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Inauguration of Terminal 1 : the surprising experience of the new passenger path unveiled in full!

Published on 13-06-16

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has been engaged in the revamping of its commercial offering since the end of 2014 and is now proud to present, just 2 years after the start of work, the new passenger path. Providing its clients with the most surprising experience in any European airport is now a reality!

Welcome to the airport of tomorrow

The layout and design of the two terminals as well as all the associated commercial planning aspects, have been completely re-thought: security screening that is now centralised and re-located, a single shopping area leading to all boarding gates, a greatly enlarged lounge area with a larger waiting area providing passengers with more fluid circulation giving more time, comfort and space.

This vision is in line with the desire to make Nice Côte d’Azur a singular airport in which each passenger is unique, making the airport a destination in its own right. The goal is to provide a tailor-made, original and unforgettable experience, bringing together a diversity of offers mixing creativity and excellence whilst at the same time underlining the Côte d’Azur brand, the veritable DNA of the airport.

The new and surprising shopping experience

Just two years after the start of work on Terminal 1, floorspace has been considerably extended: a three-fold increase in space for Terminal 1 + Terminal 2.

To ensure the provision of a diversified offering that will satisfy all passenger categories, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport chose to work with recognised Travel Retail partners with a proven track record: Lagardère Travel France, SSP, Dufry and The Swatch Group. At the same time complementary to each other and in competition, the offers of these operators were convincing, with concepts that are particularly well suited to the expectations of each passenger. The result is an ideal mix that reflects "the most surprising experience in Europe".

This new approach resulted in its first concrete realisation in 2014 in Terminal 1 with the complete renewal of the restaurant offering, increasing to 1340 m², i.e., +168%.

From fast-food to table service, the most basic concepts to the very high end share some 20 points of sale spread across the two terminals.

Tailor-made premium, exclusive and glamorous concepts, such as those proposed by the French star-rated chef Thierry Marx (La Plage and Pan Garni), rub shoulders with international brands (Starbucks, Pret à Manger, Joe & the Juice from Copenhagen) mixed in with local Côte d’Azur must-haves: Chez Pipo from Nice, or La Tarte Tropézienne from Saint-Tropez, etc.

In a second step, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is working on the complete renewal of the "Travel Retail" offering, whose floorspace has been doubled in the platform's future extended and renovated spaces. On exiting the new walk-through duty-free store, offering a multi-sensorial shopping experience (creation of your own perfume in Le Jardin Fragonard, Spa Eric Zemmour, Champagne Chandelier with exclusive sound & light shows), a dedicated luxury area proposes major European fashion brands

A Hermès store -making Nice Côte d’Azur Airport an exception with two stores dedicated to the brand in the two terminals- is present adjacent to a Versace store – the only store present in the south of France- but also Baccarat

Hour Passion for jewellery, with twelve leading watch and fine jewellery brands in a single store: exceptional watch brands such as Breguet, Blancpain, Breitling, Chopard and Omega and other high-end brands such as Longines and Rado, but also Tissot, Hamilton or Calvin Klein as well as kid's models by Flik Flak or the Swatch range…

Other new brands are present for the pleasure of shopping addicts: Feminine and sophisticated, the Italian brand Max Mara, Longchamp, a multi-brand store focused on luxury ready-wear garments, The Fashion Place proposes Zadig & Voltaire, Boss or Pinko while the Riviera Chic corner dedicated to the beachwear world of the Côte d’Azur, brings together the iconic brands Erès, Vilebrequin, Banana Moon or GAS and its colourful jewellery..

Not forgetting stores dedicated to souvenirs, with the "Just a Little More Côte d’Azur Touch", proposing chic local innovative concepts. The top Côte d’Azur gastronomy brands, Saveurs de Provence, reflecting a sense of place through local fine foods, confectionery or wine and spirits.

The new So Nice/L’Occitane concept proposes a space entirely dedicated to the Provençal brand L’Occitane, where travellers can take advantage of high-quality beauty and perfume products with refined scents in the purest Côte d’Azur tradition. Exclusively created for Nice Airport, the So Nice brand proposes elegant souvenirs with a South-of-France flavour and a wide range of prices, covering all the needs of international passengers: fashion, trendy accessories, scents of Provençe…

Last but not least, two new RELAY stores in the boarding area, which are very open with an offering that is totally visible from the outside, invite passengers to discover various travel accessories, souvenirs and news and books

Greater comfort for passengers through a fun and varied path

VIP lounges re-designed to surprise you…

The desire for more space and greater comfort were also the inspiration for re-thinking the VIP lounges, refining and improving the reception, offering veritable relaxation bubbles with spaces of modern inspiration in line with the Riviera-Chic DNA.
In Terminal 1, the Azur lounge (Schengen), with a plusher library atmosphere, has thus been extended from 250 to 400 m2, while the Riviera lounge in the international zone, designed in the manner of a “terrace”, has been extended from 410 to 670 m2. In Terminal 2, the Cap Ferrat lounge (Schengen), complete with a pool-table area, has been available since the end of 2015, and has been enlarged from 340 to 670 m2.
Lastly, the revamping of Terminal 2 will result in the Cap d’Antibes lounge (international zone) being moved and the installation of a new lounge of 480 m2, to be opened in June 2017.

More amusing spaces that leave a lasting impression

The aim is to keep passengers entertained on their way through the airport by offering clearer spaces within the terminals. In June 2016, JCDecaux France was selected for the supply, installation and operation of advertising media on the Nice, Cannes Mandelieu, Saint-Tropez and Sky Valet Paris-Le Bourget platforms.

An ambitious advertising offer, bringing the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group up to the European standards. Based on an elegant and contemporary communication system in line with the optimisation of the passenger path via these 77 digital screens, the Nice Côte d’Azur platform will thus become the most digitized airport in France facilitating flows thanks to a minimalist design ensuring the perfect integration of the system into the platform’s architecture.

Since March 2016, a monumental shark of 11 metres suspended in the Terminal-1 patio and baptised Air Shark dominates the Nice platform. Designed by the LAPS artist duo Amélie Legrand and Sophie Paumelle, and accompanying travellers right from the moment they arrive, its open-structure body in woven poplar wood is omnipresent throughout the Terminal's interior. A unique work specifically commissioned for Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, its shapes are perfectly suited and integrated into the Terminal's patio. An additional sensorial experience for passengers in an airport that dares to propose artistic alternatives in tune with today.

Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group, “We are proud to inaugurate, only 2 years after the start of the design studies, a new terminal responding to the expectations, inspirations and requirements of our passengers. Providing our clients with the most surprising experience in Europe is now a reality at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, reflecting the unforgettable image of excellence of our Region. The revamping of the airport of tomorrow is well underway, and our efforts continue to innovate and surprise, across all the Group’s platforms… See you in 2017 for the completion of Terminal 2!"

Michel Pérol, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail France,Lagardère Travel Retail France is pursuing a strategy of overall operator across the three segments of Duty-Free, Restaurants and Travel Essentials. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s commercial project gave us an opportunity to express this ambition on an exceptional site!”

Gérard d’Onofrio, CEO of SSP France, Benelux, “It is with innovation and quality in mind that we positioned our restaurant offer, and we are particularly proud to have participated in this revamping project at the sides of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, with the common aims of excellence and a traveller experience in line with their expectations”.

Pedro Castro, Divisional Chief Executive Officer Southern Europe and Africa - Dufry Group,“We are very pleased with this solid collaboration with Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which contributes to giving its passengers unique travel and shopping experiences, in a destination of worldwide renown. Through the selection of modern brands and attractive stores, Terminal 1 has acquired a further touch of class and glamour.”