Serbia plans to build a new international airport for the city of Belgrade to overcome future expansion constraints at the existing site. According to the “eKapija” portal, the Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has unveiled the country’s new spatial plan up until 2035, which foresees the construction of the new hub ten kilometres west from the existing Nikola Tesla Airport and 24 kilometres from the city centre near the suburban neighbourhood of Dobanovci. It is located within the same municipality as the existing airport and will be located near the European route E70 highway. The current commercial airport serving Belgrade was opened in 1962, replacing the old one some eight kilometres away.
Under the proposed spatial plan, the airport complex will take up some 1.100 hectares and feature three runways, two terminal buildings, two cargo terminals and a logistics and free customs zone. The new facility, a 4F class airport, will have the ability to handle the largest passenger and cargo aircraft currently in operation. The Ministry noted that the city’s main airport will need to be relocated as it lacks the physical space for long-term expansion. The plan is up for public consultation as of today. The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia from 2021 until 2035 will then be debated in parliament prior to its adoption.
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is currently managed and operated by France’s VINCI Airports under a 25-year concession agreement, until 2043. Through a 730 million euro investment plan, the contract includes the financing, operation, maintenance, extension and renovation of the terminal and the existing airport runway. The majority of the infrastructure development will be completed over the next three years. The airport will also be equipped with solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint and a water treatment plant. VINCI’s goal is to grow passenger numbers to fifteen million per year by the end of the concession.
LOL! What an absolute waste of recourses!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. Long-long term, they can build a new runway with independent ops from the existing one Southwest of the current airport facilities. There is enough space also north and west for the development in the next 50 to 100 years.
DeleteIs this news an April fools joke??
No, it isn`t. The Spatial plan has been published on the Ministry`s website as of this morning.
DeleteThere is absolutely nothing around the airport- so much space to expand! So just politics.
Delete^ Are you for real? Have you ever been at the airport or at least in Belgrade?
DeleteThe money needed for more important projects and for a new airport. Expansion is possible on this site, field can be bought from behi d the airport. So land is available. Anyway the contract with the French company will not finish before 2043, untill then there will maybe 6 other governments... And all plans will be changed and maybe all the land scape reshaped again...
DeleteNo, spatial plans don't end when governments change. Educate yourself.
DeleteWell in this case the inserted runway would make sense at BEG, seems like a temporary fix
ReplyDeleteTemporary fix for?
DeleteTo buy a certain piece of land. That’s why.
Deletewow
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff. First you sell (lease) your airport to someone for them to invest hundreds of millions of EUR and then once you've rid yourself of investing taxpayer money into a project, you plan a significantly bigger project on behalf of the taxpayer.
ReplyDeleteUsually for such projects you give a concession in advance
DeleteSo when the Vinci consession ends the Goverment will abandon the exapnded and upgraded BEG that it could operate and profit from in order to to start from scratch on a new airport!
DeleteSMFH!
Or Vinci will be operating the new airport as well.
DeleteAnonymous 09:40
DeleteSo that Vinci could continue to profit from it instead of the state.
Wonderful news for Vinci!
Well I don't understand what you want. You are happy that Vinci took over the airport, but you would be unhappy if Vinci continued running the airport?
DeleteTry not to play dumb. The state will own fully an upgraded BEG, with two runways and fully modernized facilities. And instead of profiting from it you are suggesting to close it down! So that it can start from scratch with Vinci or someone else!
DeleteIt is truly fantastic news for the private operator and terrible news for us!
Are you implying the state is not profiting from Vinci? They did not sell the airport, the state still owns it . Vinci merely runs the airport as managers and if they do it right the state profits the most.
DeleteI think you are being overly dramatic.
I think you are way too quick to praise everything the Government does.
DeleteAfter the concession ends we will have a large modern and upgraded airport full owned?
Why give it up to start again with another concessionaire?
Just so that they pay us a whole lot more because of the expenses to create a completely new airport?
*correction, a whole lot LESS!
DeleteI am not praising the government, I am soberly evaluating the information that is being presented to us. According to some, this new airport should be ready by 2035 which is 15 years from today. That means that the terminal expansion that is being completed now would be in use for at least a decade and a half when the new airport opens. That's far from being brand new. I just don't want Belgrade to share the fate of LIN, WAW, LCY and many other European airports.
DeleteWhat are you proposing? To sit quietly while Belgrade expands all around the airport making it impossible to expand even a little bit?
Nemjee's comments are usually rational. Not today.
