PHOTOS: Dubrovnik Airport opens new terminal

Dubrovnik Airport will partially open its new multi million euro Terminal C building today, with the facility to be fully functional by April. "The first phase of the opening will take place today. Check-in and security check points will be moved to the new terminal. As a result, the Terminal A building will be completely closed for passenger traffic. We hope to make the full move to Terminal C by the start of the summer season. We are delighted with the opening of the new terminal, which will boost our passenger services", the airport said in a statement. The new terminal is spread out over 24.181 square metres and is located next to the existing Terminal B building. The two will be combined into a single functioning unit. On the other hand, Terminal A will be used solely as a baggage sorting facility.

The first passengers set to check in at the new terminal are those travelling on Croatia Airlines' flight to Zagreb at 13.20. The facility features check-in and commercial space stretching over 1.000 square metres, eight security lanes, a departure lounge with commercial and catering facilities, a premium lounge and restaurants. Furthermore, it boasts sixteen gates, two of which will be used for domestic flights and the remaining fourteen for international services. It is all part of a major 274 million euro expansion, which includes the construction of the new storage facility, access roads, a car park and the lengthening of the runway and taxiways. The airport will expand its apron and taxiways next year, while the overhaul of the runway is scheduled for next winter. The entire expansion is to be completed in 2019 and is being financed mainly through EU structural funds and local bank loans. The project will cater for future growth in traffic and improve safety and service standards. The airport launched tender procedures for these major upgrades in mid-January with the deadline for the submission of bids set for March 3.

Dubrovnik terminals A, B, C layout

Dubrovnik Airport registered its busiest year on record in 2016 by handling 1.993.243 passengers, an increase of 17.7% compared to last year. Croatia Airlines accounted for 19.1% of all traffic, followed by easyJet (11%), Norwegian Air Shuttle (8.9%), Vueling Airlines (5.4%) and Thomson Airways (4.7%). The busiest routes were London, Paris, Barcelona, Manchester, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Madrid and Dublin, The airport started 2017 on a strong note by welcoming 19.329 travellers through its doors, up 23.4% on the same month last year. The figures were aided by the promotion of Nissan's new-generation Mirca model, which is taking place in the city. The Japanese automaker will host over 7.000 agents and 500 journalists in Dubrovnik between January 9 and March 23. As a result, an additional fifty special flights will be operated during this period. Meanwhile, a number of airlines have announced plans to launch new services to Dubrovnik this summer season. They include Eurowings, Jet2.com, Monarch Airlines, easyJet, Flybe, Volotea and Thomson Airways. However, despite plans for flights to New York to be introduced this summer, the airport told EX-YU Aviation News there was no progress in this regard nor are there any indications the flights could commence soon.

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Photo credit: Goran Mratinović