NEWS FLASH
Slovenia’s second busiest airport will present its development and expansion plans later next month as it celebrates its sixtieth anniversary. The airport was opened on September 27, 1962, although it wasn’t until 1980 that it was issued a permit for commercial use. The airport's single-largest shareholder, the MK Group, which also runs the nearby Kempinski Hotel, has previously outlined its intention to extend the runway and expand the apron. However, it has been unable to secure necessary permits from authorities. The project is strongly opposed by environmentalists as the airport is surrounded by the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. Due to its displaced threshold, aircraft landing at Porotrož Airport are forced to do so midway down the runway. Despite its small size, the airport boasts a passenger terminal, duty free shop, as well as technical and fuel services. "Portorož has the potential to further develop and increase its number of foreign visitors. That is why we want to develop the airport. We want to promote Portorož as a high-end destination and it is in our interest to boost the number of flights in order for the airport to work at full capacity", the operator previously said.
I think it should be modernized, but there is nowhere to expand. Plus it's less than 300m from the Croatian border.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmental issues and feasibility are two main problems here in my opinion. Expansion, if enough funds and with today modern technologies, shouldn't be the problem. Neither the border, with both countries in EU and HR about to join Schengen. Basel is the best example how a border airport can serve not two but three countries, which would be case here as well, Italy being the third.
DeleteThere is no way they will get permit to extend the runway into the saline part, as that would mean they would destroy quite a large part of it (as it would take a lot of excavation to harden the surface and not only for runway part, but hardened surface would need to be much larger). They can extent the runway towards Mulino casino, but this would enable only landing for larger aircraft only in direction 15. It would not help for landings in direction 33, as there is a steep hillside from that direction. Extendign the runway is btw, total lunacy. Portorož is absolute niche airport and is thriving exactly because of that fact. Owners want to bring bigger airplanes and more of them. Yes, it will help tourism in Piran and Portorož to have bigger planes flying overhead (as extended runway axis goes exactly over or very near both of them). ATR type of aircraft is max for LJPZ. Business jets land there without any problems already. Municipalities should say no to this lunacy and opt for better maritime and shuttle connections with Venice, Trieste, Koper, Rovinj and down to Pula. That would attract more people. There is another set of problems - ATC staff limits, non-precision approach with big obstacles (hill of Sv. Križ and large antenna, hill in extension of runway 15....) and so on and so on. Somebody should explain those idiots who purchased the stake in the airport, that expansion of service doesn't necessarily mean physical expansion, but better service and it usualy attracts more paying guests. I realy hope they fail in their plan to extend the airport, as it would only mean larger asphalt surfaces for what, maybe one or two turboprops in the summer more, and then it is back to beauty sleep during winter. Btw, displaced treshold on runway 33 is due to the hill being in the way....
Deletein reality, if they expand the runway they will need a bigger platform. they already strugel a lot on bussy days where to park the bussines jets so, I think they should first expand that. But I belive they have thisin plan as well
DeleteNotLufthansa, calm down your hormones. If someone is a shareholder, it doesn't mean they run the business, but even if they do run a business and make every single decision, they have right to do so because they paid for it. Calling someone idiot just because you don't agree with him, or maybe because you don't like his nationality (hmmm?!), makes you bigger idiot in fact.
DeleteOnce you come to own any airport, do whatever, but till then show some manners.
Those who purchased the stake in the company which owns LJPZ havent lost anything, the government is paying for all the airport operational costs. I couldnt agree more with notLufthansa. Pure facts.
DeleteJust to correct notLufthansa, business jets can't easiyl fly to POW. Those business jets that are flying currently are only flying private or completely ignore the commercial landing performance restrictions. Most CJs, Challenger 300/350, Challenger 600 family can't land a commercial flight in POW - meaning you can't sell charter flights on those aircraft types to/from POW.
Deletethank you, what I meant is that there is no big operational restriction for business jets, as we have seen in the past...I was not aware of commercial landing performance limitations. Calling shareholder idiots - because they are. They only see expansion through making things bigger, which is not always the correct way to do. If they want more rich people to stay in their Kempinski hotel, maybe they should think of speedboat connection to Venice instead?
DeleteIs the German influence that strong in Slovenia?
DeleteGerman? LJPZ is owned by serbian.
DeleteYes, they want to extend the business. I haven't read that they expect A380 to land there. Maybe they just want to extend it in sence to be able to provide better service and to improve their capacities. But, you already know that they are idiots and that are their business plans, so no need to discuss anything, let you speak alone.
DeleteI think Portoroz and Slovenia should be connected with Ryanair, WizzAir, EasyJet plus return of Adria. Daily flights to Bora Bora, Kathmandu, Rovaniemi, Irkutsk, Rio..plus additional flights two per day to all other EU destinations. Slovenia is such a big country of the tourist map of the world. It is simply unfair current situation*
ReplyDeleteHow boring you are..
DeleteVery funny, you must have such an interesting life.
DeleteI am just saying my opinion as everyone else. What is the problem ? If you dont like the idea of Slovenia conectivty with the rest of the world i cant help you. Maybe you would be happy to close our famous Brnik airport ?
DeleteI dont know for Lathmandu but when I was flying to Bora Bora I had to go bia LJU - FRA - LAX and there was at least 100 Slovenians flying with me, 0 Croatians 0 Serbians ...
DeleteHahaha Fraport fanboy making fun out of people who really want good connectivity. Prestigious sandwiches and yoghurt are waiting from mama Lufti!
Delete@anon 12:23 sad but true. You are right about it …
DeleteThis is simply awesome news for Slovenian aviation and definitely a road for a new era. If LJU cannot then why not give chance to POW. Some capitals are just no capable of generating enough traffic and their secondary cities achieve it such as Toronto or New York or Sao Paolo.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Germans might eye it and then things might not go quite right...
Throw Istanbul in there as well. Great comparison.
DeleteI would leave Toronto out. It's too small and to insignificant. But can't really decide which one of the three is the closest and most similar to Potoroz - New York, Sao Paolo or Istanbul 😃
DeleteThe new ATR 42-600 STOL aircraft would be perfect match for Portoroz, it needs only 800 m runway! Destinations like Belgrade, Bern, Zurich, Munich, Innsbruck would work for sure out of Portoroz at least from May till September.
ReplyDeleteGet serious what kind of high-end destination?
ReplyDelete