The Slovenian government has labelled plans by Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport's operator SHS Aviation to invest 660 million euros into its infrastructure as misleading, likening the matter to a tenant renovating an apartment without telling its owner. The Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, recently noted, "It is necessary to say loudly and clearly that the planned investment is misleading because the signatories, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and SHS Aviation, do not have the power to conclude such a contract, although they probably have an interest in the investment, just as we do". He added that the state has not been informed of the planned investment and that parts of the envisaged project take up areas not owned or operated by the concessionaire.

Under a preliminary contract signed between the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and SHS Aviation last November, Maribor Airport is to lengthen its runway and expand its facilities. The first phase of the project includes 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 platform. "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", the airport operator previously said. The Slovenian government noted that in order for any work to take place, a national spatial plan must first be adopted by the state.

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. Originally owned by Dutch (60%) and Chinese investors (40%), the company's ownership structure recently changed. The Dutch SHS Aviation stake has been taken over by Villa 1, owned by the Chinese co-director of Maribor Airport, Lingkun Meng. SHS Aviation is also the owner of SHS Villa Mari, which manages residences near Pohorje, in north-eastern Slovenia. Maribor Airport's concessionaire had previously outlined plans to develop Slovenia's second largest city into a hub for Chinese tourists by securing a number of nonstop long haul flights. Currently, Maribor is served by two weekly services from Antwerp via Munich through VLM Airlines.