Zagreb Airport is considering reopening its old passenger terminal, which has been closed for passenger use since March 28, 2017, with a decision on the matter due to be made by the end of the year. 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 ninety days after the end of the year in which passenger numbers first reach five million. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic this was estimated to occur in 2026 and is still on course to transpire following the global health emergency. However, expansion of the existing terminal has been estimated at seventy million euros, making the reopening of the old terminal a more affordable and faster solution.
Stakeholders are discussing the possibility of moving low cost carriers to the old terminal. Ryanair, which has been the airport’s main driver of passenger growth over the past few years, has shown interest in the facility, although the airline has reportedly sought exclusive usage rights. “We have begun certain preparatory design activities related to expanding capacity in order to ensure the infrastructure needed to support future growth”, the airport told the “Jutarnji list” daily. It added, “The old passenger terminal forms part of the airport infrastructure within the concession area. A section of the facility is currently used for general aviation purposes, while another houses administrative offices. In line with development plans, possibilities for additional utilisation are being considered. At this time, no concrete decisions regarding new usage models have been made”.
The Croatian Ministry for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure has previously said discussions on the reopening of the old terminal have taken place. The state is reportedly willing to extend the concession of Zagreb Airport to its operator by three years and nine months if the consortium running the airport returns the old terminal to a functioning state. Zagreb Airport’s existing concession runs until 2042.
According to the 2013 concession agreement, the next stage of airport expansion (Phase 2) is divided into three sub-phases: 2A, 2B and 2C, with each triggered by achieving certain passenger milestones. If Zagreb Airport handles five million passengers this year, construction of Phase 2A must begin no later than March 30, 2027. Subsequent phases are triggered at 6.1 million and 7.3 million passengers respectively. The bulk of Phase 2A must be completed within 365 days, or 540 days if all three sub-phases are combined. If the concessionaire fails to complete any Phase 2 work within the contractual deadlines, penalties amount to 15.000 euros for each day of delay.
 |
| Zagreb Airport Phase 2 expansion plan |
It would be kind of symbolic if they reopened the terminal in March 2027, exactly 10 yrs after it was closed.
ReplyDeleteMakes sanse for FR. Doesn't make sense for anyone else. What FR wil guarantee is the lowest fees, exclusivity of the terminal and faster turnaround times for... Well free
ReplyDeleteWhy would it not make sense for anyone else? Lower operating costs means lower prices for passengers and higher profits for airlines. New airlines would come, old ones would stay, the ones who left would return. Zagreb Airport's fees are too high.
DeleteMaybe someone will transfer from a flight to an LCC flight.
DeleteThe fact that during the concession tender they presented that phase 2 would be done straight away, then cut down on the original project after they won and now 10 years later they again want to avoid expansion...
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt's good business. Their opponent is a clueless government. Good for them.
DeleteWould make sense but only if all LCCs move to that terminal.
ReplyDeleteWith the Middle East disruptions and potential loss of traffic to UAE, Qatar and Israel, is 5 million passengers guaranteed this year?
ReplyDeleteIt need around 6% growth to reach 5 million right?
DeleteManagement must be over the moon that this will definitely slow growth.
DeleteWell it just makes more sense to open the old terminal. The cost of everything will skyrocket, including construction material.
DeleteQatar only has one daily flight and so does flyDubai. It's not a huge amount of passengers especially as Turkish will pick up a lot of them.
DeleteNot a bad idea at all
ReplyDeleteI would love for the old terminal to reopen 😀
ReplyDeleteWhy? It wasn't exactly nice
DeleteIt was overcrowded, so just before closure not a very nice experience. But in general it's a perfect terminal for LCC, just a short walk directly to the aircraft. It was also nicely renovated.
DeleteIt's a fantastic building, a great architectural design, part of Zagreb's heritage and a great venue for additional capacity at Zagreb considering that it's just an empty building at the moment.
DeleteHow many gates does the old terminal have?
ReplyDeleteI believe 15.
DeleteDo passenger planes still park in front of the old terminal?
DeleteYes some
DeleteRyanair is perfect for the old terminal. People would just walk onto the aircraft from the gates.
DeleteHow would they be able to discriminate which airline can use old terminal and which not?
ReplyDeleteOld terminal has around 2 million capacity so by reopening it they could avoid expansion for at least 2-3 years.
ReplyDeleteMore like 10-12 years. There wont be any expansion of new terminal if they open the old one. It makes no economic sense.
Deleteexpected
ReplyDeleteThey will have to have some bus between the two terminals for passengers. They are not close at all.
ReplyDeleteWhy would people need to get between the two terminals?
DeletePleso prijevoz can just operate from new terminal to city with a stop at the old terminal and problem solved.
Delete^ Definitely
DeleteI do not think it makes much sense to have two terminals with so few passengers, besides saving the concessionnaire some money.
ReplyDelete^ the main goal of this is to save the concessionaire money.
DeleteIt makes sense because it's literally a building that's right there and available. It's an instant capacity expansion.
DeletePhase 2A already exist
ReplyDeleteThe widebody gate at the far end alreadt exists?
DeleteI think they added that gate some years ago. It's where they put Air Transat.
DeleteThat would be great use of the old terminal.
ReplyDeleteThe LCC would benefit from it, the investment is limited and that would free space in the new terminal avoiding heavy investment.
Exactly. Good idea in my opinion.
DeleteHorrible idea that only benefits the concessionaire, nobody else.
DeleteI still can't believe that this terminal, which was more or less the same since the 1960s was used all the way until 2017.
ReplyDeleteYes, new building was long overdue.
DeleteIt's a fantastic building built to last.
DeleteAbout time they do something with that terminal
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean? It says in the article it is already being used for admin offices.
DeleteThey will need to hire more staff.
ReplyDeleteWon't be cheap to get it up and running again.
ReplyDeleteCertainly less than 70 million for expansion of existing terminal.
DeleteDoubt this will materialise but let's see.
ReplyDeleteCheaper option, why not?
DeleteThey really don’t need two terminals
ReplyDeleteWhy would the government ever agree to this? Let alone, extend the concession if they do it?
ReplyDeleteA big part of any concession concept is to get the private company to build infrastructure which will then remain for the state to use after the concession expires. There is a clear plan here that they agreed to. It specifies expansions only as expansions of the new terminal. Why would the government agree to give up what is supposed to be its future ownership? And then even pay for that by extending the concession? What on earth...