Terminal 2 Expansion Begins at Lyon Airport

VINCI Airports has started transforming Terminal 2 at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, including a 9,500 m² extension and modernizing 12,000 m² of existing space. The project is expected to be completed by 2029, in time for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the French Alps in 2030.

Enhancing Passenger Experience and Efficiency

The expansion aims to increase Terminal 2's capacity, improve operational efficiency, and boost energy performance. VINCI Airports emphasizes improvements in "passenger experience, operational efficiency, and energy performance." New security screening areas, commercial spaces, and leisure areas will be added. Terminal 1 will also get new security equipment by summer 2027.

Improvements for Oversized Baggage and Airport Operations

The project includes better handling of oversized baggage, such as skis and bicycles, along with more flexible aircraft parking and thermal renovation of the terminal. The road station will be expanded to facilitate transfers to Alpine stations, improving connectivity to mountain resorts.

Cost and Funding Conditions

The Terminal 2 works are estimated at 75 million euros. This is part of a larger seven-year investment plan by VINCI Airports and Aéroports de Lyon shareholders, totaling over 380 million euros. The full plan depends on signing an economic regulation contract with the French government, expected by spring 2027.

Positioning Lyon as a Gateway to the Alps

The 2029 deadline ensures the airport will be ready for the 2030 Winter Games. Regional leaders want to position Lyon-Saint Exupéry as the main gateway to Alpine competition sites and resorts. The Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, stated the airport will be "the airport of the French Alpine Games." This effort also aims to strengthen Lyon’s position against Geneva as a key access point to the Alps.

Lyon Airport's Current Passenger Numbers

Lyon-Saint Exupéry welcomed around 10.7 million passengers in 2025, making it the fifth-largest airport in France by passenger numbers. The modernization of Terminal 2 is taking place on an already significant infrastructure, aiming to improve both operations and passenger reception in the region.

Environmental Concerns and Airport Growth

The expansion has raised concerns, with environmental media Reporterre questioning the use of the Olympics to justify airport growth. It highlights a projected 7% increase in flights over eight years. VINCI Airports counters with claims of reduced emissions, citing the elimination of fossil fuels on the ground and full electrification of aircraft positions. Rémi Maumon de Longevialle, general director of VINCI Airports, emphasized these environmental improvements.