Inquiry gives its support to Nice airport expansion
The airport wants to increase capacity to over 18 million – currently around 14.5 million – and is constructing a 25,000m² extension to one of its terminals
The expansion is set to be finished by 2025
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An inquiry into the expansion of Nice airport has given a green light for the project, although it recommends regular checks on the environmental effects of the plan.
The committee behind the investigation published its findings on Friday (February 7) regarding the expansion of France’s third-busiest airport.
The airport plans to increase capacity to over 18 million – currently around 14.5 million – and is constructing a 25,000m² extension to the Terminal 2 building.
The Marseille Administrative Court ordered an inquiry into the project in December 2023 after several opponent groups lodged complaints.
However this did not come with a ruling to temporarily suspend the works, and construction has continued throughout this time. It is scheduled to finish before the summer 2025 season.
Read more: Work to enlarge Nice airport ‘on track’
Environmental checks required
The committee ruled that whilst the expansion should not be cancelled, regular readings post-completion of pollutants around the airport, including of greenhouse gases, should be made to assess the impact of the works.
The Var valley (where the airport is located) belongs to a ‘Natura 2000’ protected area – an EU scheme to protect local biodiversity.
The airport works with the local LPO (Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux, bird protection society) and is part of the departmental committee set up to protect the site.
A recent report from the local Cour des comptes also stated the area was at a heightened risk of flooding, and that a one-metre rise in water levels could submerge the airport's runways.
The inquiry also cited in its report that the project “is not widely accepted by the population.”
Opposition groups claim the project will bring an extra 30,000 flights per year to the airport, increasing air pollution by 25% and CO² emissions by 40,000 tonnes. They have been protesting the expansion since 2023, and again staged protests last weekend at the project site.
The airport counters this however by saying that greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were 11% lower than the preceding year due to environmental improvements both by the airport and airlines.
The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture must now decide whether to revalidate the project’s building permits before the Marseille court makes its final decision on the expansion in the coming weeks.
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