DeleteDetailed regulation plan for current BEG airport guarantee sufficient space for another runway and terminal in the space visible in today's photo. Please review the plan before making unqualified comments about the lack of space on that side. As for noise complains, they will be thrown out for all houses built in that area after 1962 as that space was dedicated to runway expansion since 1962.
That plan allows for new terminal and new runway similar to D3 and D4 in this old plan:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZcI32x6WL8/VS_KfJnTRfI/AAAAAAAAQ3w/Kdj-Du8_G6A/s1600/airport2030.png
If current VINCI expansion takes BEG capacity to 15M, this expansion post 2043 would add at least 20-25M. That would give BEG at least 40M passengers per year. With permanent reduction in business travel, expanded road and rail connectivity in the region and climate change regulations BEG will NOT need more than 40M pax per year capacity in this century. Try to bet this Nemjee.
Beat, not bet :D
DeleteState has obligation to reserve certain part of the territory for positive economic scenarios. In this case this piece of land will not become urban or industrial due to the fact that it will be predestined for future airport. This is responsible acting. If economic parameters are not as good as we hope, land stays reserved for airport. Pure logic.
DeleteRunway can't be built to the west because of houses which would be too close to the landing path.
DeleteAnon 16:16 - There is a lot more to that calculation than what you mentioned. You are forgetting global population growth, possible increase in standard of life (meaning that we still have a vast majority of people who never flew or did it maybe once or twice in this region), possible shifts in both business and tourism trends, then also in general there are more people in the world who do not fly currently than those who do ( this will surely change in the future and a certain percentage of these people will visit this region) and much more.
DeleteGenerally, I don't see the point but it is true that the current airport is limited with its expansion possibilities because the highway on one side and all the (illegal) housing built around it decades ago.
ReplyDeleteActually BEG has two highways limiting its expansion. A1 to the west and then E70 to the north.
DeleteBut on the photos (in this article) I see a lot of space behind the general aviation platform and museum
DeleteIt depends who owns the land we see in the picture. It could be private property not to mention that it would require it to be sold and then the land to be converted from agricultural to industrial property. Furthermore, the houses you see in the back are legally built (unlike many in Ledine). If you build a new runway or remote stands you risk people complaining about noises.
DeleteAre you serious? Like agricultural land would be an obstacle!
DeleteAnd like a road or highway cannot be relocated or a tunnel build under a new runway for example. Happened thousands of time already for so many airports around the whole world. There is so much empty space almost to all sides of current BEG airport.
Wait... are you seriously implying the government shut down an important part of the highway and Belgrade ring so that the airport can be expanded? That means this section of the highway would be closed for at least two years until a tunnel is built. That would cause chaos and would force all those who are transiting to take the road through the city via Gazela.
DeleteFYI there isn't enough land to the west of the airport. At least not enough to build a runway because on one side you have houses and on the other the highway. Like I wrote in my previous post, it would be interesting to know who actually owns the land and how much it would cost to purchase it. That area is quite pricey, among the most expensive in the whole country.
Personally, I have nothing against this project if it means that BEG can expand in the future without any restrictions. After all, look at how many airports today are struggling because of bad planning.
Why would they shut down a part of the highway? They can just put it underground for a few hundred meters.
DeleteBecause there is no room around, that section of the highway is surrounded by warehouses especially to the west.
DeleteOh gosh, of course you first build a tunnel, and when it's done, then close the current road so traffic won't be affected at all.
DeleteAnd there's more than enough space for a 3.5km runway parallel to the West bit more moved/located to the North.
Noise pollution is imminent wherever you build a new airport or a new runway. It's not like BEG is located in the center of the city!
No!! There is no room because of the houses and the road. I guess you know better than airport management LOL
DeleteWhat a joke
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhat I find interesting is that this is very similar to what the Cambodian government is doing where VINCI also runs all the airports.
ReplyDeleteI also don't think the government came up with this idea itself.
DeleteYou think it's Vinci's idea?
DeleteWishes are one thing reality is another. Who knows if this will ever get off the ground.
ReplyDeleteIt's a spatial plan so it's not something you make a list of wishes for. It means that the site has been selected for a future airport. Weather it will be built by 2035 is another thing.
DeleteWould such a large airport really be required?
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteSurely not
DeleteThe location is good
ReplyDeleteIs there any railway link to the city centre?
DeleteThe bigger the project the more money can be swindled. Absolutely unnecessary. You have 2 airports Nikola Tesla and Batajnica, and you need a third one. Even in the US, the airports are dual use military/civil.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteWe started in Tosin Bunar and then we moved to Surcin and now we are moving to Dobanovci. By 2100 BEG will be in the suburbs of Sremska Mitrovica.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, if they are going to place it by E70 (Belgrade-Zagreb highway) then I guess it will be located between Dobanovci, Grmovac and Simanovci.
