Vinci’s request for €1.6bn in damages over cancelled airport job rejected

Image: Reuters

Plans for the construction of Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport in Nantes, France, were dropped following intense protests from environment activists.

The French government abandoned the scheme in 2018.

“The State was not at fault in abandoning the Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport project for reasons of public interest,” the lower court in the western city of Nantes said in a statement.

The court said, however, that some damages could be paid for at a later stage, as the termination on grounds of public interest gives entitlement to compensation covering the expenses incurred and lost profits.

The amount of this allowance will be set at a later date, the court said, citing the need to factor in potential profits the group could make if a concession under which its unit operates the Nantes-Atlantique airport were to be extended.

Vinci, which can appeal the decision to the administrative court, could not immediately be reached for comment.