Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has unveiled plans to expand its terminal building, with the project set to be completed in time for the specialised Expo 2027, taking place in the Serbian capital between May and August of that year. The expansion will include the addition of three new gates in the recently extended C pier of the terminal, accompanied by four new aircraft parking positions. The addition of gates C15 - C17 will add a further 18.353 square metres to the C wing for a total size of 45.298 square metres. As part of its ongoing expansion and overhaul so far, the airport has increased its size by an extra 39.300 square metres to 93.651 square metres and added an extra twelve gates for a total of 31, as well as eleven new parking stands for a total of 38.
Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of Belgrade’s operator VINCI Airports, said, "Since the start of the concession, we have been working closely with the Serbian authorities and all our partners to improve Nikola Tesla Airport and to make it a hub in Southeast Europe serving fifteen million passengers by the end of concession period. At the end of 2023, the airport welcomed close to eight million passengers compared to 6.2 million in 2019 and added 46 new destinations and 86 new routes, now with 116 routes in total. There are four and soon to be five long-haul destinations".
The airport is still expanding its existing facilities, with most of the work focused on the addition of 4.000 square metres of commercial space inside the terminal building, which will see the opening of new food and beverage facilities and shops, for a total of 9.000 square metres. Work has also begun on the installation of passport eGates, which are expected to be completed by October. The sixteen eGates are expected to expedite passport control procedures five-fold. As a result, capacity at the airport’s passport control area has temporarily been reduced by some 25% as some of its 29 passport control booths have been shut down to make way for the eGate installation.
Congratulations!!! 🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteWhen can we expect construction to begin?
ReplyDeleteLikely soon if it is to be fully operational by May 2027.
DeleteWe need more of automatic walking elevetors/paths its hard for people to make either connect flights or to go to passport control walking all the way ...extension yes but make it easier on passengers than...otherwise fantadtic work.Belgrade Airport !
DeleteHobestly 3 gates won't be enough.
ReplyDelete*honestly
DeleteIt should be fine, the real problem is if they can add more remote stands and where.
DeleteThe C concourse cannot be extended indefinitely. They should build gates on both sides of the concourse C (mirroring the gates from C7 to new C17). The other solution would be to build a satellite terminal where the current Fire and Rescue building is located, across concourse A.
DeleteSo how many planes may be parked at the same time when this is finished? 41? And how many gates and remote stands?
DeleteIt says 38 in the article and that sounds about right, but I haven't been at the Belgrade airport in quite a while.
DeleteIf I'm not mistaken, I think there are 24 gates with air bridges and 14 remote stands. When they add those additional 3 gates that'll be 41.
I think that should be more than enough for an airport of 10 - 15 million passengers.
It's more important for the terminal itself to function smoothly and has everything it needs, rather than adding even more gates at this point.
Just look at ZAG, which on the other hand definitely needs more gates and better gates. It's bizarre that with a max. capacity of 5 million, it only has 8 narrow gates and 4 additional parking spots. The only reason it functions relatively smoothly, is the fact that planes often park in front of the old terminal, 3 km away. I wonder what the expansion will look like at ZAG.
BEG has had its hiccups over the past couple of years, but it's doing alright over all. In fact, it's doing great. If in 15 years there'll be need for even larger capacity, I think an entirely new terminal will be needed.
Congratulations Serbia!
ReplyDeleteWe hope that the airport will get a spotting terrasse like Geneva, and a spotting zone outside the airport.
Too little too late IMO. At the rate JU is growing, these gates will be needed by next summer. Also, the airport is getting a bit unbalanced with the A-gate area practically unchanged and the C-gate area now stretching for more than a kilometre.
ReplyDeleteIt would be more logical if W6 moved at the end of C gates.
DeleteCome on, do you or does anyone honestly care about balance between A and C gates? The things you can read here...
DeleteIt's not about balance, think about transfer pax running from C17 to C1 and vice versa. Walking to the arrivals area will also take a while.
DeleteVlad the rate JU grew in August was 4.7%
DeleteТhe comment made by Anon 09:16 is very valid. The current walk from the end of the C concourse is rather long already especially for elderly and disabled people, parents with small kids etc. The travelator rarely works 100% (i.e. some sections work some don't), every time I have been at the airport some of it was not functional.
DeleteI don't understand what do you guys think is the solution. Make the airport smaller? If you have ever been to any larger airport you would know that long walks are pretty normal and unfortunately unavoidable. As BEG is growing it will have to take up more and more space which means longer walks, but that's just the way it is.
Delete+1 last anon. It's s part of an airport. Even the best ones like Doha and Singapore have long walks.
Delete@09:53
DeleteDoha and Singapore have long walks because they handle 60 million passengers a year, not 8.5 like BEG.
8.5 million is a still a large number which requires 25-30 gates and therefore long walks.
DeleteThe walk is long yes, when the passenger numbers is 8-9 million but will be more reasonable when it reaches 15 million by the next 10 years. and unfortunately this is the best that the airport can do, its very limited by the location and geography.
DeleteA solution could be using both sides of the corridor rather than 1. This is practically the case in almost all major airports.
