He promised to come back, it’s done. Transport Minister Clément Beaune returned to Nantes this Thursday, a month and a half after the cancellation of the call for tenders for the operation and redevelopment of Nantes-Atlantique airport. Faced with the impatience of local stakeholders and elected officials regarding the highly anticipated modernization project, since the abandonment of the transfer to Notre-Dame-des-Landes in 2018, the minister affirmed that he was doing everything possible to ensure that it “succeeds as quickly as possible”. quickly possible.”
First announcements have been made, or at least confirmed for some. The strongest perhaps concerns the curfew, currently poorly respected, which will be applied “in a stricter and stronger manner”, promises the minister, condemning the “pressure” of several airlines which downright threaten to leave Nantes.
The amount of fines increased
Concretely, the text will soon be rewritten in order to make it “more biting and more effective”. If there has been no consensus for an extension of the hours (currently between midnight and 6 a.m.), the fines will be increased. In addition to an increased amount, “we will be able to penalize breaches in flagrante delicto, with a plane which will not be able to land in Nantes outside of schedules”, illustrates the minister, who promises an evaluation at the end of 2024.
At the same time, priority being given to the “protection of populations”, the amount of the compensation ceilings for local residents who wish to carry out soundproofing work will be increased by 25%.
Emergency work
While a new call for tenders for the operation of the airport will be launched “before the end of the year”, Clément Beaune indicated that the lengthening of the runway, long mentioned, will no longer be part of the specifications charges. “There will also be a moratorium until 2027 on changes in trajectories, to avoid too many overflights” of more inhabitants, he confirms.
However, the first works should not wait for the appointment of the new airport concessionaire. “We asked the current dealer [Vinci] emergency work, wants to reassure Clément Beaune, who announces the upcoming appointment of a ministerial delegate in charge of the file. They concern reception conditions, parking, etc. All of this must be undertaken as quickly as possible. »