The project to extend the Terminal 2 of theNice airport was presented in 2018. At the time, the traffic outlook remained positive, the Covid crisis not having been there. Visit 2019Nice's two air terminals had practically reached saturation point with 14.5 million passengers. According to the airport, theoretical capacity is set at 14 million.
Hence the need to develop 25,000 m² of additional surface area. The project includes six new boarding gates, a reception hall, a check-in area and facilities for baggage sorting and border control. This additional module will be built in the direction of the Var river, where virgin land still exists.
This has just been confirmed by the Marseille Administrative Court. It thus confirms the need for the project to develop terminal 2 and its integration into a wider low-carbon strategy. The adaptation of terminal 2 will enable passengers transiting through the hub to benefit from the best possible reception and safety conditions..
Opponents' environmental arguments rejected
Faced with allegations from environmentalists of a ecocide" projectthe court's ruling stresses that " the project does not result in a significant and definite increase in air traffic ".
The court points out that the increase in passenger numbers " will be made possible mainly by continued optimisation of aircraft load factors and by increasing aircraft capacity "This was not due to the increase in the number of aircraft using the airport. The judges described this increase as "hypothetical" .
Admittedly, the health situation over the last two years has brought traffic to a serious halt. But, according to the airport, forecasts suggests that it will return to at least its 2019 level in the next few years. At the end of August, Nice had welcomed a cumulative total of 2022 over 8.2 million passengersor 82,2% of its 2019 traffic. The airport should therefore end the year with around 12 million passengers..
What's more, it is likely that all or some of the habits adopted in terms of health management will persist. These include barrier gestures, physical distance between passengers and specific checks that increase journey times through terminals.
With regard to forecast growth in passenger traffic, the airport has provided the following data:
- The extension of terminal 2 will increase the airport's theoretical capacity to 18 million passengers.. That's 9 million arrivals and departures, and an additional capacity of 1.75 million people more than in 2019 per direction of traffic.
- 36% of passengers are residents and 24% are frequent travellersThis contradicts the idea of over-tourism put forward by opponents of the project. This contradicts the idea of over-tourism put forward by opponents of the project. The additional contribution would be limited to less than one million new passengers, over 12 months and for a very large area.
- Finally, the increase in the number of passengers and the increase in the number of aircraft movements are not proportional. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of passengers handled at terminals increased by 29%. Against an increase in number of aircraft movements over the same period of less than 1%.
An opening against all odds in 2026?
" There is no other mode of transport that requires so little construction to enable passengers to make a direct link between two points several hundred kilometres apart. The project to extend our terminal 2 without building on land represents the best construction-connection ratio. "reminds Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur.
According to airport management, the construction of the future extension must start early 2023. And even if appeals are lodged by opponents of the project, they will not hinder this development. If the project is suspended, the work carried out will also be continued..
Nice airport management estimates that some of the new facilities could be available by the end of the year. mid-2025 while the finished project would be delivered to the public for the 2026 summer season.
