Split's new terminal to open on schedule
Split Airport's new passenger terminal is set to open on time in approximately two weeks. The exact date is yet to be determined, as the facility undergoes technical checks prior to being issued an operating permit from the Croatian Ministry for Construction and Spatial Planning. Trial tests of the terminal's infrastructure and equipment has been ongoing for several months. Following the opemimg of the new terminal, the existing passenger building will be overhauled and the two structures will be combined to form a single functioning unit. The airport's General Manager, Lukša Novak, noted, "The terminal will be three times the size. Instead of the current 14.000 square metres it will have 50.000 square metres. This additional space will enable us to handle 2.500 passenger per hour instead of the current 2.000. That totals 40.000 travellers per day".
The new terminal features thirty check-in desks, seven semi-automated security lanes, a panoramic restaurant with views of the tarmac. an automated baggage sorting area, as well as a car park with the capacity to accommodate 900 vehicles and 49 busses. The new 36.000 square metre terminal structure has been made of reinforced concrete, laminated wood, structural steel and canvas. The arrival and departure areas have been separated to enable more operational flexibility and security control. The eastern part of the terminal is a compact glazed cube featuring a flat and partly glazed roof, while the western part has a basement and located next to the existing apron.
Mr Novak noted, "On an annual basis, the extra capacity will enable us to handle an additional one million passengers. Depending on tourism industry trends, this terminal should cater for our needs over the next fifteen years". He added, "We expect new routes to be launched once the new terminal opens. Each year we expand with some five or six new destinations. We are currently linked with around 100 cities or some fifty countries. We expect for this trend to continue in the coming years". Split Airport welcomed 310.809 passengers last month, representing an increase of 2.2% on last year. It marks the airport's 26th consecutive month of growth. Overall, during the January - May period, it handled a record 588.412 travellers, up 7.7%. The airport estimates its annual passenger growth will total between 5% and 10%.
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 36.360 | ▲ 6.9 |
| FEB | 34.825 | ▲ 13.7 |
| MAR | 50.037 | ▼ 5.9 |
| APR | 151.381 | ▲ 25.8 |
| MAY | 310.809 | ▲ 2.2 |
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