L’aéroport Cannes-Mandelieu stratégiquement placé Anchored between the city of Cannes, famous for its film festival, and the city famous for its mimosa, the Cannes Mandelieu airport has a geographical setting perfectly adapted for business aviation.A perfect occasion to talk about it with Mr. Olivier Dufour, Director of the airport. Interview d’Olivier Dufour

Which thought process lead you to adapt the airport for business aviation?

The worldwide development, the large economic market of our region with a larger Europe and customers from the Middle-East increasingly present, the increase in business travel pushed the high contribution customers of the traditional airline companies towards the most effective solution for business, the business aircraft. A need was created for the decision makers who looked to saving time and discretion.

At what point are we today on the Riviera?

With 36,000 movements in 2006, the airports of Nice and Cannes- Mandelieu occupy the fifth European position preceded by Paris-Le Bourget, Milan, London and Geneva. Each airport which is managed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has its specificity with regards to traffic. Nice airport is aimed at fast rotation and planes of more than 2 tons which do not have access to Cannes-Mandelieu for environmental reasons. Cannes-Mandelieu airport which recorded nearly 12,000 business movements last year has positioned itself for welcoming services and infrastructures for aeronautical companies and plane owners wishing to locate their activities on the Riviera.

What are your development projects in this field for the Cannes- Mandelieu airport?

With this logic for favoring settled business aviation, we will build aeronautical hangars, administrative buildings, and we will propose to these customers a whole series of top-of-therange services adapted to their needs. All this has been planned with the respect of our residents who gave their approval for the realization of these projects. In addition, we imposed specifications for constructions known as HQE (High Environmental Quality) to the architects. It is essential that the development of the airport is done not only from the point of view of quality of customer service, but also with respect for quality of life and the environment of its residents.

What are these projects?

Two office spaces of 4,000 square meters will make it possible to accommodate a pole for training in air-related jobs and a “simulation and virtual pilot training” area. Moreover, three aeronautical hangars as well as two commercial ones, dedicated to business aviation, will be built. Everything is thus ready for the creation of an aeronautical pole at the very best European level .