Bordeaux-Mérignac airport in 2046: projects, extensions and the future of the air hub
Twenty years from now, Bordeaux-Mérignac airport will have become one of the main hubs in south-west France on a European scale, combining capacity expansion, technological innovation and environmental sustainability. At the heart of this development will be the passenger experience and integration with peripheral services - such as secure parking solutions close to the airport - will have fundamentally transformed the way passengers and economic players interact with the infrastructure. This article examines the major phases of change planned or anticipated between now and 2046, highlighting the major projects, the optimisation of traffic flows and the development of associated services.
Towards a new-generation airport
A response to traffic growth and passenger expectations
Increased reception capacity
By 2046, Bordeaux-Mérignac will have significantly increased its annual passenger handling capacity. Following on from the projects already launched in the early 2020s, notably the creation of a central infrastructure between halls A and B, initially scheduled for 2028, the airport is set to extend its terminals even further to accommodate more dense traffic flows, with zones dedicated to long-haul flights and low-cost airlines.
These extensions are designed not only to increase passenger numbers, but also to facilitate internal movements, reduce waiting times and meet the most demanding European standards in terms of comfort, safety and operational efficiency.
Ecological and energy transformation
The energy transition is central to the airport's development strategy. Initiatives have already been launched, such as the installation of a geothermal doublet to produce local, low-carbon energy, All of which demonstrate the site's environmental ambitions.
In the long term, renewable energies are expected to be increasingly integrated into all infrastructures (photovoltaic roofs, heat recovery systems, energy optimisation of runways and buildings) as well as measures to reduce the carbon footprint of air traffic and ground operations.
Connectivity and new mobility
The evolution to 2046 must also take multimodal connectivity into account. We expect to see the further integration of fast, fluid and sustainable land transport solutions, combining tram, electric buses and cycling infrastructure.
Parking around the airport, a key element in passenger mobility, will evolve in parallel. Private car parks near terminals, such that Bordeaux-Mérignac Parking Solution, They will be essential interfaces between the private car and airport traffic, offering vehicle security, free shuttle and additional services.
Passenger experience and related services
Innovations for a smoother stay
Digitalisation and automation
The customer journey at the airport will have been profoundly transformed by digitisation. Between biometric enrolment, artificial intelligence for orientation in terminals, self-check-in kiosks and automated control systems, These technologies are designed to reduce queues and provide a more personalised service.
This digitalisation will also extend to peripheral services, including parking solutions. Private operators such as Bordeaux-Mérignac Parking Solution are already combining advanced online booking, 24-hour surveillance and management technologies to optimise the use of spaces and vehicle safety.
Comfort and premium services
Against a backdrop of increasing competition between regional hubs, user services - lounges, local quality catering areas, connected work zones, top-of-the-range shops - will become standard. Bordeaux airport will have integrated flexible services to meet the needs of both business travellers and tourists.
Waiting areas, family zones and facilities for people with reduced mobility will be designed to make the overall experience more serene and pleasant, while respecting the regional image of the South-West.
Integrating the local ecosystem
The airport is not just an international hub: it also plays a pivotal role in the local economy. Between now and 2046, the development of ancillary business zones (logistics zones, aircraft maintenance centres, business services) will strengthen the local economy. its role as a regional economic driver.
Nearby parking facilities, By facilitating access to the airport, they contribute to the smooth flow of traffic and improve the attractiveness of the Bordeaux area as a whole.
In a nutshell
By 2046, Bordeaux-Mérignac airport will have undergone profound changes in response to the growth in traffic, environmental challenges and passenger service expectations. Infrastructure extension, energy modernisation, digitalisation and optimisation of the passenger experience will be the cornerstones of this transformation.
In this context, secure parking solutions close to the airport, as Bordeaux-Mérignac Parking Solution, will occupy a strategic position in the global ecosystem, offering travellers a reliable, practical and integrated alternative for managing their vehicle before or after a theft.
The long-term vision for the airport site confirms its ambition to become a sustainable, connected and user-focused infrastructure, while strengthening its economic role in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
