Croatia plans to invest over 132.3 million euros into the development of its airport infrastructure, which will be largely financed through European Union funds allocated to the country in order to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, amounting to over 22 billion euros. “Following the opening of new passenger terminals in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, we will continue investing in the modernisation and expansion of airports in Croatia. In the coming period, we expect a combined investment of over 132.3 million euros into Croatia’s air transport sector. The majority of the funds will be used for the overhaul and expansion of Zadar Airport’s runway and apron, as well as the modernisation of Osijek and Rijeka airports and the expansion of Mali Lošinj Airport”, the Ministry for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure said.
Last year, Zadar Airport unveiled its expansion plans which envisage a new terminal, and the extension of its runway by 700 metres. The terminal would boast nine gates, a baggage sorting facility, two baggage carrousels and the capacity to seat 1.479 people. The project has been valued at seventy million euros. Osijek Airport foresees the reconstruction of its terminal through the reorganisation of its existing facility, improvement of energy efficiency in order to reduce maintenance costs, the segregation of domestic and international passengers, as well as the purchase of de-icing equipment. On the other hand, Rijeka Airport plans to expand the outer surfaces of its terminal building and the technical block.
According to Oxford Economics, airlines, airport operators, airport on-site enterprises (restaurants and retail), aircraft manufacturers, and air navigation service providers employ 10.000 people in Croatia. In addition, by buying goods and services from local suppliers the sector supports another 3.000 jobs. On top of this, the sector is estimated to support a further 3.000 jobs through the wages it pays its employees, some or all of which are subsequently spent on consumer goods and services. Foreign tourists arriving by air to Croatia, who spend their money in the local economy, are estimated to support an additional 19.000 jobs. In total 35.000 jobs are supported by air transport and tourists arriving by air. In total, 2.2% of the country’s GDP was supported by inputs to the air transport sector and foreign tourists arriving by air prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
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| The importance of air transport to Croatia |
Could long haul flights work from Zadar? When they expand the runway and taxiways.
ReplyDeleteUm let us first resume short haul flights first before
DeleteThey will be able to handle these flights, but no one would be interested in flying long-haul to ZAD
DeleteZAD has a possibility to connect to either JFK or EWR quite easily. Americans are getting to know more about Croatia and AA proved this in DBV.
DeleteLol chanses for that are 0
DeleteMali Losinj? Does anyone fly there? Would like to know more about the airport.
ReplyDeleteNo. It's used primarily for general aviation and sports aircraft. Opened in the 80s.
Deletehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj_Airport#/media/File%3ALuftfoto_Losinj_Airport_2014_01.jpg
DeleteIt had 6.495 pax last year though.
DeleteWho were they? Private aviation?
DeleteYes
DeleteI think Silver Air flew from Lugano and poss venice to Losinj. Used to be from Zagreb also. That Let Czech built aircraft. Hotel group on losinj pushing for airport expansion..too close to PUY and RJK though maybe??
DeleteCommercially, Silver Air is serving LSZ from Lugano and used to fly to ZAG and SPU as well. Also, ECA operated to several domestic destinations until they had to stop flying under very weird circumstances. Earlier, I think also OS flew in summer, but can't remember if those were charters only.
DeleteWhat about Brac? Why no funds for them?
ReplyDeleteIsn't BWK privately owned? I''m not 100% sure but I think the owner of the hotel on the island also owns the airport. Correct me if I'm wrong.
DeleteAs far as i know yes, privately owned
DeleteReally impressive figures! This just shows how important air traffic is in Croatia. I love the fact that it provides employment to so many people in need.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity not including BWK even though it's a smaller airport.
ZAD has extremely high potential as well. Good luck, HR!
Yes but at the same we need to look at the ecological cost of it all. How much nature was destroyed by Croatian tourism which is slowly transitioning into a mass tourist destination? If you visit the coast you will see that concrete is eating more and more of natural beauty.
DeleteYeah for sure, with overall 10M pax in all airports across whole Croatia ecological costs are raising rapidly. It's going to destroy all nature and coast. Even in full 3 months per year ...
DeleteNature in Croatia is still doing good.
DeleteWell I support this more than Slovenia’s plans to use EU funds for national airline.
ReplyDeleteCroatian Minister for transport already said they would also use some of the funds to inject money into Croatia Airlines but that they first have to reach an agreement with EU.
DeleteThat money would be much better spent investing into Croatia Airlines, buy some new Aircraft and expansion once the pandemic is over. The Airport's are all fine for the present time
ReplyDeleteLike I wrote above, the Croatian Minister for transport already said they would also use some of the funds to inject money into Croatia Airlines but that they first have to reach an agreement with EU.
DeleteI am so happy for Zadar. The runway has been holding back its traffic development for years.
ReplyDeleteCroatia has been very smart with its airport investments so far. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Airports + roads.
DeleteAnd most importantly, efficient airport management. Look what DBV and SPU achieved. After all, SPU is the busiest airport in ex-Yu in summer.
DeleteBusiest only one month in summer, I think either July or August. BEG is still absolute king in terms of monthly numbers.
DeleteTrue. But SPU receives many widebodies, many flights from all over Europe, etc.
DeleteActuality it depends on the year. SPU was not busiest last year during any month. But I think that does nit matter. I agree it's well managed and the new terminal looks fantastic.