I have a feeling BEG's location is too good not to be used for the construction of a new residential area. After all, Stara Pazova has already become a suburb of Belgrade and if you take the highway its exit is before the paytoll.
Now we know why they didn't extend the railway line to BEG and why they didn't rush to build the metro to the airport or a new terminal building.
Why is then Vinci investing in current airport?
DeleteBecause the proposed airport will be built in 15 years.
DeleteSo you will use a brand new large terminal for only 12 years?
DeleteIt's not a new terminal, it's the expansion of existing facilities. They are adding 4 airbridges right now.
DeleteWell this was unexpected
ReplyDeleteWhat would happen with the current airport?
ReplyDeleteProbably the same as the old ATH airport. Its land will be sold bit by bit to the highest bidder.
DeleteWell Ataturk Airport is still used right? For cargo and private flights.
DeleteOld IST is currently used as a covid hospital if I remember correctly. Some parts of it were already sold to developers.
DeleteTwo runways have been destroyed to build the covid building at old IST, currently one runway is operational and it is still used for goverment and cargo flights.
DeleteIt looks like the goverment and Vinci had this deal before, that’s why Vinci paid a big amount of cash instead of a brand new building. Government will build the new building at the new area, hence be able to grant construction deal separately (and fill their pockets), then deliver the concession of the new airport to Vinci for the rest of its concession period, until 2043 and shut down the old one.
This makes no sense at all, and in addition under same 2035 agenda they planned new commercial airport 10Km SE of Novi Sad, meaning there would be 3 commercial airports in 50-60km diameter. Whole plan looks like a joke. It is just a propaganda, though a very bad one.
ReplyDeleteI would say that they (government) either:
ReplyDeletea) have some conning plan to attract 70 million passengers in next 20 years
b) or they have conning plan to stay in power for next 50 years. In this case they show the lack of imagination/ambition. Why not building three airports with three runways each around Čačak? Or Cosmodrome near Buđanovci? That could attract all those millions of space travelers....
Pranjani was opened last year (Čačak)
DeleteIs this really necessary? I feel like another Skadar na Bojani is coming for Serbia.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is unnecessary.
DeleteAt least we have some draft of where the airport might develop in the future. I doubt this will get built, especially in the timeframe given but it gives some guidance into where infrastructure will be developed in the future.
ReplyDeleteOne could suspect it would expand in that direction. Would make little sense to make an airport in Borca-Ovca
DeleteWaste of money in my oppinion.
ReplyDeleteLet's first get close in reaching capacity of the existing airport and that start thinking about anything else.
ReplyDelete+1000.
DeleteI'm not saying this will happen but I remember most people laughing and mocking that BEG will ever be given up for concession, especially for the money it was given for. So, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteSre anything is possible, it wouldn’t be first ghost airport in the World
DeleteYou are right. I mean Belgrade today is a ghost airport too right so this would be as well...
DeleteUnder same agenda they plan another airport 10km SE of Novi Sad, so there will be 3 airports within 50km, so yes, 2 put of these 3 will be ghost airports
DeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteLove the photo
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to dream
ReplyDeleteWhat possessed them to make such a plan?
ReplyDeleteThe ministry's first of April joke :P
DeleteIt literally says in the first sentence why
Delete"Serbia plans to build a new international airport for the city of Belgrade to overcome future expansion constraints at the existing site. "
But there are no constraints at the existing site.
DeleteI'm using if the government says there are, it knows a bit better then you do.
DeleteShow us evidence there are constraints.
DeleteThe government says so in the proposed spatial plan.
DeleteGovernment SAYS so in the plan but it doesn't provide any supporting EVIDENCE. Once again, show us the evidence. No evidence = no constraints.
DeleteIt's there man, look again.
DeleteRidiculous...
ReplyDeleteWaste of tax payers already thinly stretched money... Nothing new here... At least the pensioners will get their 60eur and a does of vitamins:)
Convert Batajnica to low cost /military airport and leave Nikola Tesla to mainline airlines.
Batajnica is surrounded by houses and warehouses. It's located between Batajnica, Nova Pazova and Novi Banovci. Not to mention that to the north there is the A1 highway. I think they want to build it between Simanovci and Dobanovci since that area is pretty empty and they could limit the expansion of the city through this plan.
