Two month deadline to keep Maribor Airport open
The Slovenian government has exactly two months to find a new operator for Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, otherwise it could be forced to close its doors. The airport's current operator, China's SHS Aviation, will terminate its concession on July 15, after cutting short its fifteen-year management and development contract. Despite not delivering on most of what it promised, including transforming Maribor Airport into a hub for Chinese tourists, SHS expressed its dismay with delays by the central government in adopting a zoning plan, which would have allowed it to commune a 660 million euro redevelopment project. The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has conceded it is yet to adopt the new zoning plan which would allow for the extension of the airport's runway.
Stakeholders in various companies utilising Maribor Airport's services called on the government yesterday to prevent its closure. They include the Mayor of the Municipality of Hoče-Slivnica, the head of the Medical Helicopter Emergency Services, the Transport Manager at Maribor Airport and officials from the ACC Air School. "We believe our airport is important. We are concerned because the Ministry for Infrastructure is yet to communicate its plans", Maribor Airport's Traffic Manager, Tone Bračko, said. Štefan Mally, the head of the Medical Helicopter Emergency Services, noted, "If the airport closes, we must quickly search for a new base in order to continue providing emergency helicopter medical assistance. In 2018 we had 280 helicopter movements, and I believe they have saved many lives".
Maribor Airport is Slovenia's only state-owned commercial airport. "The Ministry is working on finding the right solution to ensure the smooth functioning of Edvard Rusjan Airport in the future", the Ministry for Infrastructure said. However, it is believed the ministry is still undecided whether to offer the airport up for a new concession or sell it. It has been deemed as too expensive for the airport to be state-run. Discussions have taken place with Turkish investors, however, no firm agreements have been made. SHS Aviation purchased the "Aerodrom Maribor" operator for seven million euros in December 2016 and won a concession to run the airport for a period of fifteen years.
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