Zagreb Airport is planning on expanding its facilities, as both passenger numbers and aircraft movements continue to grow. The airport's General Manager, Jacque Feron, noted, "It is the concessionaire's duty to invest in the expansion of the airport as soon as it reaches a certain number of passengers. Soon we expect to start work on a new building that will house car rental agencies, that will be located near the terminal. Furthermore, we plan to expand our baggage handling facility, as well as build a new apron capable of handling wide-body aircraft from airlines such as Air Canada and Emirates, because such jets can't be effectively served at the existing apron". He added, "This means we will then have to invest in new jet-bridges for larger aircraft. Following this, we intend to commence work on the overhaul of the old passenger terminal".
According to the agreement signed between the concessionaire and the Croatian government, work on the first stage of the second and final phase of the Zagreb Airport project, which includes the extension of the western pier of the departures area, as well as a new gate with dual jet bridges, allowing it to cater for either two smaller aircraft or a single wide-body jet, should begin no later than the end of March in the year the airport anticipates handling its five-millionth passenger. The second phase of the airport's development has a total of four sub-phases. Upon their completion, Zagreb Airport will have the capacity to handle up to eight million travellers per year.
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| Planned development for Zagreb Airport |
Meanwhile, the state-run Zagreb Airport Ltd (ZLZ). company, which operates as a separate legal entity managing the airport's assets that are not subject to the concession, is likely to lease land across the terminal building for the construction of a hotel next year. The 32.000 square metre four-star hotel is expected to feature 150 rooms, with the future operator required to meet airline requirements in order for the facility to be able to offer accommodation for cabin crew with a layover in Zagreb. ZLZ has already requested a location permit for the hotel from authorities, which is a pre-requisite to a building permit.
Why don't they use the chance to convert the old terminal into an LCC one? It's perfect for it and would need minimal investment, no need for air bridges... It would really boost numbers and most importantly offer passengers affordable travel.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSuch a shame this is not happening in Zagreb
DeleteIt seems like they will use it for cargo unfortunately.
DeleteCosts!!! Maintaining both terminals would be too expensive. Old terminal now is all but empty, much of the stuff has been cleared or is in process of being cleared. I passed the old terminal the other day, they have plans for cargo terminal, not entire structure, just large part of it. They're talking to Emirates, DHL, Qatar and Korean Air in setting up cargo center.
DeleteThe old terminal will also need to be converted in to a cargo center, new cargo ramp added for trucks, and bonded warehouses and customs added.
All that costs money.
Didn't know. Thanks for the explanation.
DeleteThe ramp space seems perfect for cargo.
Delete@Q400
DeleteCurrent old terminal isn't suitable for cargo operations, it'll need major redesign , which is what they plan to do.
As park in front of old terminal is protected, the only solution is to go sideways, so plan is to extend current terminal a bit, by 50m i think and build bonded warehouse and docking station for up to a dozen trucks.
Something like this.
http://airportlogistics.lodige.com/db/images/AS-AAT-HK-PHO_3669-GP-W.jpg
Also, adding customs to a bonded warehouse is EU requirement, as this will become first EU entry point, the warehouse and terminal must comply with latest EU rules .... The reason why old terminal will need to be extended to meet these requirements.... Each parcel must go through customs and must be secured in bonded warehouse.
Google if you don't know what bonded whorehouse is. Old cargo terminal has all that, but it is tiny, it can handle perhaps 100 tons per day, but it is a serious stretch. New cargo terminal will be needed and it'll be needed pretty soon, with in next 3-4 years.
Thanks for the info Anonymous but I was talking about the size of the ramp not the building.
Delete"bonded whorehouse" lol
DeleteI don't get phase 2A from the image. They will build a new gate but access to the gate is going to built in a later phase??
ReplyDeleteIf you look carefully you will see that a corridor will be built to the gate in phase 2A.
DeleteIn all honesty they should have started building this additional gate the moment they finished the terminal.
Delete@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 8:30 AM
DeletePhase 2a and 2b will be completed at the same time.
Phase 2a corridor will be extended over existing gate 8, gate 9 and gate 10 added with extra passenger boarding bridge for large aircraft, b777 or A330.
The entire corridor will be widen by 5m over entire section of the western pier. This would allow for better passenger flow and seating area for wide body aircraft.
With arrival of Korean, Emirates, Air Canada, things are bit more complicated if there's no adequate provision for large aircraft.
The airport terminal will look even better once the extension of the pier is completed :)
ReplyDeleteAgree!
DeleteIn total 16(18 double jet bridge) jet bridges,like BEG.
ReplyDeleteThat's true but the entire project isn't expected to be completed for at least another 10 years.
DeleteAnd to think just over a year ago there were none. Good work :)
DeleteBEG at the moment has 16, more will be added in the coming months once Vinci takes over.
Deletethere are additional phases, phase 3a-3d and phase 4....
DeletePhase 3a-3d, will see additional 4 passenger boarding bridges added to eastern pier, one for wide body aircraft at the end and 6 more passenger boarding bridges will be added to eastern pier parallel on the opposite side of the pier for total of 22 single isle and 4 wide body aircraft or 30 single isle aircraft.
Phase 4, will see construction of satellite terminal for up to 10 additional aircraft.
Once completed Phase 2 will bring pax to 10 million, phase 3 will bring pax to around 15 million and phase 4 to 20-22 million.
However, this is a long term plan, which also includes construction of 2nd and 3rd runway and moving all the current air force infrastructure further east of present location.
3rd runway, 2.5 km long will be exclusively used by air force.
