Marseille's €250million airport expansion plan
Fifth busiest airport in France hopes to challenge Mediterranean rival Nice for passengers in a decade
Marseille Provence Airport has unveiled a €250million terminal redevelopment project as part of its ambitious plans to overtake Nice Côte d'Azur as the south coast's premier flight destination.
Officials say that after redevelopment the airport could accommodate between 12million and 16million passengers by 2027. Currently about 8.5million people fly into and out off the airport every year, making the airport serving France's second city the fifth busiest in the country.
They say they hope to be able to welcome giant Airbus 380 aircraft, the world's largest planes which have been flying in and out of Nice since July, but also plan to develop low-cost traffic.
Officials have revealed plans for the extension of terminal 1, to connect the A and B halls to create a 20,000m2 structure that will make it possible to centralise various services.
The extension of Terminal 1 will offer a VIP lounge with restaurant and terrace overlooking the slopes, as well as a larger area reserved for businesses as the airport hopes to attract lucrative new routes.
It is also determined to develop it's MP2 terminal, which is reserved for low-cost travel, as it aims to enjoy a larger slice of the budget airline market, which accounts for 32% of air traffic in France.
The low-cost market accounts for between 28% and 33% of all flights in and out of Marseille, and as much as 40% from Nice.
