The current airport is located about 8km South-West of the City of Nantes, and is already the largest airport in Western France carrying around 3 million passengers each year. An annual growth rate of 5% in traffic volumes over North-West France have prompted the need for a new airport, with a new green field site being preferred so that the supporting infrastructure (road, rail networks etc.) can be properly planned and accommodated.
The new airport will be located in the commune of Notre Dame des Landes about 30km to the North-West of the city, and will initially have a capacity of 4 million passengers a year, increasing to 9 million passengers a year by 2050 once further development phases have been completed.
I’m going to keep an eye on developments and post them here. In the meantime, how will this new airport affect you?
Are you happy because of the ‘hopefully’ improved transport links?
Are you worried about where those 9 million passengers will go once they arrive in France?
Do you have environmental concerns?
Let me have your thoughts by commenting below
I’m a great fan of the Nantes airport, living 55 mins south from it in the Vendée. I use it regularly and find it very convenient and friendly.
What I beg to ask is why they spent thousands if not millions, refurbishing it, only to have it usurped by an airport not yet built! and which to my eyes will be a service which will blot more natural landscape for what benefit? When one already exists?
Hi Martin
We live in the Mayenne, Pays de La Loire, and we are very pleased about the new airport. We are very poorly served here and have to go to Rennes to get a flight or (far worse) Dinard. We have the train from Laval but no transport to an airport other than Paris, via Laval. Just sorry this new airport is not further north. It would have been better. However, we have been assured that as this will be a new airport much greater consideration will be given to transport into the airport which was not possible with Nantes as what little transport there was was already in place and no extensions possible. Aircraft noise will hardly be a problem for us as we are overflown regularly by French fighter planes (VERY loud and VERY low). So roll on new airport and a GOOD, FREQUENT rail and bus service into the airport.
Being in Guemene Penfao means that we are equidistant between Rennes and Nantes airports so pretty well served already but bringing Nantes airport nearer to our gites can only be a good thing for us. I only hope that we are still in business by the time it opens to benefit as the current state of the European economy does not bode well for the tourist industry. Fingers crossed and wishing all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.
That sounds ominous Teresa. I hope that things aren’t too bad for you, and that your business is still around way after the new airport opens in 2015.
I have heard many grumbles from holiday rental owners in France recently, and more than a few are considering coming back to the UK. I have a lot of sympathy for their plight, as it’s not only the state of the economy, but also French bureaucracy and the increasing demands of savvy holidaymakers that are conspiring to make existence very difficult.
My very best wishes to you and all holiday rental owners for 2012.