SHS Aviation, the operator of Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, has signed a 660 million euro deal with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation for a major upgrade and development project. As a result, Maribor Airport will lengthen its runway and expand its facilities. SHS Aviation's Marko Gros said the agreement, which was signed in Budapest during the China-CEE 16+1 Summit late last week, is a preliminary contract. "This project will be implemented in several stages, and will affect cargo and passenger traffic, as well as the services sector. The funds will be allocated for the extension of the runway, as well as the expansion of the passenger terminal and cargo depot. Furthermore, new hangars and a hotel will be built", Mr Gros said.
The first phase of the project will include the extension of the runway from 2.500 to 3.300 metres, the expansion of the apron, as well as the construction of a de-icing area. The Slovenian government is now drafting a new zoning plan, which is expected to be completed by March 2018, in order for construction work to begin. Marko Kovačič, the advisor to the Mayor of Maribor, noted that only then could building permits be secured. "The development of the airport is going according to plan. The next step is drafting the state zoning plan to extend the runway, which the Infrastructure Ministry promised would be ready by the end of March", Mr Fištravec said.
SHS Aviation, owned 60% by Dutch investors and 40% by Chinese investors, initially planned to put in some 300 million euros into Maribor Airport, however, an analysis carried out by the investor had shown greater spending was needed. "It is a big moment for us, as signing a deal with such a major partner is a significant development for our city. Maribor Airport will be known in Europe and Asia as a niche airport with passenger and cargo flights to China", Mr Kovačič said. He added that SHS will finance the project from its own funds, as well as loans from banks. The state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation, with its headquarters in Beijing, is one of the world's biggest construction companies and has worked on many airport infrastructure projects in China. The Slovenian Prime Minister, Miro Cerar, noted that it was in his country's interest to improve connectivity with China, with the two countries working on establishing flights.
SHS Aviation purchased the "Aerodrom Maribor" operator for seven million euros in December 2016 and won a concession to run the airport for a period of fifteen years. It also owns VLM Airlines and has outlined plans for the carrier to launch flights from Maribor to Xi'an, Chongqing and Nanchang in China following the extension of the runway.
If Maribor starts to grow maybe it will finally force LJU and ZAG to lower their charges.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it becauase SHS won't be attracting any airlines to Maribor. Their growth will come purely from VLM, if it ever launches flights from Maribor.
DeleteYes but they will fly to western Europe that is to cities like Zurich which is served from both LJU and ZAG.
DeleteLet's wait and see how much they are devoted to Maribor. They are currently focusing completely on Belgium after they managed to get a Belgian AOC after years of waiting.
DeleteSurprised these guys are keeping their word.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha... good one.
DeleteThey haven't kept many. In fact, they haven't kept any.
DeleteI read on routesonline that VLM is launching 2 daily flights, minus the weekend, from Antwerp to Zurich. Does anyone know in more detail if/how that is related to Maribor?
ReplyDeleteThey are focusing on Belgium. Plans to launch flights from Maribor to Belgrade and Zurich have been delayed until further notice :/
DeleteWhy is VLM not pursueing their MBX-ZRH-MBX-BEG plans for the time being? It would be relatively easy for VLM to insert this into their operations by coinciding their ANR-ZRH and MBX-ZRH schedules at ZRH. this would allow easy exchange of aircraft and crew at ZRH.(maintenance in ANR?). Also it would allow to pic-up some transitpassengers from ANR for MBX and from ZRH to BEG. just a thought... Does VLM not have enough aircrew available at this moment or not enough F50's which are operational? I think only 3 out of 6 are flying..
DeleteAll F50 are able to fly
DeleteMaybe they realized these routes would be loss making to launch in winter. Maybe they will start in March/April next year.
Deletea big mistake that they did was put on sale 14 days or even 1 week before starting flying to DBV and SPU! this is unprofessional! the demand for adriatic coast is huge and they sell tickets over one butique tourist agency... ROFL
DeleteHow many passengers has Maribor handled this year?
ReplyDeleteLike a lot.
DeleteI think it is less than last year.
DeleteSome 6.000. Not in one week, not even in one month, but in all year!!!!
DeleteBravo SHS! So good result. They said in June they will have 10 A320, 6 Fokker 100 and 3 A330 in Maribor with 13 routes. But there was only 4 flights Maribor-Split-Dubrovnik-Maribor. No planes in Maribor. No announced Maribor-Belgrade flights. I am so surprised.
Now, PRELIMINARY contract worth two times more than Zagreb terminal. That money is enough for terminal for 10 million passengers. Now rally?!?!?!?!
Well in the meanwhile an opportunity to grow in Belgium has presented itself so they are going for that. The market is much larger and offers more potential.
DeletePlans change. They get delayed and so on.
Completely agree with Purger on this one.
DeleteThey are not publishing their numbers anywhere because I assume they are very poor. There were no summer charters by foreign airlines this year, just a couple of VLM flights to Dubrovnik and Split. That's it.
DeleteCome one, "opportunity in Belgium"? Good one plane is there. What about rest of fleet they promised will come 6 weeks ago: 3 A330, 10 A320 and 5 F50 if one F50 is in Belgium.
DeleteIt will come. Be patient... A year ago you were claiming this much wouldn't happen. ;)
DeleteExactly 5164 passangers at the end of November!
DeleteAnd what happen? 4 flights till now? And lot of unwavering promises. Woow even Air Croatia made more than that!
DeleteSo how long will this first phase of construction take?
