Collapsed Paris airport terminal reopens with style

By Tim Hepher and Matthias Blamont

PARIS, March 20 (Reuters) - Four years after its roof caved in, killing four people, the boarding area at Paris airport's terminal 2E is reopening following a 150 million euro ($232 million) rebuilding project.

The first passengers will pass through its giant lounge on March 30, two weeks after Queen Elizabeth opened a new terminal at Heathrow -- highlighting efforts by Charles de Gaulle to oust London's main airport as the top passenger hub in Europe.

"This project supports our ambition to expand because in two years we will have added capacity for 20 million passengers a year," terminal director Franck Goldnagel told Reuters.

"I think we can catch up with London by 2011 or 2012. We are already ahead of Frankfurt."

On Thursday, workers were putting finishing touches to the 660-metre long boarding jetty after transforming its original concrete-covered vault, criticised by many for being too gloomy, into an airy glass, steel and wooden chrysalis.

A 30-metre section of the original concrete roof collapsed in May 2004, just 11 months after 2E was opened. French judges are still trying to find out what caused the accident.

The reopening marks a return to business as usual for Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) which uses the terminal as part of its Paris hub. It transfers European Union passengers from 2F across the concourse to board flights to North America and Asia at 2E.