Inside Belgrade Airport's multi million euro transformation

The largest development project in Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport’s history, headed by operator VINCI and its partners, is under way with the aim of creating a “future hub in South-eastern Europe”. More than 730 million euros are being invested over the 25-year concession period to raise the airport's quality of service. The majority of the works will be carried out within the next three years, with construction on schedule despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Pier C extension

The first phase of the expansion of the Pier C complex is currently in progress. With development beginning on March 4, its completion is expected in September of next year. The first phase will see the addition of eight gates equipped with airbridges, as well as four bus gates for outbound passengers flying out from remote aircraft stands. The expanded Pier C complex is not completely aligned with the existing C gates, and while it will be unnoticeable to passengers walking the airport’s corridors, the positioning of the new building allows for greater apron space, and in turn, will enable the new gates to handle wide-body aircraft, which is in line with VINCI’s hub strategy for Belgrade. The facility will have an open space configuration for gate areas and circulation areas for departing passengers.

The building will feature a gallery on top floor - a wide corridor which will also be built on the existing terminal buildings in order to segregate arriving and departing passengers. It will be used by arriving travellers. Belgrade Airport’s Chief Technical Officer, Nicolas Brousse, explained to EX-YU Aviation News, “It’s a five-metre wide corridor which will be positioned on top of Pier A, existing Pier C and the new building. This means that upon landing at the airport, you will enter the bridge and go up to this arrival gallery. You will then reach a central transfer zone which is a chimney-like structure with escalators going down to the first level, which will be for transfer passengers (corresponding to departure level), and then you can go down again to the baggage reclaim area and arrival hall”. The segregation of arriving and departing passengers during the first phase of the project will enable Belgrade Airport to centralise its passenger and luggage security. “The actual plan for September next year would be to use centralised security with Pier C only and Pier A some six months afterwards, i.e. end of March 2022”, Mr Brousse noted. The second option would be to open the first phase of the terminal extension (Pier C and Pier A) at once at the end of March 2022 depending on phasing to accommodate airport operations in the coming months.

The second phase of the expansion of Pier C will begin immediately upon the completion of the first phase next year and will feature an additional four airbridge gates. The exterior of the building will be mostly made up of glass to allow for more natural sunlight.

Inserted runway

Since the construction of the main runway, no in-depth reconstruction, apart from regular maintenance, has ever been undertaken. Within VINCI’s modernisation project, plans have been made to renovate the main runway and build new taxiways and manoeuvring areas in order to meet the airport’s projected traffic growth. In order to ensure seamless air traffic until the work on the main runway is completed, the construction of a new, back-up runway, totalling 3.500 metres in length, has begun. Furthermore, it will remain in use as a parallel taxiway besides the existing runway once its overhaul is completed, standing some sixty metres apart. It will also be used as an alternative, should the main one be incapacitated to handle aircraft for whatever reason. The overhaul of the existing main runway will commence upon the completion of the inserted runway.

Preparatory work for the inserted runway is in full swing. Almost 35% has been completed so far, although the most complex portion of the project is yet to be undertaken. “The most difficult part will be the interactions with the existing taxiways. During the lockdown we took the opportunity to do all the drainage under the taxiway Alpha, which is the parallel taxiway. Those pipes are 1.6 metres in dimeter. We used the lockdown for whatever we could in order not to impact operations. All the drainage along commenced portions of the inserted runway has been completed”, Mr Brousse said. The inserted runway is expected to be completed in October or November of 2022 at the latest. It will be linked to the runway through a new system of taxiways, including four rapid exit taxiways (RETs). The RETs allow aircraft to leave the runway at higher speeds. This in turn enables aircraft to vacate the runway quicker, permitting another to land or take off in a shorter interval of time. The Serbian government requested the construction of the inserted runway as part of the terms of the concession.

Inserted runway development - areas in red currently under construction

Terminal overhaul

As part of the initial phases, the terminal buildings will be integrated into one and their capacity increased through the extension and reorganisation of the facility, the extension of the piers and the construction of the abovementioned gallery floor. One of the key changes will be the shifting of the existing drop-off and pick up area and the extension of the check-in hall through the construction of completely new zone. Check-in will be centralised with some 100 check-in desks. Passengers will then proceed to the first floor for centralised security checks, after which they will enter a large duty-free area. “For the existing building we have several small phases because we cannot impact a big part of the facility at the same time. By October, we will start refurbishing two gates by two gates”, Mr Brousse said.

