The French government has selected an area to build what it calls a third airport to serve Paris, but the area is in Chaulnes, a distant 85 mi north of the capital. The new airport, which is expected to be operational in 2015, will ostensibly be served by an already planned high-speed rail link to Paris, and two existing highways. Paris Orly and Charles de Gaulle, the city’s two major airports, are reaching saturation, but the choice of Chaulnes could be jeopardized if the opposition coalition of conservative parties wins congressional elections from the present Socialist-led administration next spring.