ReplyDeleteNo one even knows when it will start, let alone when it will finish.
DeleteIt says that construction can begin after March when the new zoning plan is supposed to be completed.
DeleteTill the Klingons get the landing right
DeleteWow, 3.300 m runaway!?!
ReplyDeleteSame length as LJU airports runway :)
DeleteOf those planned 3300m:
DeleteLDE (Landing Distance Available): 2500m
TODA (Takoeoff Distance Available): 3300m
Haplek
"Maribor Airport will be known in Europe and Asia as a niche airport with passenger and cargo flights to China"
ReplyDeleteinteresting
For that to happen they have to extend the runway. Like someone said, for the runway to be extended they have to pass a new zoning plane and I doubt very much that will happen by March. Best case scenario work on lengthening the runway can begin in mid 2019.
DeleteStill think this sounds too much like a fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is. First they planned 300 million EUR investment, then they doubled it because they are generous.
DeleteJust 100% more than in Zagreb. Hahahahaha
DeleteWhy not a billion. So modest...
It sounds too good to be true, so I doubt it will happen.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely crazy, but it would be fantastic if it happened.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs on tell China that Maribor isn’t in the South China Sea :)
ReplyDeleteGive it a chance people. There will be no money lost even if it doesn't work out. SHS is paying a fee to use the airport like it says. Their plans are ambitious but like the Infrastructure Minister said even if a part of it is realised it will be a major and important
ReplyDeleteThis is a smoke screen. The government has only begun developing the spatial plan for the airport a few weeks ago. It will take at least a few years before the spatial plan is adopted, and then there's the design phase and only after all of it is complete can they start construction.
ReplyDeleteWho on earth signs a construction contract worth 660 million before they even know what they will be building or even be allowed to build?
LJU reviving and now comes MBX to shine. I think Slovenija will soon be a superstar. It's time for W6 to act and base an a/c as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens Maribor Airport's fate is sealed for the next 15 years. These guys will never allow any LCC or any other airline for that matter to fly to MXB.
DeleteIt is in the interest of the new owners to develop the airport. I'm sure we will be having a lot more news from Maribor next year.
DeleteAre you really?
DeleteWhy only 660 milion? Why they don't say at least one bilion. It such nice rounded number.
ReplyDeletemoney laundering
DeleteI'm not a big fan of fairytales and this looks like one. I can only imagine how much money the city has given for "co-financing" flights to China. Better that they invested that money and given it to Ryanair or Wizz air to fly to Maribor.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment Chinees have problem that they have to much money and they don't know where to spend it? In Europe their investments are not welcome, so they are trying to open Europeen market in small poor EU countries, however their investment will not return.
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't there be any ROI? Look at how well they are doing in Smederevo. They are making crazy money now when the EU didn't introduce any steel tax on Serbia while it did for China, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, brazil...
DeleteConcession is for 15 years,first year is behind us. If they make everything in a year (extend runway, hotel, cargo etc) that gives them 13 years to retun the 660 mil eur investment. Comes out to more than 50 mil eur per year (profit, not revenue!) just to recoup infrastructure investment made, not including operational spend, concession fees, investment in airplanes etc. When concession expires, they have to walk away from all that new infrastructure they built. No sane economists in Slovenia or China can justify this investment.
DeleteAnd who says that the concession won't be extended?
DeleteActually concession is 15+5 years :)
DeleteCut them loose after 15 and keep infrastructure for yourself :)
DeleteThis could be a good opportunity for MBX. Hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteThese guys bought Thomas Cook Belgium. Seems like they've got a lot of money to burn.
ReplyDeleteIt's like lessee would rebuild a realestate without lessor knowing it. SHS is not the owner of Aerodrom Maribor but has a concession on it. According to the latest statement of Mr Pocivalsek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Republic of Slovenia, they were not informed about it and surprised how could this be done without without the State. To development Maribor Airport, a spatial plan has to be accepted first. Knowing Slovenian bureaucracy this will never happened in years.
ReplyDeleteAnother hand, SHS style, full of fraud and PR.
I'm not so sure that the government does not know about this since Cerar said in Budapest he can't comment because it is a private investment but wished them luck.
DeleteIntetesting article on how this airport deal in Maribor could all be linked with the Belgrade Airport concession.
ReplyDeletehttps://rs-lat.sputniknews.com/analize/201711301113627698-kina-aerodrom-eu-srbija-ekonomija/
Dear God. Who the hell is that Bušatlija guy? Can't remeber when was the last time I read so much BS.
DeleteIt's Sputnik, what did you expect?
DeleteA najjace je ovo u ZAG moras 3 sata ranije da stanes u red inace ne mozes na let :) :) :) :) Ja bio pre mesec dana, nisam se cekirao na netu, za LH, ekonomska klasa, otvorena 3 saltera, 5-6 ljudi ispred mene, cekao manje od 10 min. Elem, ako je ovaj vrhunski strucnjak, jao si ga svima redom...
Deletewow!
ReplyDeleteOT: Sarajevo November 2017 57,887 pax (+22,2%) :O
ReplyDeleteFake news.
ReplyDeleteThis is a joke, right?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.datavisor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Money-laundering.jpg
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahaha. How naive people can be. Those same people promised hills and valleys in Vinag and left after 2 years. People didn't get wages for several months. And now this? Just that the mayor gets excuses for his excursions to China. By the way. Where is the battery factory?
ReplyDeleteMaribor once produces buses and truck that were sold all over the world. Now they are happy that somebody openes a big bigger garage where the cars will be painted.