In a way, the French Riviera can claim three airports. The first is of course Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport where all major flights arrive and currently services around 100 international destinations. The second is Cannes-Mandelieu, a charming airport used by small planes, private business jets and helicopters and very busy during the Cannes Film Festival. And the third one is St. Tropez, another smallish airport and used extensively during the summer season by rather well-to-do holiday makers.

I must admit to having a soft spot for Nice airport. Though large enough to offer a host of services, it is small enough to be pleasant and friendly, and there is an "unrushed" feel about it that doesn't exist in many other busy rather too over-crowded, international airports. Both Terminals are modern and airy and offer much natural daylight. I still remember my flight down here in February 2001, flying over snow-capped Alps and my first view of the Mediterranean Sea and wonderful crystal clear skies. As we started our descent I could make out palm trees, swimming pools and orange tiled roofs so typical of this beautiful region; it was love at first sight.

A Little History
Before we pass on to the nitty-gritty technical stuff, let's take a moment to go back in time and discover how Nice airport came to be as it's difficult to imagine, when looking at these immaculate glass and steel buildings, that it once consisted of just a wooden hangar and a grassy field.

In 1901 the open land bordering the sea was reserved in part for the military to use as a shooting range; the other part was set aside as Nice's hippodrome (* see insert at the end of this article). Since it was within the district known as California it was decided to give it the same name. In the beginning there was just a 750 grass landing pitch and a wooden hangar but it was enough for Captain Ferdinand Ferber (1862-1909) to undertake his first glider flight trials. Soon other aviation enthusiasts came and the Nice Flying Club was formed.

After the huge success stories in 1909, first with Louis Blériot (1872-1936), as the first man to fly across the English Channel in July 25 and secondly with Le Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne held at the end of August in Reims, aviation became major news. The Reims Air Show riveted European attention on the airplane, awakened the public to the reality of flight, and fired the imagination of artists, intellectuals, poets, and politicians. And it also stimulated the imagination of public leaders and local firms in Nice. Overwhelmed by their sudden passion for aviation, they seized the first opportunity they could to put Nice firmly on the up and coming aviation map.

Sponsored by the Nice Flying Club, Nice held its first aerial meeting on 10-25 April 1910. It was also the occasion when a star was born, a certain Auguste Maïcon who was just 18 years old at the time. With his daring flights and aerobatics he kept spectators on the edge of their seats and became a legend already at such a young age (you may remember his mother-in-law was Madame Nicolaïeff who bought the beautiful Villa Collin-Huovilan on the Promenade des Anglais - click here to read our article on Nice).

Though it only drew around 100,000 spectators (Reims had attracted 500,000) it was enough to capture the attention of many people and afterwards the field was used for exhibitions, air baptisms and excursions until the beginning of World War I. (Nice organized further aerial shows in 1922, 1930 and 1932).

Once the war over, aerial displays again became fashionable and Maïcon,
using his own biplane, initiated people into the joys of flying and would later create a private passenger airline company. Sadly, while he transformed a budding aerodrome into an important airport, this intripid pioneer died in Fréjus, totally forgotten, in 1974.

Nice airport finally came into being by the late 1920s, under the jurisdiction of the Air Ministry but managed by the Nice Flying Club until 1930.

By 1928 a weekly postal service between Nice and Marseille had been set up. In the summer of 1935, trials proceeded on a Nice-Bastia route. The results proved satisfactory so the transporter, a company called Potez, decided to renew the service the following summer, in 1936.

With the increase of flights and heavier planes, thereby necessitating a longer runway, the Town Hall and County Council bought the land from the French State in 1934 and commenced extension work which were inaugurated in 1937 by President Albert Lebrun.  But dark clouds loomed on the horizon and, with the advent of World War II, the land and airport were requisitioned by the Air Ministry on the 3rd September 1939.

Allied bombings damaged both the airport and hippodrome and caused the local residents to evacuate the area in 1943. But one year later, and with the war nearly over, the runway was extended to 1,600 metres but this time, with the assistance of American Allies a "hard" concrete runway measuring 1,350 metres was built.

