Zagreb Airport expects for passenger numbers to grow during the first half of next year as Croatia assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2020. In line with the expected growth in traffic, the airport has launched several infrastructure projects to avoid congestion. It is currently in the process of building a new VIP lounge, stretching over 215 square metres. The facility is expected to open in September. Furthermore, an additional fifteen check-in desks will be opened at the start of next year along with new self check-in kiosks and self baggage drop off counters. Other upgrades will include European Union ePassport gates or automated self-service passport scanners, three of which will be placed at departures and two at arrivals.
Zagreb Airport recently put into operation a new conveyer belt within its automated baggage sorting facility, allowing it to process 1.200 pieces of arriving luggage per hour. In addition, the airport has installed a fourth baggage carrousel inside its arrivals hall. Airside, a 6.000 square metre parking space for airport ground handling equipment is being built. Overall, a total of over one million euros has been invested into the terminal building since its opening in March 2017. The upgrades come ahead of the planned second phase of the terminal's development, which will commence in the year Zagreb Airport anticipates handling five million passengers. According to the airport operator, the milestone will be reached in 2026.
Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Huseyin Bahadir Bedir, recently noted, "We are currently updating the masterplan which will specify deails for each expansion phase. At this point, the main project for the second phase has still not been finalised. Based on the previous model, the second phase will involve an investment of 75 million euros". Mr Bedir added, "Currently, some thirty airlines maintain scheduled flights to Zagreb, connecting the city to fifty destinations in Croatia, Europe and the world. Zagreb Airport is in constant contact with a number of carriers concerning the launch of new routes. By optimising space in the existing terminal, we will expand capacity".
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteAnd then in 2021 they will complain that bad result came as the consequence of EU presidency in 2020.
ReplyDeleteWe can all remember Croatia airlines and the story about slots on LHR
What rate of growth could we expect because of the EU presidency?
ReplyDelete15-20%
Deletewell I would say 8%
Delete15-20%
DeleteLOOOOL
What is funny with 15-20%?
DeleteIf OU schedule 3-4 new routes as year round, and for sure, LF will grow on other carriers routes, 15-20% is very easy reachable. Dont forget it is first half of the year with poorer traffic, so big % of growth is not so hard to achieve.
This winter, almost without any new routes, they have more than 5% of growth!! Next winter, 20% is reality.
DeleteIf OU keeps the routes they have now it could be taken as success.
DeleteThis winter they have new wide body route to ICN - not operated last winter
Oh, they had 3pw to ICN shared with ZRH, it cant generate big growth. Summer with direct flights is different story...
DeleteI think OU might extend some routes in winter 2019/20 that were seasonal. Don't know which ones are plausible.
DeleteWill frequencies between Brussels and Zagreb be increased?
DeleteMaybe SN extend its flights thru winter again .
DeleteBut it is wide-body to ICN.
DeleteI am just saying that it is not correct statement they had no new routes comparing to previous winter.
The airport that has average of only 200.000 pax per month during first 3 months does not need many passengers to increase the growth to 5% especially as April growth was driven by Easter holiday
I wrote "almost without any new routes", because 3pw shared with ZRH is almost nothing... the key word - ALMOST :)
DeleteEaster is every year, in March or April... but total increase in first 4 months was more than 5%!
DeleteBut alle people here claim that KE was flying empty. Only 20-50 pax which is around 1200 Passengers a months.
DeleteHow can that be?? or is it that KE is flying full to ZAG in winter???
from ICN, Some flights was 30-40pax to ZAG, some flights was more than 150... but still not big numbers on mothly base.
DeleteSo where was all thet growth coming from in Q1 without any single new flight?
Deletebetter LF
DeleteI think people are overestimating the importance of the presidency. The only beneficiary will be OU on flights from Brussels and maybe CRL-LJU for those who are more price sensitive.
Delete+1
DeleteWhat I find worrying is that they are redrafting the masterplan. This probably means they are downgrading the original plan for the second phase.
ReplyDeleteThat thought went through my head as well. They already had a planned out phase two project and now they seem to be changing it.
DeleteNo, that means that they are doing preparations for EU presidency that was not initially planned.
DeleteDoes anyone know what was planned in phase 2?
Deletehttps://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJwz5tbs1Vk/WzB3gJ73TLI/AAAAAAAAlTE/0SXEJIu5fYo-1KyMGLJWVlyZjtfSJ242gCLcBGAs/s1600/radovi-faze-2.png
Deletehttps://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TmJ6qgRPwYE/W7OolETN6QI/AAAAAAAAnPU/3qYKE-SMiTs2f4NpBa2gDR5U4pQqTiA4wCLcBGAs/s1600/radovi-faze-2.png
DeleteOps sorry we posted at the same time.
DeleteNo, I was first :P
DeleteSo phase 2A is extension of the international departures and a dual jet bridge gate?
DeleteIn all honesty they should have started building an additional gate the moment they finished the terminal.