Expanded check-in area marked in red

Currently, work is being carried out on the construction of two bus gates underneath Pier A, with the capacity to handle 130 passengers. The gates will have two direct exits to the apron and will be used to serve aircraft at remote parking stands. These works are expected to be completed soon.

Furthermore, the commercial area inside the terminal is currently being upgraded on a temporary basis. It will offer a greater choice of shops, brands, food and beverage outlets, a 882 square metre shopping area and a new 372 square metre bar-restaurant. This will be greatly expanded in two to three years.

VINCI has set up a new Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) at Belgrade Airport as a focal point for airport operations. It is a control centre where multiple internal organisations work together to develop all aspects of airport operations. The centre processes and monitors data from various sources using multiple methods. It produces information to portray an accurate picture of airport conditions and enables managing parties to take the right decisions quickly. The Airport Operation Control Centre is a focal point for airport operations through normal conditions, irregular operations, and emergency situations. In addition, the centre monitors all airport operations by allocating resources with the airport planning department. It was set up just a few weeks ago and will be expanded as the airport continues to develop.

Apron

The apron E development, located across from the cargo terminal, is the first phase of the apron extension and envisages the construction of nearly 25.000 square metres. Work began on April 14. This extension will allow for the upgrade and optimisation of aircraft handling capacities at remote stands, the handling of three aircraft with a wingspan of up to 36 metres, an internal road, as well as ground handling equipment areas. The apron will have its own lighting system and retention for drainage.

Belgrade will also build an additional de-icing platform located next to the existing one.

Car parks

Belgrade Airport is in the process of building a remote parking facility located east of the existing Cargo Terminal. It will provide operational flexibility during the construction works on airport curbside access roads and terminal parking. With its dimensions of 155x235 metres, the remote car park is sized to meet and to cope with future traffic growth at the airport. The remote car park stretches over 36.400 square metres and provides additional parking capacity for passengers (mid and long-term stay), rent-a-car, valet parking and staff parking. Furthermore, it will accommodate taxi drivers who will then be called up to the terminal building upon the arrival of incoming passengers. The car park has the capacity for some 1.500 vehicles, of which 809 will be reserved for travellers, 330 for staff, 265 for rent-a-car and 109 for taxis. The new remote parking will be equipped with lighting, video surveillance, electric vehicle charging stations, car wash, as well as a modern access control system. Passengers who park their cars here will be transported to the terminal building by the airport shuttle bus which will be circulating between the terminal and car park. The expected completion of the remote car parking facility is end of third quarter of this year.

The existing multi-storey car park will remain as is, with some upgrade works expected, while the open-air car park directly in front of the existing terminal will be downsized to make way for the terminal expansion and be restored on a premium mode basis.

Green infrastructure

Environmental transition has been an important part of VINCI’s strategy in order to reduce, if not neutralise, the impact of its activity on the environment. As a result, work at Belgrade Airport will include a strong focus on reducing the environmental impact in terms of CO2, water and waste. A new power plant for the production and distribution of heat and electricity will be built in order to shift from heavy fuels to more environmentally friendly energy sources and reduce emissions. Plans have also been made for the construction of a solar power plant, near the remote parking area, as well as a solid waste and wastewater treatment plant, with the first to commence in August and the second one slightly later.

Cargo development

The airport has made a plan to further develop cargo traffic at the airport, however the existing infrastructure and cargo terminal are expected to meet VINCI’s needs. “We believe we can cope with the current infrastructure for a certain period of time. With the additional apron, we can serve additional cargo aircraft. We will build some new racks to place containers in order to make more space. Here it is more of an improvement for operations rather than big investment in infrastructure for the time being”, Mr Brousse explained.

Coinciding with the ongoing developments at the airport, the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency is building a new control tower. Other amenities such as hotels and railway links are not part of the concession and have been envisaged by the government as part of its own investment plans for the airport zone in the coming years. “During the concession period, the project aims to boost growth and create additional value for passengers and partners and further drive the economic development of Serbia. This will include an improved passenger experience, commercial offer, infrastructure, capacity and design, making Belgrade the benchmark airport in the region in many aspects and introducing sustainable and environmentally friendly business operations, in line with VINCI’s worldwide practice and Group’s AirPact integrated environmental policy”, the operator said.