Nice Côte d’Azur Airport officially inaugurated the extension of its Terminal 2 on Monday 13th April, in a ceremony attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti, and several other senior figures from the region.
The expansion addresses a capacity problem that has been building for years. France’s second busiest airport had been operating beyond its 14-million-passenger annual limit since 2019. The new extension brings total capacity to 18 million passengers and adds more than 23,000 m² of space — an increase of over 30% in passenger-accessible area.
What has been built
The extension, designed by architect Stéphane Aurel, is divided into three zones delivered in phases. The first, completed before summer 2025, expanded the non-Schengen boarding area and added a new departure passport control zone, retail outlets and a VIP lounge.
The second — a pier giving direct airbridge access to six aircraft stands, eliminating the need for buses and allowing simultaneous processing of passengers regardless of origin or destination — enters service in the coming days.
The third, comprising 36 check-in desks and a new hold baggage system, will come into operation when summer traffic requires it.
The Monaco connection
The airport serves a catchment area extending from western Var to northern Italy and encompassing Monaco. Visitor spending passing through the airport generates €362 million in revenue for the Principality annually, underlining the strategic importance of the infrastructure to Monaco’s economy as much as to the wider region.
“An airport is the first and last memory of a stay,” said Franck Goldnadel, President of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur. “Our responsibility to our territory is to make it the best possible.”
Built without new land use
The project was constructed without any additional land artificialisation and is designed to meet the environmental standards of the Nice EcoVallée framework. Geothermal solutions and photovoltaic panels cover more than 10% of the building’s energy needs, and the extension is designed to increase capacity without increasing CO² emissions under scopes 1 and 2. An independent ecologist and environmental engineer monitored the construction site throughout.
Alessandro Benetton, President of Mundys and Edizione — the airport’s principal shareholder — said the project reflected a long-term commitment to French infrastructure. “Over the years, we have invested more than €11 billion in French infrastructure. This is the path we will continue to follow.”
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All photos source from: Préfet des Alpes-Maritimes