DeleteThe original project (before they cut costs) had several extra gates which were supposed to be built immediately.
DeleteIn my opinion there should have just been more space between the gates and more space for aircraft to push back.
DeleteThey don't plane 5 million passengers until 2026????
ReplyDeleteThat is really pathetic
DeleteThey do not have an interest to reach 5 million fast, as then they would have to invest a huge amount of money for the expansion, which would limit their profits. So they are putting it on the long bench and rest with the profits they are making now...
DeleteIt is short term thinking.
DeleteIf they manage to reach 5+ million they will also have bigger revenue which they could further invest to develop more the airport.
Well but it has to be offset against the investment, which is not exactly for free. in 20-25 years that would be the case.
DeleteThat is realistic for a small capital like Zagreb.
DeleteNo way to reach 5 mil. without attracting LCCs.
DeleteEven with some LCC's it won't be possible in the foreseeable future
Deletewell ZAG will handle around 3,5-3,6 million this year. With a LCC and one AC based at ZAG it could immediately go to 4 million. With 2-3 based AC 5 million is no problem.
DeleteAnon 10:03 Lets make it 10 million
Deletewell I would not exaggerate as you do with the 10 million, but 5 million is realistic within 5 yaers ;)
DeleteAnd at same time they have stopped free 10 minute parking to drop off people.
ReplyDeleteThey are looking to save costs.
DeleteThat topic was once discussed between Mr. Scuric and myself about the fact that ZAG has 10 minutes free parking and that the same should be introduced iN BEG due to the fact that some people, including himself, misuse the opportunity of not having 10 min stopwatch in Belgrade.
DeleteNow we see that Belgrade should keep its system as it is
How exactly do they save costs if they do not let pax park 10min free.???
DeleteI didn't mean save costs but generate more revenue. More people will now actually park and pay for it.
DeleteOr you can just go to the departure area and pick up passengers there.
Delete10 minutes you still have on 2nd floor platform (departures), so you can pick up passengers for free.
DeleteThey did not cancel it because income increasing, but because they move taxi terminal to what was previous drop off (10 minutes free). Now all those taxis without paying parking in Zagreb airport can not come to that position. Because of that taxis stops in parking spots and makes lot of crowd. They tray to manage it with security officers but they had some 3-4 of them to make order. So, they use this unpopular measure to prevent this chaos.
They should build 10 minutes stop on this route going parallel with new taxi terminal, where there is one line now, but there is too big space for pedestrians, so if they take some 1,5 meters from it they can make 2 lines for at least 25-30 cars to stop in few minutes. Not big investment and system could be still on.
For sure option to allow free stop is not good one. You spent security officers, there is big chaos and still you have situation which Zagreb try to prevent by this measures.
They should do this changing of taxi position better with more planing and than they would not have this problem they have now.
Last comment is Purger
DeleteWhere is the VIP lounge going to be located?
ReplyDelete2nd floor international part
DeletePurger
There are some things that they mentioned they would do in the past that they still haven't but I hope they will realize soon. They said they would make a gate with dual jet bridges for widebodies and also some area in front of the terminal with rent a car kiosks and so on.
ReplyDeleteThey needed those check-ins from day 1. I guess politicians and bureaucrats are more important.
ReplyDeleteSo they will have 45 check in desks next year when they open those 15. Nice.
ReplyDeleteYes :)
DeleteThe electronic passport checking system is a good addition especially since they will have it in departures and arrivals.
ReplyDeleteI admit I have never been to ZAG airport and I really like the building design but I read somewhere there is a parking right across the upper floor of the terminal where people are dropped off. Is this true?
ReplyDeleteIt is not a parking, but more of a drop off zone. You can leave car there, but there's not much space on the upper level.
DeleteI see, thank you for the explanation,
DeleteIt's good that the presidency will come during first half of the year because it encompasses the slower months.
ReplyDeleteAnd Slovenia has the second half of the year?
DeleteNot Slovenia, next half of the year is Germany.
DeleteNo Slovenia gets the presidency in July-December 2021.
DeleteHopefully LJU finishes its new terminal by then :D
DeleteI hope Brussels Airlines uses this as an opportunity to extend BRU-ZAG flights into winter.
ReplyDeleteWould be nice
DeleteSve ovo je trebalo biti pod nekim redovnim, normalnim poboljsanjima....
ReplyDeleteZAG and SOF might be step brothers in the future. Yesterdat, ADP paid the highest price for the SOF airport concession. The Danes came second.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-airport/adp-led-group-offers-highest-concession-fee-in-sofia-airport-tender-idUSKCN1SF1E7
If ADP wins, I am sure that there is a high possibility of connecting ZAG with SOF.
Good luck with the EU presidency!!
Cool. Maybe we finally see ZAG-SOF flights.
Deletegosh, poor SOF! Good luck with ADP :D
DeleteWho on earth would be flying ZAG - SOF? 10 Croatian citizens per year?!
