The long-debated expansion of Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s Terminal 2 is officially moving ahead, following a decisive ruling from the Marseille Administrative Court that reinstated its building permit and rejected appeals from environmental groups.
The court’s decision, handed down on 18th September, validated the construction authorisation originally issued by the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture in 2020, confirming that all environmental and procedural conditions had been met. Environmental associations had filed several appeals since 2021, arguing that the project risked damaging local ecosystems near the Var estuary, but the court’s decision now clears the way for full resumption of works.
A necessary modernisation for growing traffic
The extension of Terminal 2 responds to steady growth in passenger numbers that has outpaced the airport’s existing capacity. Before the pandemic, Nice Côte d’Azur had already surpassed its theoretical annual capacity of 14 million passengers, recording record levels in 2019. Without adaptation, airport officials warned, the site would struggle to maintain safety and comfort standards as demand continues to rise.
The project aims to increase capacity to 18 million passengers per year, improving both passenger flow and quality of service while reflecting the international image of the Côte d’Azur. “Without these upgrades, the airport would be forced to operate in increasingly degraded conditions of fluidity, safety and comfort,” said a spokesperson for Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
The new terminal infrastructure will cover 25,211 square metres of floor space on a 9,900-square-metre site. It includes a new boarding dock with six gates and pre-boarding zones, as well as a resource module with 36 check-in counters and a new baggage sorting system. Importantly, the project will result in no artificialisation of soil, ensuring a low environmental footprint.
Environmental protection at the core of the project
Located at the mouth of the Var River — a Natura 2000 classified site that is home to over 200 species of birds — the airport’s proximity to sensitive habitats made environmental safeguards a central issue. Airport executives delayed the start of major works until summer 2023, avoiding disruption during nesting season.
Two key professionals — an ecologist and an environmental engineer — have been appointed to oversee the site daily. The ecologist monitors the health of the local ecosystem, while the engineer ensures that all construction complies with environmental guidelines. “All environmental risks were identified, studied and addressed before the permit was granted,” the airport confirmed.
Looking ahead
With the legal hurdles now cleared, work on the Terminal 2 expansion is advancing rapidly. Once completed, the upgrade will raise Nice’s operational capacity by almost 30%, easing congestion and enhancing passenger experience at France’s second-busiest airport outside Paris.
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Image source: Stéphane Aurel Architecture