Zadar Airport has registered its busiest year on record in 2022 by handling over one million passengers for the first time. The airport now plans to commence its delayed expansion project in order to cater for additional traffic and enable long haul flights. Work on the project, initially planned to commence in 2020, will now begin after the 2023 summer season. “We have been working on the terminal expansion project for some time. The pandemic, which we hope is behind us, has slowed us down somewhat. However, we will pick it up where we left off. The terminal expansion is a comprehensive capital project and will be undertaken in several phases, which will take some time to complete”, the airport’s General Manager, Josip Klišmanić, told the “Zadarski list” daily.
The expansion is valued at 100 million euros and although the first phase of construction will commence next year, the entire project will take ten years to complete. “Most of the funding will come from the airport’s own capital, considering the project’s timeframe and phased approach”, Mr Klišmanić said. The lengthening of the runway and the increase in its weight bearing capacity will be partially funded by the European Union. The General Manger noted the runway project will enable the airport to handle wide-body aircraft. Bureaucratic procedures to commence work on the runway have already begun.
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Hopefully this will really start happening. ZAD airport really needs this. The new terminal looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note that this was designed by the same architect as the new Dubrovnik terminal. He also made a design for Zagreb Airport but it didn't win.
DeleteWow this looks fantastic
ReplyDeleteWhat is the capacity of current ZAD terminal?
ReplyDelete1,0 million, actually termin was designed for about 1 million but can handle aroind 1.7 million without too much hustle, 2.0 millionpossible. Problem is terminal is really small, 4000sqm, so new terminal is needed, Zadar has good probability of handeling about 2.5 million by 2030, if no major emergencies.... But current termianal can't handle more than 2.0 million. Pula Airtport will also undergo expansion and modernization. All of Croatia's main airports will undergo expansion and modernization. You can google for plans for various airports. Zadar one are really cool. BTW Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split airports are only airports that won't undergo expansion or modernization as they are brand new terminals, hopefully that makes sense.
DeleteThe train line to the port is their smartest idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I'm not sure it makes much financial sense. Who is going to use this train line out of off peak summer months?
DeleteRail link is primarily meant as a link to the existing cruiseship port, the aim being of Zadar becoming the cruiseship homeport. The rail would run for the most part on the existing tracks to the intermodal terminal in the port. The envisioned underground train station and tracks at the airport it does seem outlandish.
DeleteWell done. When this gets built, Croatia will have beautiful new terminals in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNice to see that even the medium sized airports in Croatia are showing some muscle
DeleteRealistically how many passengers could Zadar have next year?
ReplyDeleteI think 1.3 million is very doable.
DeleteMost of ZAD's growth is coming from Ryanair.
DeleteZadar is also benefiting from Split's inability to handle more planes in peak summer.
DeleteThe very interesting thing is that even though Zadar had the best recovery rate in Croatia, Split had 2nd best recovery rate in the last few months, better than Zagreb, Dubrovnik even though Split airport and Zadar airport are less than 2 hours by car. It just shows how strong the market is on its own and I’m glad it’s going that way because I was thinking that some people would use ZAD instead of SPU because of their Ryanair flights but turns out both of them are performing well on their own, without sabotaging each other.
DeleteIt';s surprising that ZAG is not number one recovering airport considering Ryanair.
DeleteIt was the best from January to April, then Zadar took over in May, but ZAG lost 2nd place to SPU from August.
DeleteStill many gaps to be filled. Scandinavia, Iberia, Baltic states. Hopefully FR can base another plane next year. Would be good if SK actually introduce CPH.
Delete@""Anonymous09:34
DeleteZadar is also benefiting from Split's inability to handle more planes in peak summer. ""
NO, it is not, Zadar was quite busy before the war in 1990 it handled 367000 passengers when Split handled around 1.1 million. Zadar was popular because it was near major tourist resorts. Zadar itself is very nice city, small city of 80 000 or metro area of 200 000, but very popular tourist destination. Zadar region attracts 2.5 million foreign visitors each year and generates around 16 million nights. Croatia attracts around 17 million foreign visitors and will generate around 110 million nights this year, roughly 15% of Croatia’s tourist arrivals and stays.
What sort of destinations could you fly to/from back in 1990? Was it mostly JAT and Adria charters?
DeleteJAT had scheduled daily DC-9 to ZAG, daily DC-9 to BEG and once weekly B737 to LHR. Also charters to England and France. Adria had charters as well but can't recall the details
DeleteWhat happens to the current terminal?
ReplyDeleteIt says it will be renovated.
DeleteCould long haul flights work from Zadar? When they expand the runway and taxiways.
ReplyDeleteChina? Wasn't there an idea to introduce charters from there a couple of year ago.
DeleteYes even though the runway wasn't suitable. I believe it didn't stop the government appointed ZAD directors having a jolly or two in China though.
DeleteUS 757/767 flights might initially work. Technically speaking, Croatia has the most sophisticated aviation in ex-Yu. Why? Because a small country of 4 million has many airports in ratio and relation to its population, an extensive coastline.
DeleteAnd things will look even better after Schengen.
@12.50 haha yes, I remember that well. They had several trips to China actually and even talks with Hainan Airlines :D
DeleteCongratulations
ReplyDeleteIt's Impressive how much Zadar has grown over the last 10 years.
ReplyDeleteStep by step they are developing in the right direction.
DeleteExtension of the runway and expansion of the apron is really needed.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Well done!
ReplyDeleteNice. Seems very roomy and bright.
ReplyDeleteThe wood paneling on the ceilings seems to be a thing now :D same as at Split's new terminal.
ReplyDeleteLooks good though
DeleteYes I like it.
DeleteGood work
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteToday, I fully agree.
DeletePozdrav, can't believe you aren't taking the opportunity for a dig or two about RJKs lack of development?
ReplyDeleteWith RJK closed half of the winter because of bura crosswinds, with ZAG, TRS, VCE, PUY around the corner, with Aviogenex crash as soon as it opened, with geographical proximity to most of the emitive markets which enable tourists to use ground transportation, and with state as major owner deciding about CEO, I don't need to comment further
DeleteGreat news for beautiful Dalmatia!
ReplyDeleteLong-haul flights to Zadar?!?!? And most funding from the airport's own capital... I do not know which of these two sound better!
ReplyDeleteHow many jet bridges are planned?
ReplyDeleteNone. Believe it or not. Talking of widebodies. In the meantime, one daily flight this winter season. Saturdays none.
DeleteUnfortunately, it can be seen from the renders that the building won't have air bridges. I shame if you ask me. They did the same in Split.
Delete*a shame
DeleteThe claim is the type of aircraft expected at the airport does not require it.
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ReplyDeletedoes anybody know the load factor of the airport?
ReplyDeleteZAD 2024 LF is over 1.5mill.
ReplyDelete