DeleteNemjee,
DeleteI'm not following you. Maybe you misunderstood me.. Batajnica airport could be used to offset some traffic from LYBE... Maybe cargo or some low cost flights. Builiding a giant airport in the middle of pandemic while you have more then adequate space in BEG is insane and will be nothing more then money washing excersice. Just like that stupid stadium.. Half of Serbia doesn't have sewage infrastructure and many places don't have water or proper electricity. Villages need basic infrastructure like proper schools and health clinics, access to basic commodities.. Not some freaking mega airport. We don't have an airlije the side of Turkish or LH
But a small and humble under airline. They could use the money to improve Kraljevo, Niš and Užice airports and offload even more traffic. Attract low cost airlines to these airports.. And grow local economy. But who am I kidding...
BEG already had issues with capacity in 2019. New expansion will be enough for 3-5 years if that much. BEG needs a brand new airport and modern facilities.
DeleteAs for sewage that's irrelevant for this discussion.
An insiders information exclusively for you guys, and for these ”waste of taxpayers money” on duty team, the land is already in process of conversion and the airport will be built much earlier than 2035, most likely under Vinci’s management. The terminal building will be a state of the art and the new landmark of Serbia.
ReplyDeleteThe great deal with Vinci is just paying off in the best possible way in front of our eyes.
If it wasnt for pandemic, BEG would reach 10 mil passengers in the next 5 years.
There is some good days ahead for Serbian aviation...Well done GoS.🇷🇸
Party 10:29, I do agree with yours story above.
DeleteConcession is the way in airports dewelopment.
Many in Serbia is not happy. Most taxes paying
People is more than happy. Me too.
So whats the point in investing in the current airport, only to 5-10 years later build at another location?
DeleteThis current location could serve well for at least another couple of decades, while in the mean time more important infrastructure is screaming for investment ie roads, railways, hospitals, schools, sewage, water, bridges, public transportation...
"If it wasnt for pandemic, BEG would reach 10 mil passengers in the next 5 years."
DeleteBut there is pandemic. It will take much longer.
@JATBEGMEL
DeleteIts not us who invest in BEG airport, its Vinci.
There is a predicted demand and plans for making Belgrade a hub of Southeast Europe and the current size of BEG doesnt cover the predicted expansion both in cargo and civil aviation.
Building of a new airport is an excellent long term plan that will secure the planned expansion and countys developement.
Parti, there is also reality that takes precedence over predicted demand. Show me at least passenger growth predictions that would not be met in the next 30 years if BEG adds a remote runway and another passenger terminal in the blue area:
Deletehttps://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lA8e2n3dipo/XiIXn_FH24I/AAAAAAAAwWU/VaJ0tf9d9kgHJpnQu8QaFLcK08U_vn4NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Aerodrom-Nikola-Tesla-PDR%2Bnamena01.jpg
Nice challenge for you, government, CIP and VINCI to show passenger predictions for the next 30 years that would not be met with this. Man up and bring it on.
Парти the party bot strikes again.
DeleteNo need for a new airport when this one won't reach capacity with new runways and expansions for another 50 years.
Delayed April joke?
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteThis is by far the dumbest infrastructure announcement I have seen in Serbia so far.
ReplyDeleteWhich leads me to fear that it's a very realistic scenario that will very likely come to life.
If all of those houses were built illegally why can't they just be bulldozed?
ReplyDeleteAirport close to NS is really stupid but new BEG is not such a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteif we want BEG to keep growing and to keep its position as they only serious hub in ex-Yu we need to think also about the future. Istanbul got new much bigger airport, Warsaw will have it as well...
People, stop asking if this is necessary. Of course it isn't, but our government has proven that they are very good at pushing through with unnecessary mega projects. So there's no doubt this will be built. They've already developed this model of giving vast areas of land away to foreigners, packaged with hefty sums of money from the Serbian budget, to build stuff. Of course, the environmental consequences are also dire. In all these projects they destroy more nature and create more pollution in a country that's already suffocating in smog. But it's not like they face any opposition (political or popular), so at least we'll have some more content to read and comment on here for the decades to come :)
ReplyDelete^ I Like that .
ReplyDeleteand what, BEG will be converted to spaceport? This Spain-like maddness is just continuing...(Spain built a lot of now empty and never operational airports in the south), Kraljevo II in a nutshell...
ReplyDeleteKraljevo had flights before the pandemic. Its operations are limited because of the runway that can only handle props. Once the new runway is built as planned, there will be more potential for flights.
DeleteNonsense, total nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
Delete+1
DeleteGo Go Serbia !!!
ReplyDelete