On Wednesday evening, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport opened for business after the completion of runway upgrades, which lasted for 2 weeks. The upgrade has been somewhat controversial with Slovenia’s national airline, Adria, blaming the airport for inevitable losses the carrier incurred as a result of the airport’s closure. Adria had to significantly scale down its operations and move to Maribor. Adria is seeking compensation from the airport authorities although Ljubljana Airport says that there is no basis for such claims.The closure of the airport was part of the third and final phase of the runway reconstruction project. The overhaul of the runway included resurfacing the asphalt as well as expanding parts of the taxiways, replacing the lighting system and installing additional cable conduits. The first phase, covering around 800 metres, was concluded on June 25, 2009 while the reconditioning of the other section, involving over 1.000 metres of runway, was completed in the early hours of July 15, 200. The final and most time consuming phase was completed on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. The entire runway upgrade project has amounted to a cost of 9 million Euros. It is the first time since 1978 that the runway has been upgraded.
Meanwhile, Ljubljana Airport announced that it recorded a 14% passenger decline in 2009 when compared to 2008. It handled 1.42 million passengers. According to airport statistics, in 2009, most passengers originating from Ljubljana Airport travelled to Germany (18%), followed by the United Kingdom (12%), Turkey and France (8%) and Serbia (7%). The greatest increase in passenger numbers was recorded on flights to Serbia while the greatest decline on flights to Belgium.
Is that picture current, what a small airport!
ReplyDeleteI imagine Belgrade airport is the 'biggest' in the Balkans?
Athens would be the biggest in the Balkans if not, Istanbul.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Belgrade is probably not all that much larger.
ReplyDeleteDear Peter and Q400,
ReplyDeleteI d say that BEG is apx 3 times larger than LJU. But LJU is way too small. Since about 5 years they speak about expanding the airport infrastructure, but the only thing done was in 2007 when they opened up a small extension with 4 jetbridges. It s planned now that in 2011 construction for a new terminal will begin and original planning was that with the new terminal another 4 jetbridges will be constructed. If this will be realized will see hopefully in 2012. But in some aspects Slovenia remains a Balkans country too, eventhough they hardly admit it :-)
The big plus of LJU airport is the network of flights they have. Into all important corners of Europe you have nonstop flights with the big exception of Italy and maybe Portugal. Italy is however served by charters mainly to Naples and Catania.
the arrival of the new A319
ReplyDeleteS5-AAP is now rescheduled to Thursday 29APR
JP 4001 at 1950h local time from XFW Hamburg Finkenwerder
first scheduled flight will be on Friday evening as JP 616 to IST
ETD 2350
Old picture...
ReplyDelete