DeleteThe same was said to LJU, and it was the only new destination that was not cancelled. Even A319 is sometimes operated:
Deletehttps://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/jp324#2072d6d5
There is more O&D demand than you can think of.
Maybe they would want to go to the Bulgarian seaside phaphaha. Not.
DeletePuni ste predrasuda, sve sto je Zapad je super a Istok sljam. Nemate ni malo znatizelje, puni ste sebe. Malo vise umiljatosti i zelje za sirenjem svojih horizonta. Trenutno ste zatucani. Wofija moze biti zanimljiva city break destinacija. Ako je Zagreb, zasto ne bi bila Sofija?
DeleteZagreb has Christmas market number 1 in Europe. The traffic would be in the other direction.
DeleteAnon 16:47 Ever been there? Same flair as in Skoplje, do not expect much. The language seems to be also very very similar.
DeleteBut there might be connecting passangers via ZAG.
Most tourists coming to Sofija usually stay for a couple of hours and then head to Plovdiv, which is much more touristic and beautiful and only 1h drive or 6€ by bus.
DeleteAnonymus 18:22, sprdnja oko jezika samo dodatno potvrduje kompleks vise vrijednosti. A ekonomija nam je u banani. Da propadne turizam, bila bi nacionalna tragedija.
DeleteWeekend u Bugarskoj nije za one slabija "kapaciteta"
DeleteGood work. Congratulations Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteSeems that ZAG is on the right track but it should work on reducing seasonality and getting more airlines to fly year round.
ReplyDeleteWill the effect of the presidency really be so big on passenger numbers?
ReplyDeleteNot only politicians will fly on new routes.
DeleteI'm not so sure either. People were saying that when Croatia joined the EU Zagreb would have a boom but growth was pretty stable.
DeleteCroatia entered EU during the financial crisis so it didn't have the same effect on the airport as it did when Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU.
DeleteIt was actually boom growth,... compare all Croatian airport numbers before and after EU join. It is short period of just 6 years.
Deleteno need to argue with ex-yugos. If it is not magalomanic, it is not good. Complete loss of reality. They probably expected 100million pax and salaries of at least 10.000€ which they assume is the reality in western eu countries.
DeleteWe also heard that ZAG will boom with passenger number once Croatia joins NATO. Even Purger wrote about it.
DeleteCongrats
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand why there is no LCC in ZAG! Someone will say they can't pay, or they are competing with Croatia Airlines, but neither is true. LCC have their own market.
ReplyDeleteNothing will change during next first 6 months of 2020. ZAG will have more private/state jets and that's it. Unfortunately, there will no be more airlines which is bad. OU will lease one CRJX just because they need to do regular maintenance on Dash, so actually they will not change some routes from seasonal to year-round. DUB is new year round destination, but that is not connected with EU presidency. Lufthansa and Austrian will send bigger A/C to collect that demand and that's it...such a shame! This was great chance for some airlines to fly year round, for example Brussels Airways, Czech, Swiss...horrible management!
ReplyDelete:(
DeleteUnfortunately I think this is a correct summary of the situation.
DeleteThis is a typical negative ex-yu citizens´ view.
Delete@anon 10:32
DeleteExcellent view. You explained it perfectly.
The airport is already congested at times so any upgrade is more than welcome.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate they are waiting to hit 5 million before they start the expansion project.
DeleteIt get congested only during certain periods of the day. At certain periods you could also find it empty. It depends at what time you are flying out.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how the airport will develop now that TAV is effectively running it.
ReplyDeleteHaving this event will definitely increase ZAG's prestige. Croatia joined the EU 6 years ago and it is now already going to lead it for 6 months.
ReplyDelete15 new top airlines arrived since 2013 and the growth is purely organic and subsididy free.
Two words: Bravo Hrvatska!
No one takes you serious, you do understand that, right?
DeleteNo need to always be negative on the positive things happening in Croatia. You always do this. Change your sunglasses, sinko.
DeleteNo need to be a political bot. You're repeating yourself. Take off you pink glasses, "sinko".
DeleteThe best part
Delete"subsididy free"
LOOOOL
And Anonymous should really get a reality check.
DeleteThe success of Croatia really angers some people...
DeleteSuch a success. You really must have the bar quite low.
DeleteBTW, boy, I'm also from Croatia, but I'm trying to keep some dose of reality in what I say or write.
Friški, da uložiš tolko energije u nešto smisleno, već bi bio bogat...kak ti se da?
Delete:)
Kako znaš da nisam?
DeleteBogat, jel. B)
Bagati
DeleteQatar started flying ZAG-DOH and few other destinations over Syria. No other ME3, EU or US airline is doing it. Is it safe?
ReplyDeleteYes.
Deletethen why are others not doing it???
DeleteOnly Qatar requested to fly over Syria. And Qatar has problem with gulf airpace blocade, so they need the Syrian airpsace more than others
DeleteJesus, you Balkan people, why are you still so bitter and fighting with each other? You're all the same to me. Greetings from the US:)
ReplyDelete