Nice Airport Expansion: Preparing the French Riviera for the Future

 

The Nice Côte d’Azur Airport — gateway to the French Riviera and Monaco — is undergoing a major expansion and modernization that aims to transform the travel experience while balancing growth with environmental responsibility. As France’s third-busiest airport, Nice’s redevelopment comes at a pivotal time for both the region’s economy and its sustainability goals.

A Bigger, Smarter Airport

Originally designed to handle around 14 million passengers a year, Nice Airport has already surpassed that figure, welcoming nearly 15 million travelers in 2024. To meet increasing demand, the airport operator has launched an ambitious expansion of Terminal 2.

The project adds roughly 25,000 m² of new space, including six new boarding gates, larger check-in zones, redesigned baggage systems, and expanded lounges and waiting areas. Once complete, the terminal will be capable of accommodating up to 18 million passengers annually.

This expansion, slated for completion by 2025-26, is more than just a physical enlargement. It also incorporates significant sustainability upgrades: electrification of ground-handling vehicles, reduction of auxiliary power unit usage for aircraft, and integration of cleaner, more energy-efficient infrastructure.

Why Expand?

The reasons are both practical and strategic.

• Passenger growth & capacity constraints: The airport’s traffic has recovered and exceeded pre-pandemic levels, and the existing infrastructure was designed for a lower threshold.

• Regional & economic importance: The airport serves the French Riviera — a major global tourism and business destination. Improved capacity supports tourism, conferences, business travel and investment.

• Modernisation & sustainability: Rather than simply adding volume, the expansion focuses on more efficient, modern, environmentally-conscious facilities.

• Future-proofing: With evolving aircraft types, regulatory demands, and higher visitor expectations, the airport ensures the region remains competitive.

  
  
  Economic Impact

  Beyond infrastructure and passenger experience, the expansion has a significant economic dimension for the region.
  

• Already, in 2014, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provided a €100 million loan to finance the airport’s expansion and modernisation.

• The airport operator states that for the Terminal 2 project, “these major investments will have a direct economic impact of 80% for the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco, involving around 20 different building trades from the local area’s construction companies. This will generate … some 100 people … increasing to more than 200 at the peak of the work.”

• On a broader scale, older figures (2012) indicate the airport and its operations generated around €7 billion in economic spin-offs and supported about 70,000 jobs in the region.

• The improved connectivity and infrastructure are expected to help the Côte d’Azur region strengthen its international business, tourism and investment appeal.
  

In summary: The construction phase will create hundreds of jobs locally; the longer-term expansion supports more visitors, increased business travel, and thus wider economic growth in the region.

A Vision for the Riviera

The Nice Airport expansion is, in many ways, a reflection of the region it serves — a place where luxury, innovation, and natural beauty coexist in delicate balance. By investing in smarter infrastructure rather than simply larger capacity, the project aims to secure the Riviera’s role as a world-class destination that is both accessible and sustainable.

As the new terminal nears completion, the challenge for Nice will be to welcome more visitors without compromising what makes the Côte d’Azur unique: its quality of life, its environment, and its timeless allure.