The Bellova Consortium, Led by Egis, Takes Over the Management and Operation of Paris-Beauvais Airport and Embarks Upon Its Modernisation Project

Bellova is a company formed by Egis, Serena Industrial Partners, Bouygues Construction 1, Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur and TIIC. The concession contract for France's 10th busiest airport, signed this summer, takes effect from 1st October. The SMABT (Syndicat Mixte de l'Aéroport Beauvais Tillé), which owns Paris-Beauvais airport, approved the award of the contract at a meeting on 29 April.

The proposed modernisation project is based on carefully managed growth in commercial traffic and related activities. It includes strong commitments in terms of the environment and sustainable development, including a plan to reduce nuisances.

A necessary modernisation

Paris-Beauvais airport is a victim of its own success, with saturation of the current facilities the main motivation behind the modernisation project.

Designed by the architectural firm Ameller Dubois and Egis’ engineers, the project will deliver a net increase of 1,000 m2 in retail space and 2,000 additional parking spaces. Works will be limited to the existing land footprint. By reusing the existing terminals (which will be linked by a connecting building to centralise passenger flows) and aprons, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 30% compared to building a new terminal of equivalent capacity. It aims to achieve “BREEAM Excellent” 2 certification.

The project comprises a 22-month design phase (October 2024-July 2026) and a 38-month construction phase (August 2026-October 2029). The total investment is almost €190 million and construction has been awarded to a consortium of designer-builders led by Bouygues Bâtiment Grand Ouest, which has a strong presence in the Beauvais area.

Ambitious social and environmental commitments

Bellova has set itself the target of achieving ACA (Airport Carbon Accreditation) level 3+ from 2028, then ACA level 4+ before 2032. The ACA 4+ level corresponds to ambitious reduction targets in absolute terms, to be compatible with the Paris Agreement. To help achieve this goal, more than 120,000 m² of photovoltaic panels will be installed in the visitor car parks.

Bellova has made strong commitments to involve local businesses, with some fifteen exclusivity agreements in place. Thirsty-five thousand hours of work experience have been set aside for people who have been excluded from the job market, and in the operating phase, a minimum of 10 employees will be employed on work-study contracts for the duration of the contract.

The airport is expected to generate many direct and indirect jobs. Today it generates 1,200 direct jobs and around 3,000 jobs in total.

A well-balanced project

The contract provides for a target of 45,000 annual rotations, the break-even point for the modernisation project, beyond which consultation with stakeholders will be required to ensure social and environmental acceptability. It compares with 34,000 rotations and 5.6 million passengers in 2023. In 2024, activity should reach 37,000 rotations and 6 million passengers.

Meeting all stakeholders

Following presentations to the SMABT union council and the Beauvaisis community council on 6 June, Bellova representatives are working on a programme of stakeholder meetings, giving priority to local elected representatives, including those from the municipalities directly concerned. These will be followed by meetings with local economic and social groups. In anticipation of meetings with all employees, a presentation was made to representatives of airport employees.

Why Bellova?

The Bellovacs were one of the peoples of Gaul Belgium who gave their name to the town of Beauvais. Choosing Bellova as the company name is an opportunity for the Group to express its strong belief that the airport modernisation project should serve the region and its inhabitants.

1 Bouygues Construction is represented in Bellova by its subsidiary Bouygues Construction Airport Concessions. The modernisation work will be carried out by its local subsidiary Bouygues Bâtiment Grand Ouest.

2 Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method: BREEAM - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)

"Bellova is here for the next 30 years. In terms of decarbonising airport activities, our ambition is in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and will deploy innovative solutions to achieve this. Modernisation of the airport facilities will significantly improve the quality of service for passengers, which will of course help to raise the profile of the Beauvais area and further enhance the pride of the employees who work at the airport," Frédéric MorDirector of Consulting and Operations for France, Egis

About Egis

Egis is a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering and mobility services firm. We create and operate intelligent infrastructure and buildings capable of responding to the climate emergency, contributing to a more balanced, sustainable, and resilient world.

Egis put the expertise of its 19,500 employees, based in 100 countries, at the service of its clients and develops cutting-edge innovations accessible to all projects. Through its wide range of activities, Egis is a key contributor to the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world.