New routes promise as airport unveils terminal plan

Montpellier-Méditerranée airport this week unveiled plans for a new €26.6million terminal as bosses develop their ambitious aim to fly 2.2million travellers a year to 50 destinations within five years.

That would be a significant increase on current figures - some 400,000 passengers a year fly into and out of Montpellier to 20 destinations, including Gatwick and Dublin. This year, several daily passenger records have been broken, while a new mark was also set for July.

Bosses at Montpellier-Méditerranée expect their ground-level investment will prompt airlines to offer more flights, but have refused to speculate on possible destinations.

Work is set to begin on the new 5,700m2 terminal - the largest single development project at the airport since 1977 - in the coming weeks, with opening scheduled for the summer of 2019 as bosses aim to tempt passengers away from Marseille or Toulouse.

As well as the terminal and departure halls, the project includes the construction of a new 150-room hotel complex, office and sports facilities.