Zagreb Airport is planning to expand its facilities as it heads towards a record year in 2024 with well over four million passengers expected to be handled. The airport has inked an agreement with France’s Alstef Group to introduce a new check-in island equipped with fifteen check-in desks for a total of 45. Work is expected to be completed during the first quarter of next year, in time for the 2025 summer season. Furthermore, Alstef will integrate an extra screening line along with a full suite of conveyors to connect the new check-in area with the existing screening and make-up carousel systems. The enhancements also include the construction of a new steel platform to support the expanded infrastructure, alongside upgrades to Alstef’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and System Automation Control systems to guarantee operational stability. This new project builds upon Alstef’s initial installation of the airport’s baggage handling system in 2014. The company is also present regionally, having recently installed Belgrade Airport’s new baggage handling system.
Under the existing concession agreement, the consortium running Zagreb Airport, the Zagreb Airport International Company (ZAIC), is obligated to begin expanding the terminal building no later than the end of March in the year it anticipates handling its five-millionth passenger. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic this was estimated to occur in 2026 and is still on course to transpire following the global health emergency. Based on its initial plans, the expansion would be undertaken in several smaller sub-phases, which would include the extension of the departures area, the addition of new gates and the installation of dual jet bridges. Under its original plans, the expansion would include the construction of a new apron capable of handling wide-body aircraft.
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| Zagreb Airport's pre-pandemic expansion plan from 2026 onwards (phases 2A - 2D) |
The airport may opt for a different expansion strategy, with the bulk of its passenger growth over the past two years coming from low cost carrier Ryanair. Croatia Airlines has suggested the airport’s management is planning to reopen its old terminal building for low cost carriers in order for Ryanair to maintain the discounted fees it enjoys under its existing incentive contract, which runs until mid-2026. These claims have never been confirmed by the airport’s management itself, although the Croatian Ministry for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure has said discussions on the matter have taken place. The state is willing to extend the concession of Zagreb Airport to its operator, the Zagreb Airport International Company (ZAIC), by three years and nine months if the consortium running the airport returns the old terminal into a functioning state. Zagreb Airport’s existing concession runs until 2042.
Finally
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty they should have started expanding the moment they finished the terminal.
ReplyDeleteNot really. If Ryanair and Eurowings move to the old terminal, nothing needs to be done to the new building. And the old terminal can handle plenty of passengers
DeleteThe original project (before they cut costs) had several extra gates which were supposed to be built immediately.
DeleteSta ce im
DeleteIt was originally planed to have 13Bridges
DeletePretty sure they will opt for reopening old terminal and moving all LCCs there. It is much cheaper than expanding existing building. Plus the timeframes fit perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIt also adds loads of capacity because the old terminal can handle millions of passengers
DeleteWhat was the annual capacity of the old terminal?
Delete3 million.
DeleteThe only issue with another terminal is that you would need much more staff then operating everything under one roof
DeleteIt is much cheaper then expanding the new terminal.
DeleteWhat is the point of an investing millions into new building if you are going to use old again. On the flip side, ZAG airport is for profit entity. Not public good, or for good of Zagreb economy!
DeleteWell they would not invest millions in the new building if they open the old one.
DeleteThey'll have to invest (albeit far less money) in the expansion of the new terminal even if they open the old one.
DeleteSure, in that case they won't be building additional 6 or 8 gates with air bridges, but they'll still need to add something like 4 new gates with 2 of them having dual jet bridges, they'll need to expand the departures area...etc.
Opening old terminal will make logistic problems as it is almost 3km distance; shuttle service is needed. Also staffing as already they are understaffed as facing problems like most of the airports, to low salaries and to stretched working hours.
DeleteWill Ryan be willing to move to the old terminal?
ReplyDeleteRyan will flyvfrom a horse stable if it gets money.
DeleteHahaha
DeleteTrue lol
DeleteThat is why consumers love them - low costs means cheap prices. An airport is not a museum to admire, it's a terminal to travel from.
DeleteLast sentence is also a great rebuttal aimed at critics of other large terminals in Ex Yu region.
