Ljubljana Airport readies for terminal opening

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport will open its brand new terminal in just four months, bringing with it significant operational improvements and an elevated customer experience. The terminal’s security system, lighting and computer equipment is now being installed, while the baggage handling system, scanners and escalators have already been put in place in order for Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercises to begin. The 10.000 square metre facility will feature fourteen check-in desks, in addition to the eight at the existing terminal, as well as a special counter for bulky baggage, up to five security lanes, two baggage carousels with enough space for a third should it be required in the future, a new luggage sorting facility, large duty free shop, as well as a new premium lounge. Four new restaurants will be opened and two stores selling Slovenian products.

Proposed interior design for new terminal 

The terminal’s minimalist design will be a spacious fusion of concrete, metal, wood and glass. It will feature oak wood panelling, while the check-in desks will be made out of anthracite material. Part of the floor at the entrance will be covered by an art installation presenting Slovenian rivers and landscapes. Pebbles from Slovenian rivers will be used in the walls to partition certain area, while a park is also planned in front of the terminal. The glass building will have a lot of natural light with views of nearby mountains. The 21-million-euro facility will be connected to the existing 13.000 square metre terminal to form a single functioning unit and is expected to satisfy Ljubljana Airport’s needs for the next three decades.

Proposed design for new premium lounge

Despite the difficult situation the aviation industry is currently in and there being no need for additional capacity, airport operator Fraport Slovenija has said the new terminal is a long-term investment. “We currently don’t need it, but we started building the terminal in 2019. It is important to note that it will suit our needs for the next thirty years. It is a strategic investment”, the operator previously said. The new terminal will enable the airport to handle 1.250 passengers per hour, up from the current 500. "Although passenger traffic is recovering much slower than initially expected, due to the unstable epidemiological situation not only in Slovenia but across the world, the number of flights from Ljubljana Airport is steadily increasing", Fraport said.