Nice Côte d’Azur Airport Inaugurates its Terminal 2 Extension

A rare and highly anticipated event for the region, the airport officially inaugurated the extension of Terminal 2 on Monday 13 April, in the presence of Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transports; H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco; Laurent Hottiaux, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes; Éric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis; Charles-Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department; Alessandro Benetton, Chairman of Edizione and Mundys, the principal shareholder of ACA; and many other distinguished guests. The commissioning of this extension will enhance service quality and improve passenger flow for both departures and arrivals, while preparing the airport to meet the developments of the years ahead.

The capacity of France’s second-largest airport – with 14 million passengers per year – having been significantly exceeded since 2019, the extension of Terminal 2 will help maintain a high standard of passenger service and ensure smooth flow management for both departures and arrivals, for Schengen and non-Schengen flights alike, over the coming years.

Delivered without any additional land take, the extension is composed of three main areas.

The initial development includes an enlargement of the non-Schengen departure lounge, alongside the creation of a new outbound passport control area, retail outlets and a VIP lounge. This first phase was completed ahead of summer 2025.

The second phase consists of a boarding pier providing direct access to six existing aircraft stands, eliminating the need for apron buses and enabling the simultaneous handling of passengers regardless of their origin or destination. It is due to enter service in the coming days.

Finally, a new building in the public area features 36 check-in desks and a new hold baggage handling system.  It will become operational as soon as required by peak summer traffic.

The overall development, designed by the architectural firm of Stéphane Aurel, represents approximately 23,000 m2 of space, increasing passenger-accessible areas by more than 30%.

This new infrastructure will raise the airport’s overall capacity to 18 million passengers.

“This is a historic day for the airport, and especially for the region it serves. This extension will enable us to continue enhancing the passenger experience, offering a standard of welcome and service that reflects the reputation of the Côte d’Azur. An airport is both the first and last impression of a stay, and our responsibility to the region is to make that experience as positive as possible,” states Goldnadel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.

“The completion of this terminal demonstrates our Group’s ability to make strategic investments in the regions where we operate, while maintaining continuous dialogue with the public institutions and local authorities. I would like to thank the management team and all the employees of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur for this major achievement, which structurally enhances the attractiveness of France’s second-largest airport. Mundys is a forward-looking European industrial group that considers France a key market. Over the years, we have invested more than €11 billion in French infrastructure, creating jobs and contributing to regional competitiveness. This is the path we will continue to follow,” declares Alessandro Benetton, Chairman of Edizione and Mundys, the principal shareholder of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.

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