DeleteThis solution wouldn't be possible for the entire length, but there should be more than adequate space for A320/737 size aircraft starting from around gate C10. This would give them space for 7-10 new gates rather than the current 3 planned without drastically extending the C wing, along with the possibility for additional remote stand gate space below.
God prleople complaining about the distance . Takes 8-10 min walk from 1 end to the other . Can not believe how dramatic people are on here. Congratulations BEG .. way to go .
DeleteATR flights became unfavorable to me with new expansion and I avoid them - long wait if you have to check in (all pax in the same lane, not fair for 50 ATR pax to wait an hour because some A320 checks in at the same time, and couple of A319). The gates are far away and the bus ride to the aircraft goes around all the airport). Just too much fuss for quick ATR ride.
DeleteIt is 10 minute walk for grown young or mid age adult. For kids and elderly it is far from 10 min walk. For instance, open passport boots at C that is used now for cabin crew exclusivly.
DeleteNotnfor everyone, but those who have flight on C gates its far better than to go all aro8md the airport.
One reason I don't see BEG reopening passport control at the A wing is that it avoids the duty free and retail areas of the terminal. Besides, the new e gates should make that part of the travel experience at BEG easier/quicker.
DeleteAs for check in, JU should consider installing automatic check in and baggage drop off counters, which would reduce the need for ground staff in that part of the terminal.
JU used to have them before the airport reconstruction.
DeleteJU only had check in kiosks but not automated baggage drop off.
DeleteOh yes they did. Several counters were equipped with barcode scanners that you could use. Only issue is it usually didn't work properly.
DeleteI must of never noticed them. Thanks for the pictures and for the correction. Hopefully an improved version returns.
DeleteIt will be good if they plent all the trees as they presented on 3d model above. And put planes on display of course. Somehow, it looks to me, that all green area will become a parking lot.
ReplyDeleteYou can already see now that it is not going to happen because the current parking is where the trees are on the picture. This was the artistic approach, now reality is a bit different with more asphalt and concrete in place.
Delete+1
DeleteWhere will the parking go for this park to be build/planted?
They will build it but currently construction material and camp is in the area where the park is supposed to be. It can be built after they finish this expansion.
Delete@10.08 the parking is visible in the render and it is where the existing parking is.
DeleteThe render is far far nicer than reality sadly..like is so often the way
DeleteHowever, some greenery is needed. What about moving walkaways, they have been announced. And Terminal 1 renovation?
DeleteMoving walkways already exist inside the expanded C pier. As for greenery, they have planted trees outside and there are plants alongside the walkways in front of the new terminal but it takes time to grow and become visible.
DeleteSome greenery and benches would be great for the arrivals area. The current look is bland and unpleasant.
DeleteAs always the renders are B!
DeleteYes the arrivals corridor is stupidly empty. At least put some plants along the way to fill up the space and make it somewhat pleasant.
DeleteBEG needs a new airport as the sretching of the pier makes it more and more inconvenient for transfer passengers. BEG will further grow also in the long haul and it needs an airport with a capacity of 20 mio, which can be expanded later. By the time it will be built, BEG will have 13-14 mio pax.
ReplyDeleteA new airport with two RWYs, a train station, two piers and a large retail zone.
We do not need a new airport. We needed to have build a 2nd runway that would have been able to be used concurrently with the main.
DeleteAnd we need a train connection to the city with a station within the airport.
Also we need to do something about the 3rd world taxi drivers situation...
Expanding the already too-long C-pier doesn’t seem like the correct way to scale..
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteI think it is the cheapest option for Vinci.
Where else can they expand?
DeleteWell, as soon as the approach road is moved (as State is reschuffling roads and junction at BEG) few hundred meters to west there will be more space for further gates (C18-C34)
DeleteC pier should have gates on both sides, just mirror the gates from c7 to c14 and u have nice expansion without adding more lenght to C pier
Deleteexactly, you can add more gates on the other side, exclusively for narrow-body planes... plus it would be an amazing site as you drive towards the airport
DeleteSomething like this
Deletehttps://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ2-33xJfYw/XWW-9cFl_jI/AAAAAAAAt9s/_v1K5LGAfq0p4w4bK4LZjDiyRKmPLUjfQCLcBGAs/s1600/Aerial_View_low.jpg
@ Anonymous 17:01 - exactly. It looks great. I hope they implement it. Another option would be building a satellite terminal across the concourse A and have it for low-cost carriers or connect it via underground tunnel
DeleteProblem with building across the A wing is that there is currently construction happening there (directly across from Jat Tehnika) which doesn't allow much space for anything else. Plus the line up of aircraft in front of the hangar isn't pleasant nor is it an ideal site for a satellite terminal.
DeleteSo is this a new terminal or is it an expansion of the current one?
ReplyDeleteIt says in the article
Delete"The expansion will include the addition of three new gates in the recently extended C pier of the terminal"
Is there any space behind A10 to expand?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. What they can do is expand the A area by knocking down the old control tower but that just adds terminal space, not gates.
DeleteNo, they would have to move cargo facilities and general aviation, but even then it would only be enough for maybe 3 gates because of roads nearby.
