Bosnia plans to build three new airports

Bosnia and Herzegovina is drafting plans for the development of up to three new airports, which will be located in Bihać, Brčko and Trebinje. The Bihać Airport project, which was initially stalled last year, has now received state backing and finances, while the project in Trebinje is making a comeback after initial plans for its development were scrapped in 2011.

The ambitious redevelopment of Bihać Airport in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled to commence last February, has been given support from the Federal government which will provide the necessary funding in order for construction to begin. A groundbreaking ceremony was cancelled in 2016 after the state snubbed the project and failed to provide the required funds. However, last month, the Federal Ministry for Transport and Communication transferred just over one million euros to the airport, which will be used for the development of project documentation, the installation of a parameter fence around the runway and supporting infrastructure, the construction of access roads and other bureaucratic procedures. "We have made the first step and now it is time for us to work hard and utilise the finances as outlined in our agreement with the ministry. I believe we are now on the right path and by using the best possible model we will build Bihać Airport", Elvedin Sedić, the General Manager of Bihać Airport, said.

Earlier this week, the Federal government noted it would provide the airport with an additional 1.9 million euros by the end of the year and guarantee further funding over the next four years. "We must continue to provide financial support for the airport because this region won't see a boom in tourism it deserves without an airport", the Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović, said. The Bihać-based Euroing company was responsible for the design of the terminal, while Turkey's Çelebi Aviation Holding, a ground handling services company, had previously expressed interest to partake in the project. Bihać is located near the Croatian border and is the country's eighth largest city.

The town of Brčko, located on the country's northern border with Croatia, also plans to build its own airport. A Slovenian consortium comprising of E-Grus, Savaprojekt and Arhitekt Šmid (which designed Maribor Airport's new terminal), have submitted their proposal for the construction of an international airport in Brčko. The group of companies have drafted project plans and conducted a feasibility study. According to its plans, the airport would have a single runway, while the project would be valued at 400 million euros. The consortium has suggested for the airport to be run under a concession agreement. "We are interested in cargo because Brčko is well connected. This is one of only a few cities which has rail, road and river transport. An airport is all that is left", a representative from E-Grus said. The government of the self-governing Brčko District added, "We will do everything on our behalf for this project to materialise".

Finally, the local government in Trebinje, in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, has announced its intention to resume plans for its infamous airport project. Previously, authorities forked out 820.000 euros between 2009 and 2011 into project documentation for a 2.6 kilometre runway and a terminal capable of handling 260.000 passengers per year, only to give up on the idea two years later after naming the airport's General Manager and contracting an Austrian consultant to identify potential routes. However, this time around, the government has said that the study conducted by the Austrian consultant was incomplete and that it will invest a further 51.100 euros for a new development strategy. Tender procedures have already commenced. "The strategy should define the first phase of the development, which would include the construction of a 1.700 metre-long runway, which would be thirty metres wide. This size would cater for aircraft with the capacity to seat up to fifty passengers. In addition, the document must include plans for the construction of a terminal building, control tower, hangar, access roads and a car park", tender documents state.

Bosnia and Herzegovina currently boasts four international commercial airports - Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka and Mostar.