DeleteI agree. Building an airport with a lot of additional infrastructure is good for major global hubs which rely heavily on transfer traffic, like Doha and Singapore. But it is really unnecessary in ex-Yu.
DeleteWhat year was old terminal built?
ReplyDelete1959
Deletewow
DeleteThe old Terminal would be perfect for Ryanair!
ReplyDeleteYes because it has no jet bridges so everyone can walk into the aircraft and there can even be pre-boarding in front of the planes like at CRL or BGY or VRN.
DeleteWhat does pre-boarding in front of plane mean?
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteZagreb airport is really beautiful and cozy. I like it.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI think it looks nice but I wouldn't say it's "cozy". It has a lot of unused space, like in the check in area where they will build the new check in island and in the arrivals hall. Also it's a bit sterile. Some plants would be nice.
DeleteThat's great news for Franjo Tudman airport!
ReplyDeleteHopefully someone is thinking about to employe enought working staff! It s not only dome by opening up new Check in counters or additional Security Check lines - you need people to work there. And they should be paied fair and enought for the job they are doing!
ReplyDeleteI just get crazy in the last time when entering the Security check area and the queue is nearly down to the escalators! ZAG was nice and cosy and well known for the quick and common go thru….unfortunately no staff available and so ZAG is in line with other airports where you have to be 3 hours before departure there for a flight which lasts one hour!
The check-in desks are staffed just fine, except the Star Alliance counters in the mornings which are too busy. The security staff is a totally different problem and that is a real problem, especially in the mornings.
DeleteIsn't security done by external company?
DeleteAlso I think by law they need to offer a new ground handler
Delete@10.49 yes it is
Delete60 check in desks is pretty good
ReplyDelete+1
Delete*45
DeleteFinally the additional check in island will fill up the check in area hall.
ReplyDeleteWhich airlines would potentially move to old terminal if they reopened? Ryanair, Eurowings and Pegasus?
ReplyDeleteYes those are the only LCCs flying to ZAG.
DeleteIt could attract more LCCs
DeleteNorwegian, an LCC, also flies to Zagreb.
DeleteGreat news
ReplyDeleteSo millions of (LCC) passengers could be welcomed again in an ugly shoe box. Not a nice image for a european capital.
ReplyDeleteIn some major European metropolises, LCC terminals are literal sheds/stables.
DeleteI don't think Ryanair passengers have very high expectations in that regard.
DeleteIf happens, Pleso would be one of the nicest terminals Ryanair uses around the Europe.
DeleteI think the old terminal would be a perfect fir for FR.
DeleteUnfortunate they are waiting to hit 5 million before they start the expansion project.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need for it beforehand.
DeleteThey need to build a hotel!
ReplyDeleteThe state owned company overlooking the concession announced the hotel almost 10 years ago and to this day nothing.
DeleteA rail link to the city would also be nice
DeleteThat has also been announced many times in form of a tram but still nothing.
DeleteThe same issues as in BEG. I guess Serbia and Croatia have some other priorities...
DeleteAt least in BEG they have actually started building the train link.
Delete@ 11.56 Bandic originally announced that construction of the tram to the airport would start in autumn of 2017. We are now in the second last month of 2024 and it is nowhere in sight.
DeleteTram line from the city to the airport would be fantastic.
DeleteIf it ever happens...
DeleteYup, a tram or light rail connection would be awesome, however that is one of those topics that's usually talked about only before the local elections - like now for example, and then it disappears from the public discourse for the next 3 years or so. Same with building the underground and a bunch of other similar stuff.
DeleteMeanwhile, Zagreb traffic is literally inna state of collapse.
It's a disaster.
So if they start phase 2 from the original plan, this will this mean two wide bodies will be able to park at the terminal without obstructing other gates?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteZa admina pitanje. Trenutno ima 30 check in šaltera. Ako se dodaje 15 to je onda sveukupno 45 a ne 60?
ReplyDeleteNakon najavljenog proširenja iduće godine će ih biti 45, ali sa idućim proširenjem (mislim da je to kada bude 5 mil. putnika godišnje) će ih biti ukupno 60.