DeleteWhat matters is that SPU is slowly becoming number one in Croatia!
DeleteThe destinations served list is simply astonishing! Polish, Scandinavian, UK coverage as well as U2 and Volotea numerous destinations. When it comes to served destinations it is indeed on the top position.
DeleteSPU recives 0 widebodies but it is no. 1 in the region in terms of legacy carriers, LCC carriers and numbers of scheduled routes.
Delete@anonymous 9:35: you can't compare BEG as actually the only airport in Serbia with airports in Croatia... Especially not with the airports at the coast!
DeleteInvesting in Osijek terminal? I was not aware they had so much traffic and so much growth potential unless they make offers to Ryan or Wizz.
DeleteAlen, yep. BEG is actually the only airport in the country just like BUD is in Hungary. Good point. Thanks.
DeleteAlen and last anonymous not true. There is INI which last year had 422,255 passengers. That's more than Brac, Osijek, Rijeka, Losinj...
DeleteActually the only airport he said. Which is true. From INI you cannot even connect to VIE, FRA, MUC.... only p2p routes.
DeleteSo now an airport is not an airport if it doesen't have flights only to hubs. And it does btw. There are flights to Rome Fiumicino
Delete@16:51, yeah but INI is just like DEB in Hungary. Serbia has only 1 sole proper airport just like Alen said. INI is considered an alternative airport or a possibly SKP substitute somehow.
DeleteNobody said INI is not an airport. We just say BEG is literally te only one in the country because 96 % of traffic is there, and posibilities to buy tickets with connections somewhere else is only possible in BEG. And that is not the case in croatia where ZAG has less then 35% of market share.
DeleteThere is no comparaison, mate. It's like comparing Venus with Mars.
DeleteWhat I like about Croatia is that traffic is very well and equally distributed in the country. ZAG remains the busiest airport but it it supported by its coastal airports.
What we also see here is that ZAD is slowly but surely becoming an important airport in Croatia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Croatia
There are few ex-YU airports enjoying the success of Croatia. 3 major international airports with connections all over the world. Well done and amazing job to all the Croat hard work.
It helps when you have a coastline. The three airports did very well even 40 years ago. Dubrovnik had transatlantic flights.
DeleteSpeaking in general, HR did an amazing job to develop its airports. DBV for instance now has quality tourism from the US and a prestigious image in South Korea. SPU has been the leading airport in the region and following the 2019 upgrade has became more popular than ever for a country with Croatia's dimensions. Simply amazing and well done to all the local authorities for the hard work.
DeleteCoastal and non castal airports can't be compared.
DeleteSo from Croatia only ZAG can be compared to BEG and no other airport...And we know how big difference is between these two airports...
One village of AYT has more passengers than BRU - the capital of Europe. So now you can see how pointless is to compare airports on the coast and those on the continent.
Comparing ZAG with BEG is also pointless.
DeleteExactly - one of those is in an EU country (for example, much less restrictions during the pandemic) and is in a heavy tourist-oriented country. The other is in a landlocked country with not many tourists.
DeleteWhy would you not include coastal airports in any stats just because they rely on (massive) tourism? They also contribute to the local economy and taxes are being charged from every passenger. It's like neglecting the existence of AYT, SPU, HER, BOJ, etc.
Delete@21:43 And btw AYT has a population of nearly 1,3 million meaning that is the size of PRG and a bit smaller than BEG. Definitely not a village if you ask me.
SPU still remains the busiest airport in summer in ex-YU with the largest number of connections.
It actually does not remain the busiest. Lay year it was not busier than Belgrade in any month.
Delete*last
DeleteIt was this year, but people called that mantra. And if you aviation depends on tourism why is that less good? And why are you comparing majority charter airport AYT with Croatian coastal airports?
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteAny idea when the expansion work will begin?
ReplyDeleteMoney will be available from next year and must be withdrawn by 2026.
DeleteThank you. So I assume some of these projects will start soon.
DeleteThe project for ZAD is more or less complete. They just need the money.
DeleteGood. So after ZAG, SPU and DBV we will get a nice modern looking airiport at ZAD too, although the current one isn't too bad either.
ReplyDeleteWith the investment in Rijeka, I really hope they consider increasing PSO funds for this airport.
ReplyDeleteGood news are that Chair is lauching ZRH-SPU flights and Sundair is launching DUS/BER-BWK flights.
ReplyDeleteOcigledno se aerodromska mreza Hrvatske modernizuje.
ReplyDeleteUz pomoc Evropske Unije i koncesije. Dogradnjom aerodroma i putnickih terminala, ta drzava postaje respektabilna u saobracajnom smislu.
Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. ����♥️✈♥️����✈
Bravo Uncle Roki, tako je. HR avijacija postaje respektabilna.
DeleteCan't wait to compare aviation economic impact reports for other countries in the region. We have seen the impact on Slo and Cro so far.
ReplyDeleteThats European Stimulus Money, helicopter money .
ReplyDeleteFor filling the pockets of the corrupt elites, not for the common good .
Before spending fortunes making airports look like 5 star hotels..get some flights first. Example..why expand RJK when there are usually max 7 flights a,day even in high summer season. Fewer with Osijek.
ReplyDeleteAirlines do not choose to fly to an airport because there are two restaurants and three gift shops!