DeleteI think they should move the road underground in that part, so that terminal can continue expanding in that direction and one day maybe even connect to the new terminal building
DeleteBranko has the idea.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how railroad project will be implemented first.
Delete@13:01 Exactly.
DeleteThat's Branko BTW
DeleteThey should have built these three additional gates from the very beginning when they expanded C gates.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI really don't understand why they didn't
DeleteAnonymous09:52 It was planned right up until corona hit the world. C15-C17 was cancelled with the intention to be added until 2030, as the project was running out of money. Now they will have some issues if they want to finish it all off in time since the PBB's has a 2 year delivery time...
DeleteGlad they started work on eGates
ReplyDeleteGood news
ReplyDeleteTrue dat. Hopefully the travelator will work and we won;t have to walk all of that.
ReplyDeleteArriving at C17 to get to passport control will probably take around 20 minute walk
ReplyDeleteWell at least this, plus the aviation museum will finally reopen by 2027.
ReplyDeleteReally, whole that story about museum is annoying to me.
DeleteThey closed museum 3-4 years ago and for that time they managed only to repair the stairs??? Why did they close the musem if they repaired stairs located outside?
And now when the stairs are done they close the museum in order to reopen it in 3 years.
Typically for us.
Because it was changing hands as to who operates the museum and who pays for these renovations. They have resolved that now.
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/02/aeronautical-museum-in-belgrade-to-be.html
It is amazing they needed 3 f...ing years to resolve it.
DeleteI hope the changes in museum won't be only cosmetic.
If it were gradsko građevinsko zemljište it would be sorted in 3 days, but for museum it takes 3 years. Priorities...
DeleteIt took 15 years to reopen Narodni muzej closed in 2003. I know we are all aviation enthusiast, but I don't see a big issue for the culture in the country that aviation museum is not working for 3 or 6 years.
DeleteI know there is already a location for a museum, but why not make that old tower into a new aviation museum or at least a section of it, or even a joint private/public operated museum, that would be “ground to sky museum” showcasing interesting things from the ground as you climb, reaching the top floor with the airport/flights observatory deck, with that flight simulator, that I heard about but could never find it when at BEG. They should make a call to foreign private aviation museums to bid for this and assign one do this project. Plenty of amazing and well ran museums of that kind in states alone that would be great at this. Probably should be within the airport secure zone too, so that the transfer and delayed-flights passengers could easily take advantage of this.
DeleteGood idea.
DeleteFlight simulator was in museum, not in airport building.
What about reconstruction of old terminal?
ReplyDeleteThere is not a lot that needs to be done there. Just change the flooring.
DeleteOn the other side of the corridor at C.
DeleteSEAD confrrence showed 34 bridges at the end of concession. 10 more then now
ReplyDeleteAnd where will they be located?
DeleteOn the other side of the corridor at C.
DeleteI think you are confusing it with another plan by another company that was bidding for BEG concession. VINCI has no plans to to build gates on the other side of the corridor.
DeleteNisam pobrkao. Ko je bio na konferenciji video je
DeleteKo god da je bio nek da neki link.
DeleteNice but where is BEG's new CEO? He is nowhere to be seen.
ReplyDeleteWait, probably in school, it started this week...
DeleteDoes anyone know what's this black building next to the control tower, future hotel maybe?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous09:52 It was planned right up until corona hit the world. C15-C17 was cancelled with the intention to be added until 2030, as the project was running out of money. Now they will have some issues if they want to finish it all off in time since the PBB's has a 2 year delivery time...
ReplyDeletePBB?
DeletePBB = Passanger Boarding Bridge.
DeleteThanks.
DeleteLiterally a horrid design sadly.
ReplyDeleteOkay so when this is completed, where is the space to expand? Seems like they are running out of space
ReplyDeleteThey can build proper expansion in the direction of current remote stands and fire department. But that would require money and thinking.
ReplyDeleteThey should expand A Gates and get rid of old cargo terminal
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNot until new one is built and functioning.
DeleteWhy couple years ago they said it would be 4 more gates and now they downgraded to 3 !?
ReplyDeleteNo, it was always 3 gates with 4 parking positions as you can see from the tenders created 5 years ago.
DeleteThe best under the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAre the E-Gates only for Serbian passport holders? Because other nationalities still need to get stamped in/out, right?
ReplyDeleteGreat. Essential to install more automatic walking paths though.
ReplyDeleteThey should make the gate areas more interesting. Displays, kiosks, artworks, statues, food stalls, just a bit more lively
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Seems like someone should've looked at the development plan from the 1980s, and continued that way... what a surprise.. will they realize next year that they also need a second runway? maybe a third terminal dedicated to JU?
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to the park with old airplanes that was shown on the render? Couldn't there be an underground parking lot instead of the current one?
ReplyDeleteGreat news. However, passengers need functioning travelators (moving walkaways) in both directions! More than a couple of those that rarely work.
ReplyDeleteWe already called C14- C Dobanovci, what a now, C - Batajnica???Why don't use outer, inner side if existing C pier?? It,s look like opposite of Amsterdam,
ReplyDelete