Monacair retains Monaco-Nice helicopter route to end of 2026
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
The Monaco government has extended Monacair's licence to operate the regular Monaco-Nice helicopter service until 31 December 2026, amid an ongoing legal challenge from rival operator Héli Air.
Monacair will continue to run the scheduled helicopter link between Monaco Heliport and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport until the end of the year, after the Prince's Government renewed the operator's concession through 31 December 2026. The extension keeps the route in service while a dispute over the original award remains unresolved.
Héli Air has taken legal action against the Monegasque government, contesting the decision to award the Monaco-Nice concession to Monacair. The case has reached the highest levels of the administration, and the short-term renewal appears designed to maintain continuity for the tens of thousands of passengers who rely on the 7-minute crossing each year while proceedings run their course.
For residents commuting to Nice, visitors connecting to international flights and property owners shuttling between the two destinations, any interruption to the Monaco-Nice helicopter service would be a significant inconvenience. The Fontvieille-based heliport handles the bulk of Monaco's air connections, and the outcome of the Héli Air challenge is likely to shape how future route licences are structured and contested in the Principality.