Tourism returns
The newly surfaced runway was now used to receive American soldiers on leave, visiting the Cote d'Azur to relax. A special programme was therefore introduced to make the stay easy for these Transatlantic visitors, and with assistance in finding them accommodation, in turn this sparked off an increase in tourism once more in the region. The 17th October 1945, Air France moved into Nice airport and the Nice-Paris route was inaugurated that same day by a Junker 52 which took 5 hours to complete the journey. So great was the route's success that the airline was soon running two flights a day in 21-seater DC3's and handling 34,230 passengers.

Strange as it may seem, services for the airport as well as navigation had always been located the other side of the Promenade des Anglais in Villa Emilie. So in 1946 the airport transferred everything to a central control, lengthened the runway to 1,700 metres and opened under its new name l'Aéroport de Nice-le Var. This new terminal was inaugurated the 29th May 1949 and, with added space and comfort, soon attracted other airlines such as KLM, Swissair and British Airways.

After that the daily running of the airport was handed over to the Alpes-Maritimes Chamber of Commerce. The first Pan American Airlines Constellation flight from New York landed the 3 December 1949 after a flight lasting 24 hours and consisting of four stops. The airport took its present name in 1957, the same year the runway was extended to 2,200 metres. By 1958 600,000 passengers were using the airport, 1964: 1 million, 1999 over 8 million. In 2006 that number increased to just under 9,950,000 passengers.

Further expansion work was carried out in 1969 when the runway was increased to 2,700 metres after land, located to the east of the airport, was reclaimed from the sea; a second strip was reclaimed to the west of the airport thus extending the area to 3,000 metres making it suitable for B707s and DC8s.

By early 1970 traffic levels were hitting an all time high and it became apparent that the airport's surface was insufficient. The idea of reclaiming further land from the sea was looked at and studies launched to research the possibility; it was to be the most ambitious and biggest project in Europe at that time. In 1974 the Government gave the go-ahead and work commenced a year later and continued until 1978. The extra surface area reclaimed from the sea meant that a second runway could be constructed to the south, situated some 480 metres away from the original runway and measuring 3,200 metres. Although it was not possible to use both runways simultaneously, aircraft movement capacity increased.

By 1978 the airport celebrated its 3 millionth passenger. Expansion work was still somewhat ongoing when, on Wednesday, 20th October 1979, the sea suddenly receded from the shore and a 3-meter tidal wave, created by an undersea landslide some 15km out at sea, engulfed 11 construction workers and overturned hundreds of boats. Two further huge waves hit the 36-mile long coastal stretch though the main effects were felt in Antibes which became inundated.

Some Technical Jargon
Nice Cote d'Azur International Airport is now the second largest and busiest airport in France after Paris Charles de Gaulle. Terminal 1 is the arrival point for the majority of inter-European and international flights, and Terminal 2 receives daily flights from New York. The two terminals are linked by courtesy shuttle buses.

If you've not flown here before, Nice airport is located 7km (4 miles) west of Nice which makes it roughly 10 minutes away by car from the town's centre. The airport has good road links to Nice, Monaco and Italy via the Promenade des Anglais; it also has links to Cannes and Antibes via the A8 motorway, RN 98 or RN7 and to Digne and Grenoble via the RN202. Bus connections are available to train stations, as well as to Nice city centre, about a 20-minute ride. City buses leave from Terminal 1, stand 6, every 12 minutes during peak hours (€1.30). Buses going directly to Nice’s central bus station depart from Terminal 2, stand 5, and Terminal 1, stand 1, every 30 to 50 minutes (€3.50). Taxis may be found 24 hours a day at authorized taxi stands outside the arrivals halls.

Both terminals have ATMs, banks and bureaux de change. Terminal 1 also has a post office and a pharmacy (located on the 1st floor), as well as a 24-hour medical centre and a prayer room. Over 40 shops offer a variety of duty-free and regular goods, including fashions, lingerie, jewellery, perfumes, regional foodstuffs and gifts. Each terminal has several restaurants, bars and cafés and news agents. A business centre is located on the second floor of Terminal 1. It also has fully equipped meeting rooms and conference facilities for up to 250 people. Private rooms for business use are also available in Terminal 2 and WIFI is available at different spots in both terminals.

