The extension of terminal 2 at Nice Côte d’Azur airport was inaugurated on Monday. This is a major development for a facility that had reached saturation, but it has reignited criticism around over-tourism and environmental impact.
On Monday, Nice Côte d’Azur airport presented the extension of its terminal 2, in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, and Prince Albert II of Monaco. This inauguration marks the completion of a project launched in 2022 aimed at accommodating consistently rising passenger numbers for over a decade. With more than fifteen million passengers recorded in 2025, the facility had reached its operational limits.
The expansion increases the theoretical capacity from 15 to 18 million travelers per year. This development is deemed necessary by airport authorities, who recall that the terminals had exceeded their comfort threshold since 2019. Without adaptation, passenger accommodation would have continued to deteriorate in terms of both fluidity and safety.
The new building represents an additional 23,000 m2, nearly a one-third increase of the existing area. It includes thirty-six check-in desks, six pre-boarding rooms, an expanded border police station, additional baggage claim space, and a lounge dedicated to international passengers. Some areas have been operational since spring 2025, while the entire facility is set to open in the coming days.
The Minister of Transport praised an infrastructure he considers “a gateway not only for our magnificent region but also for our entire country to Europe and the world.” The airport management emphasizes a size considered reasonable, aligned with observed traffic growth between 2012 and 2019.
A project under environmental scrutiny
The extension of terminal 2 at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is taking place in a context where environmental issues are central. The project was supervised by an ecologist and an environmental engineer tasked with ensuring compliance with commitments made even before securing the construction permit. The proximity to the Natura 2000 area at the Var estuary necessitated a precise schedule: heavy work only began in the summer of 2023 to avoid disturbing the bird nesting season.
This approach does not convince opponents. Citizen Collective 06 criticizes “full throttle on over-tourism in Nice” and believes the capacity increase could allow for up to thirty thousand additional flights per year. The group filed an appeal, arguing that the impact study did not sufficiently consider the effects of potential air traffic growth. Rejected on appeal, the process continues in the Council of State. Former opposition member Jean Christophe Picard criticizes “a project from the old world.”
The airport management responds that traffic growth does not solely depend on the number of flights. They note that in 2023, the increase in passenger numbers (+3.2%) was greater than the growth in aircraft movements (+1.9%). According to them, using larger and fuller planes allows for absorbing some growth without increasing rotations. The airport even anticipates a future reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to technological advancements in aircraft.
Beyond environmental issues, the facility faces operational challenges. Last year, the lack of air traffic controllers caused frequent delays during peak times. Philippe Tabarot announced the recruitment of about thirty controllers over two years for the region. However, the lengthy training of these professionals casts doubt as the busy summer season approaches, despite an improvement observed in spring 2025.
