the same period in 2024, Marseille’s Perception of Climate Index (PCI) has seen a sharp decline this week, dropping by -36.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Perception of Security Index (PSI) has experienced a marked decrease since July 1st, representing a -5.1 per cent year-over-year decline.