Belgrade Airport starts modernisation project

Belgrade is expected to handle over six million passengers this year as operator VINCI marks the formal start of Nikola Tesla Airport’s multi million euro expansions. During the first five months of the year, it welcomed 2.010.515 travellers through its doors, increasing to 2.611.000 by the end of June. The figure represents growth of 5.9%. Commenting on the results, the French operator said, “In Serbia, work done by VINCI Airports with airlines since its arrival at the end of 2018 led to the return of Air France, which reopened its Paris - Belgrade service after a six-year absence. In addition, Wizz Air opened a new link between the Serbian capital and Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport, which is also operated by VINCI Airports. These two route openings helped boost the number of international visitors to Serbia.”.

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This year, capacity at Belgrade Airport is up by an average of 32.3% per carrier compared with 2018. Aeroflot and easyJet have increased the number of departing seats by 33.2% and 70.9% respectively. On the other hand, despite introducing nine new routes from its main base, Air Serbia has increased its capacity this year by just 4%, while overall five-year average annual capacity growth is relatively flat at 0.9%. Aeroflot, easyJet, Lufthansa, Swiss, Qatar Airways and Wizz Air have all seen their average growth figures at the airport exceed 5% over the past five years. Belgrade’s current busiest route is to Zurich with just under 250.000 overall seats and 45 weekly flights, while Tivat sees the most weekly frequencies at 53.

Plaque marking the start of Belgrade Airport's expansion and modernisation

On Monday, French President, Emmanuel Macron, his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić, as well as the Chairman and CEO of the VINCI Group, Xavier Huillard, and the CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports, Nicolas Notebaert, met in Belgrade where they formally marked the start of the airport’s expansion and modernisation. A new Joint Venture company has been formed between Vinci Construction Grands Projects and Greece’s GEK Terna Group, which will run the project. It includes the expansion of the airport's facilities by 42.000 square metres, while the existing terminals will be refurbished. Furthermore, a new 3.500 metre runway will be built, while the existing 3.400 metre runway will be upgraded. A total of nine new taxiways will be developed, the existing apron will be expanded, and a new 55.000 square metre apron will be built. The deicing platform will be expanded by another 6.200 square metres. Landisde, a new car park, with a capacity for 2.400 vehicles, will be built and new curbside/sidewalk infrastructure and facilities for departures/arrivals handling will be developed. Other projects include road work around the airport, encompassing some 3.500 metres, a new rainwater drainage system, marking and static signage, lighting and CCTV camera systems. Furthermore, construction of auxiliary building facilities and other infrastructure works such as waste water and solid waste treatment plants, a heating plant, a meteorological station and a solar panel plant, amongst others, will be built. The entire project must be completed within five years. In a statement Serbia's Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, said, "The strategic partnership of the government of Serbia with VINCI, as well as the partnerships with Etihad and the MTU Company are crucial for the future development of aviation in Serbia".

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