Belgrade Airport adds over half a million passengers
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport handled its six-millionth traveller of the year, marking the first time the airport has achieved such a milestone. The passenger, travelling on an Air Serbia flight to Skopje, received two return business class tickets to New York. The General Manager of operator VINCI Serbia, Francois Berisot, said, “The best result to date, amounting to six million passengers, was achieved primarily due to the launch of ten new routes by Air Serbia, followed by new flights to Paris by Air France and ASL Airlines, Wizz Air’s new service to Lyon and a very successful charter season”. Belgrade Airport’s previous best result was achieved in 2018 when it handled a total of 5.641.105 travellers for the entire year. Therefore, it has already added 538.895 passengers in 2019.
Belgrade Airport has seen its month-on-month growth rate increase during the third quarter and continue to grow into the fourth quarter. In October, it welcomed 562.996 passengers, representing an increase of 13.5%. During the month, it was the 84th busiest airport on the continent, ahead of the likes of Reykjavik-Keflavik, Sochi and Vilnius. It is expected to continue with strong growth in 2020, with Air Serbia set to introduce over a half dozen new routes next summer, while LOT Polish Airlines and Eurowings will introduce services from Budapest and Stuttgart respectively next May. Furthermore, Russia’s Nordwind Airlines plans to commence flights from Moscow to the Serbian capital.
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 347.544 | ▲ 4.1 |
| FEB | 315.717 | ▲ 6.1 |
| MAR | 372.122 | ▲ 1.6 |
| APR | 467.469 | ▲ 4.4 |
| MAY | 507.633 | ▲ 5.9 |
| JUN | 602.466 | ▲ 11.7 |
| JUL | 734.898 | ▲ 9.4 |
| AUG | 757.062 | ▲ 9.8 |
| SEP | 647.005 | ▲ 11.9 |
| OCT | 562.996 | ▲ 13.5 |
VINCI will soon mark a year since it was announced as the winner of the 25-year concession of the airport. Although the operator has not publicly announced which infrastructure projects it is currently undertaking, construction work is visible at two remote areas within the airport complex. In addition, seventy construction site containers, which will house workers and offices for the duration of the expansion project, have been set up. Earlier this month, an environmental impact study was presented to the local municipality concerning the construction of a new natural gas heating plant and waste water treatment plant for the airport which will be built on the site of the current staff car park. The joint venture company between VINCI and Terna is also in the also process of hiring builders, steel workers and carpenters for future construction work.
The project encompasses the expansion of the airport's existing facilities by 42.000 square metres and the refurbishment of the terminals. Furthermore, a new 3.500 metre runway will be built, while the existing 3.400 metre runway will be upgraded. A total of nine new taxiways will be developed, the existing apron will be expanded, and a new 55.000 square metre apron will be built. The deicing platform will be expanded by another 6.200 square metres. Landisde, a new car park, with a capacity for 2.400 vehicles, will be built and new curbside/sidewalk infrastructure and facilities for departures/arrivals handling will be developed. Other projects include road work around the airport, encompassing some 3.500 metres, a new rainwater drainage system, marking and static signage, lighting and CCTV camera systems. Furthermore, construction of auxiliary building facilities and other infrastructure works such as waste water and solid waste treatment plants, a heating plant, a meteorological station and a solar panel plant, amongst others, will be built.
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