DeleteSada postoje B i C sekcija, nove će biti A i D, "sa druge strane" ovih postojećih.
Seems that ZAG is on the right track
ReplyDeletePassenger growth wise yes
DeleteIt's realistic ZAG will reach 5 million in 2026.
ReplyDeleteIt is. My guess next year around 4.8-4.9 and then 5+ in 2025.
DeleteYes, that sounds realistic.
DeleteDoes ZAG currently have 8 air bridges?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteDoes Ryanair use airbridges in Zagreb?
DeleteYes they do
DeleteNo, they don't. If the plane is parked at the aibridge, it does not connect to it, but passengers get by the stairs to the tarmac and walk to the plane.
DeleteOh I didn't realize that they don't use the airbridge. I see that they park at the gate so automatically thought they use the airbridge.
DeleteKilavo
ReplyDelete?
DeleteAre there any plans to build a second runway at ZAG?
ReplyDeleteNo. It really does not need a second runway.
DeleteAgree
DeleteCroatian Air Force plans t add 2nd Runway @Zagreb airport, 2.7-3.0 km runway parallel to exist runway is being planned. 3rd Runway is also envisioned long term, air force plans to build new air base, once it moves out from current location at pleso. New base is being planned near Strmec. But these are long term plans. 2nd Runway could be built by 2035, 3rd runway no sooner than 2050. But 3rd runway would be exclusively used by Croatian Air Force. 2nd Runway atm is just a long term plan for needs of the air force, however eventfully it'll be mix use and 3rd runway will be solely air force use.
DeleteInteresting
Delete@16:45 Wait, is the air force really going to move out from their Pleso base??
DeleteThey've just built a ton of new infrastructure there, worth at least €130 million, and they're not even done yet.
They built 8 new parking positions protected by 1.5m of steel reinforced concrete each, right across from the main hangar. They've also built an entirely new hangar, also reinforced. Then there's a new command building, a completely new communication system equipped with data link 16, and an undisclosed number of new bunkers, both on the surface and underground.
Now they plan to just move out? Haha! You know what? If we weren't talking about Croatia, I literally wouldn't believe you...but knowing the reality and levels of corruption of this country, oh yes - this makes perfect sense here.
After all, why not build an entirely new infrastructure for the new fighter jets....twice?
I don't get phase 2A from the image. They will build a new gate but access to the gate is going to built in a later phase??
ReplyDeleteIf you look carefully you will see that a corridor will be built to the gate in phase 2A.
DeleteYou are right, thanks
Deletethey really do need that extra gate ASAP.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is that of a pressing issue
DeleteSo what are the increases we can expect in ZAG next summer other than new Ryanair route to Palermo?
ReplyDeleteCroatia Airlines will be launching some new routes
DeleteAlso TK will be flying 3 daily every day
DeleteStill no news what is happening with T'Way though
DeleteGood work Zagreb!
ReplyDeleteHaven't been at Zagreb Airport in year. Are the care rental counters still in the sheds nearby or have they been moved?
ReplyDeleteSheds
DeleteThey are not particularly efficient or welcoming for arriving passengers. Hope they include conduit for electric vehicle charging stations and other infrastructure necessary to support "mobility as a service" concepts.
DeleteI am in ZAG on a monthly basis and I really enjoy the terminal. JU flights are kind of outside the rush hour which adds to the experience.
ReplyDeleteEven though BEG is much larger and has many more pax around, ZAG has a feel of a bigger airport due to large open spaces. In addition I still cannot get around the way where pax are bussed in from the remote stands - did they not think that there would be remote stands in use at all? Because those stairs at A3 sure look like someone forgot to build a proper entry.
I like the terminal. I just wish you could see properly out of the windows onto the tarmac.
DeleteI also don't have complaints regarding the terminal itself. They could add some greenery as originally planned.
DeleteWhat is the current capacity of ZAG terminal?
ReplyDelete5 million.
DeleteWhich airport is bigger by Sq m combined of all used terminals, Zagreb airport or Belgrade airport?
ReplyDeleteWell that's great but this airport needs more connections!
ReplyDelete