Although baggage trolleys are available in the arrival hall and outside in the parking areas, you’ll need to slip a 1 euro coin into the slot of the trolley to use it. You’ll retrieve the coin when you return the trolley to one of reserved trolley parks.

If you’ve just arrived from a "non Euro country", change machines are at the baggage collection point in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. As part of the quality policy launched some years ago, and in light of passenger needs in terms of parking revealed during satisfaction surveys, Nice airport has revamped its public parking facilities, rendering them more diverse, more complete and more appropriate.

Both Terminals have "Kiss & Fly" drop-off zones with a maximum unloading time of 2 minutes. Recent changes have been made to the Kiss & Fly area at Terminal 1 and personally I much prefer the old style where you could actually park your car and off-load your passengers and their luggage. Now you must drive along a set lane and then discharge everyone; if the person in front of you takes their time over the "Kissing" part of the "& Fly", you're stuck. There is a barrier system at the entry of each parking area with a push button system that ejects your parking card. Several yellow coloured payment machines are located inside Terminal 1 at either ends. Yellow coloured payment machines for parking at Terminal 2 are located outside the terminal; all payment machines take cash and credit cards. The maximum parking period at Nice airport is 30 days.

Noise Limitation
Given its topography (tucked between the sea and mountains), its geographical location (an urbanization perimeter of 20 km) and its climate (favourable more or less all year round), Nice Cote d'Azur airport has been able to introduce procedures aimed at limiting noise disturbances. The airlines, pilots, traffic controllers, Civil Aviation Authority and Nice Cote d'Azur Airport all signed a Code of Good Behaviour in 2005, undertaking to respect them.

To lessen the impact of a maximum amount of noise disturbance, the Airport has set up specific flight paths, restricted air traffic between 11pm and 6am to the least noisy planes, and even installed laser (not sound) scarecrows to keep birds at bay.

Thus, 56% of landings follow the Riviera procedure, tailormade in 1994 to comply with environmental concerns. By skirting around Cap d'Antibes, it relieves the eastern part of Cannes, Antibes and Vallauris. It is always given priority in the case of good visibility and at night.

11% of landings follow the Saleya procedure in the event of a strong Mistral wind: by skirting around Cap Ferrat, Cannes has benefitted from a 25% drop in overflights and 24,000 residents have suffered less annoyance since 2004.

33% of landings follow the ILS procedure (versus 90% ten years ago), requiring planes to fly over the bays of Cannes and Antibes, mainly when weather conditions make it necessary (runway visibility functions). In the case of night flights, a procedure called "ILS with the least amount of noise" has been in effect since 2003. The "Palme du Silence" and "Décibel de Plomb" are awarded every month to airlines which have proven to be the "best or least satisfactory" in terms of noise recorded.

Reduced Mobility?
On par with all international airports, Nice airport is also perfectly equipped, both in manpower and facilities, to assist anyone with mobility problems. There are lifts, ramps, travelators, accessible toilets and all car parks provide spaces for disabled passengers. A couple of years ago my brother (who suffered from cancer) flew down from Brussels for a short holiday with us. He needed both a walking stick and a wheelchair to get around. The airport staff couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly. He was personally collected by airport staff when the plane landed, wheeled down the boarding gangway, and through to the baggage hall (a lift connects the two areas). There the assistant personally saw to it that my brother’s luggage came off the conveyor belt and even helped carry his suitcase through to the Arrivals Hall.

All we needed to do to obtain this generous support was to request assistance when we reserved his airline ticket. We made clear his type and degree of handicap at the time we booked his ticket. We were asked if he already had a wheelchair or if one needed to be supplied when he arrived. As a by-line, airport wheelchairs tend to be much narrower than normal ones - and although my brother was rather skinny - we did wonder how other people managed if they were more corpulent.

Information Desks
Information Desks are open from the first flight to the last departure - which means 06h00 through to 20h30 for Terminal 1 and from the first flight to the last one in Terminal 2 from 08h00 through to 21h30.

Terminal 1 has an Unaccompanied Minors room located in the middle of its building next to a wonderful tropical fish aquarium. Terminal 2’s UM’s zone is located next to the Easyjet Arrivals Lounge.

