Split Airport's new terminal takes shape

The construction of Split Airport's new multi million euro terminal is progressing on schedule, with the facility expected to open to the public in July 2019. "By next January we expect to move to our new offices in the new building. This will be the last year of long queues and it will be a challenging summer season but we will do our best", the General Manager of Split Airport, Lukša Novak, said. He added, "There are over four million seats on sale this year to and from Split and, as a result, we will handle over three million passengers, which is why a new terminal is necessary. This is a complex investment taking place over an area of almost 80.000 square metres, with the terminal taking up 35.000 square metres. Upon completion in 2019, the entire terminal complex will spread over 48.000 square metres, which is comparable to our counterparts in Zagreb and Dubrovnik".

The new terminal building will feature thirty check-in desks, six gates, a new automated baggage sorting facility and five carousels, while the gallery will boast restaurants, an observation deck and the business class lounge. The main floor will be circular in shape with natural sunlight coming in from glass sections of the roof. The overhaul of the existing terminal building will commence once the new one is completed and opened. The old terminal will be joined with the new facility to form a single unit and will be used by non-schengen zone passengers. Furthermore, Split Airport plans to overhaul its runway, build a parallel taxiway and expand the apron in 2019, which should reduce congestion. A new car park and bus terminal, which have the capacity to accommodate 900 vehicles over an area of 35.500 square metres, have already been completed, while an enclosed pedestrian overbridge linking the area with the terminal building over the state road is under construction. The entire investment is estimated to be worth some 59.7 million euros.

As contraction of Split's new terminal progresses, the airport will turn its attention to easing seasonality, "First and foremost we need a better product as a city in order to be of interest to tourist past the summer season because we are competing against the likes of Marseille, Nice and Barcelona. We need attractions which are not only of interest to locals, but must be competitive with European metropolises because we need to measure up to them. This is not easy or cheap and it requires time, energy and vision. There are some good developments but we have to work on creating an appealing offer for tourists to come outside of the peak season and then we will have more aircraft arriving in the winter", Split Airport's General Manager said. He added, "Carriers say they don't want to fly to a destination where they register fantastic results between April and October, which then have to cover losses generated over the winter. They want certainty and that is why there are so many airlines in Split in summer and few in winter". However, Mr Novak noted that the peak travel season has been extended at the airport and now lasts longer than before. Split welcomed 117.493 travellers during the first quarter, up 33.2% on the same period last year.