Interview with : Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur

You achieved a record financial year in 2024, surpassing 2019...

Franck Goldnadel - Absolutely. We welcomed 14.8 million passengersmore than in 2019. It is above all a satisfaction for the region, which has regained its attractiveness and connectivity. Particularly as we tend to make comparisons with figures for 2029, but we must not forget that the geopolitics were not the same at the time. We had flights to and from Russia and UkraineThis is no longer the case, of course.

The year 2025 should confirm the airport's and the destination's rise to prominence, thanks in particular to the Nice's new Palais des Congrès and the Oceans Summit...

Franck Goldnadel – The tourism offering continues to improve. We have to thank all the players involved, because this makes the region even more attractive. Côte d'Azur region even more attractive. We therefore hope that this attractiveness will continue to grow, while enabling Côte d'Azur residents to travel better and more easily. We have to bear in mind that this concerns a large proportion of our customers, who need to be connected to the rest of the world. The ratio between inbound and outbound traffic is balanced overall. And we have to bear in mind that connectivity is not limited to the needs of visitors coming to us, but also concerns the needs of the people of the Côte d'Azur, the people of Monaco, the people of Northern Italy... There are very few airports that serve three countries!

How is the business market performing?

Franck Goldnadel - Business travel is back. Following the health crisis, we might have expected a completely different "post-crisis world". I was more inclined to be humble: pre-crisis needs remain the same today: a company director needs to meet his customers, to visit his factories. And even if video meetings have developed, human contact is still needed to sign a contract or visit production sites.

Are you planning any new services for business travellers?

Franck Goldnadel - We always try to meet the needs of our customers, whether they are passengers of the airlines or the airlines themselves. We are an airport, and as such we are the repository of the wishes of carriers, who must be able to offer the same service as on other platforms. That's why it's important for us to always be innovative and at the forefront of service, while keeping in mind our main mission, which is tobe an efficient airport.

Will this involve business fairs for example, as part of new infrastructure works?

Franck Goldnadel - That's right: as part of the airport extension, we will be opening our doors at the end of April. a new lounge in the international zone of Terminal 2.