Security
No matter how tight security was before 9/11 - it is far tighter nowadays even though the general atmosphere in both terminals seems very relaxed - it is at all times under surveillance. There are more patrols, more security staff and more awareness about safety at the airport than ever more.

A few years ago, we arrived at the airport to check in at the British Airways desk at Terminal 1. We had just done this when everyone was told to evacuate the premises immediately. No sooner had we left the building when there was one almighty bang from inside. Once all the commotion had died down we were allowed back inside. We were greeted by a wonderful assortment of confetti-like clothing draping precariously from lights, ornamental structures and decor.

And talking to some serious-looking policemen were two immensely upset girls who had left their baggage totally unattended as they happily wandered off shopping around the Terminal. Moral of the story? Keep your luggage with you at all times - or security will blow it up!

Nice Airport - St Augustin Railway Station
Now is perhaps a good time to rectify an urban myth about the distance and time it takes to walk from Nice Airport (Terminal 1) to St Augustin railway station. Somehow it seems that a few websites and publications have perpetuated the idea that it is only 500 metres away and a short 10 minute walk: both are false. In fact, dear readers, it is just over 1 km away and it will take you, on foot, 20 minutes and 1, 637 steps and there are absolutely no signs to point you in the direction to the station.

While the walk there is totally flat you will have to negotiate a couple of roundabouts, curbs and a fair bit of construction work. Intrepid back-packers should find the walk fairly easy but I fear that those of you with large heavy suitcases will find it a little annoying. I commenced my walk leaving the arrivals hall in Terminal 1, with Freddy Fox Terrier along as my baggage and headed towards the "Arénes" and the Novotel Hotel (with Fahri's colouful giant sculpture on the side). I then passed under the Passage de la Caravelle which links to Avenue Auguste Maïcon - from where you'll already see the railway line in the distance. Reaching the roundabout, I then crossed over passing the Résidence de la Chambre de Commerce on my right.

On the corner there is the enormous concrete building of the Lycée hôtelier Paul Augier, which you really can't miss especially if it's break time, as smokers are outside puffing away. Here I turned right onto Boulevard René Cassin and found construction work all along here and cars parked alongside too. A long stretch of blue fencing with large plaques indicating Nice Plaza, 455 Promenade des Anglais were plastered everywhere which could be confusing as the Promenade is the opposite side.

At the end of this blue fencing I then came to a confusing interchange of several roads and carefully crossed over a couple of main roads via several pedestrian crossings and traffic lights under a road bridge to reach Avenue Edouard Grinda to my right; a very slight incline leads you up to the railway station, a pretty pink façade building and journey's end. Nice Airport have a super map that you can view; click here to see it.

Nice Airport is fun too
Although we had most of the photography done for Terminal 1, we were missing just a couple of outside views. We’d also managed to do a botched job on a couple of inside shots so took the opportunity, when a return visit to Terminal 2 was called for, to pop inside Terminal 1 and complete our portfolio.

Imagine our delight when we’d realized we’d totally forgotten it was also Nice's Carnival Week! Nice Airport had got their act together and mustered up some amazing troubadours, appropriately dressed in all their finery, to play a range of really great music for everyone down at Terminal 1. At Terminal 2 another group of troubadours dressed in colourful costumes were amusing the crowds.

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In 1868 a commission was formed in an effort to persuade Paris to authorize two days of Steeple-Chase horse racing in Nice. By 1869 the Hippodrome du Var was already built thanks to financial subscriptions, notably from the Duke of Hamilton. The first race, Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice, held on 4th February, was won by Astrolabe, ridden by Richard Count and owned by Baron Finot. Such was the success of the races, that they were extended to six days.  By 1900 they equalled, if not rivalled, those of Longchamp and Epson with also an extra week added in Autumn.  In 1902 the whole complex was renovated. Seriously damaged during the Second World War as well as being expropriated from their location due to the expansion of Nice Airport, the hippodrome merged with that of Cannes and relocated to Cagnes-sur-Mer in 1951 where it still is today. As a byline, the 117th Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice will occur in 2007 with a cash prize of 140,000 Euros.