Work to enlarge Nice airport ‘on track’

Renovation and enlargement works at Nice Côte d'Azur airport are on track despite opposition from local groups. 

A 25,000m² expansion to Terminal 2 is underway, with the airport looking to increase the terminal’s capacity to 18 million annual passengers (up from a current capacity of around 8.5 million). 

Improvements include new check-in facilities for both EU and non-Schengen zone departures, more security and bag drop facilities, as well as more commercial spaces.

The majority of works should be finalised in time for summer 2025, said airport spokesperson Aymeric Staub, despite some recent delays. 

The improvements should improve fluidity and comfort at the airport, he told French media outlet BFMTV. 

Read more: Medicine, food, liquids: what you can take on flights from France

Argument over local impact

The airport saw over 14 million passengers overall in 2023 – reaching close to pre-Covid figures – but expects the overall number of travellers to rise to 21 million by 2030 (including travellers to both Terminals 1 and 2).

This, the airport argues, is the reason why the terminal needs to be expanded.

The Cour de cassation (France’s highest judicial authority) will make a ruling on the works later in the year, after local groups protested over the expansion. 

A local citizens collective claims that the building permits acquired by the airport in 2020 are insufficient and that the increased capacity will bring too much air traffic to the area.

Previous protests have been held as far back as 2023. 

Read more: Hundreds stage protest against Nice airport expansion

The airport argues that it has all the correct permits in place, and that the increased passenger numbers will mostly come from higher capacity on existing planes and routes, with an increase in air traffic of only around 3% forecast after the works are completed.

The airport has been able to continue renovations whilst waiting for the decision.