Second and third runway? In ZAG?
DeleteYes,
Delete2nd Runway will run parallel to present one, and rd runs on top of 2nd runway and it'll be used only by the air force.
All the villages that are currently there, will be knocked down, and people re-settled somewhere else, presumably in Micevac.
Air Base will move some 3km further east towards small village of Strmec.
The master plan also includes constriction of faculties on the opposite side of the runway, technical center i presume or large cargo center with bonded warehouses.
However, this will be costly, so only built once airport reaches i don't know, 15-20 million pax.
Why on earth would they need a second runway even less so a third one?! Even the one know isn't used to its full potential... nowhere even close to it.
DeleteI don't like those trolling about 2nd runway in BEG but I even more don't like those trolling about the 3rd runway in ZAG. It's not bad to get down to the Earth sometimes :)
Delete@pozdrav iz RijekeJune 25, 2018 at 11:44 AM
DeleteNot at all, you can actually look at ZAGREB GUP development plan and find out. 3rd runway would be only for Air Force use and built to separate air Force and the civilian operations. And this is like when traffic is way over 20 million pax,
Regarding the runway for the Air force, Croatia actually has to have a NATO compatible runway as a NATO requirement which I don't think they have at this time. What the makes a NATO compatible runway, I'm not sure but maybe it has to be separated from civil use??
DeleteI have also read that this runway will be built at Zadar Zemunik once the F-16s start to arrive and that they could eventually be based there.
@Q400June 25, 2018 at 2:30 PM
DeleteYes there has to be separation from Civil operations, ideally one runway for exclusive use by the Air Force, however atm, Croatia's defence budget is bit strained, so to move air force base and clear the land for future base and runway could cost anywhere between $300 and $700 million, money Croatia at this point doesn't have and it isn't the urgent priority, however with the increase traffic at the airport, plans have been drawn to move AF Base 3km further east and this also includes construction of 2.5km long runway, that meets NATO standards.
Cost of which will be no doubt great, the longer the move is delayed, 2nd Runway, parallel to existing one is planned only once airport hits high volume of traffic, over 10 million pax. The 2nd 3km runway would also require move of AF Base. Again this is a long term plan and reason for 3rd AF exclusive use runway.
Possibility of moving future AF F-16 squadron to Cerlje is also being considered, something that has been hinted on few occasions and requires Slovenian nod, although it seems this won't be an issue, as NATO also keen on both countries having viable air defence and air policing implementation in place.
Again, Cerklje and 3rd Runway are just some of the ideas and plans, don't expect much to change for next decade, however.
Good work. Congratulations Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteWith all these new long haul flights, they really do need that extra gate ASAP.
ReplyDeleteSo when they are done will this mean two wide bodies will be able to park at the terminal?
ReplyDeleteI think two can already park but then it makes other gates inoperable.
DeleteYes, two wide-body aircraft would be able to park without hindering other gates inoperable. When all phase 2 expansions are completed, terminal will be able to host 3 wide-body aircraft...
DeleteBut that would mean one aircraft at one end the other at the other. But isn't one end for domestic flights only?
DeleteGood news. As for the hotel, I am not overly convinced it will happen anytime soon, especially since the state company is responsible for it.
ReplyDelete+1 agree. Hope it happens but not sure they will start construction next year.
DeleteWith Martina Bienenfeld heading Zagreb turist board, I believe it would happen much sooner than we all expect
DeleteSo are they fast tracking the expansion or is this a new plan they made (apron for widebodies, car rental building)? Because I doubt ZAG will reach 5 million until at 2021.
ReplyDeletePlan was all along to add 300 000sqm of apron, original plan was build lot larger terminal as well. they're fast tracking the construction of westward expansion cause of increse in number of larger planes landing in Zagreb, and this number is only going to increase with the arrival of Hianan and ANA in not to distant future.
DeleteI'd imagine if Delta or American arrive in 2020, that would only increase further strain on the terminal. Having dedicated gates for wide body aircraft helps with the flow of traffic and positively reflects on the airport. all is well
The biggest expansion will be phase 2D (the last one) because they will add 4 gates with jet bridges. But this project is unlikely to start for another 15-20 years.
ReplyDeleteNo, all expansions must be completed by 2025.
DeleteWill the Korean flight result in 3 wide bodies being at the airport at the same time with Transat, Emirates or Air Canada Rouge?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteNot at the same time, they'll just miss each other, however if Qatar starts sending B787, then yes, 3 wide body will be parked at the same time...
DeleteAs Korean leaves, Emirates arrives like 10-15 min difference, if there's delay, and Qatar sends wide body, you could witness 4 widebody ...
Qatar with wide body? Why? They doesn't enough good loads on 2 daily flights with a320. Morning flight ~80%, other flight 65%. Most of them are in economy. Morning flight have good loads on business but second flights in business is bad.
Delete@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 9:43 AM
DeleteThe loads of perfect on the route, morning @90-95% LF, afternoon 75-80%. In winter there was a slight dip, but that's corrected with summer schedule.
AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 2:52 PM
DeleteNot true, loads are not enough good to send 787 or A330.Especially when Emirates comming to Zagreb and now Korean.
@Anonymous 4:55
DeleteQatar has already stated that they consider upgrading ZAG service to a widebody (probably just the morning service): https://www.exyuaviation.com/2018/06/qatar-airways-to-expand-ex-yu-operations.html
@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 4:55 PM
DeleteActually they are very good, 90-95% for morning flight and 75-80% afternoon flight, problem is the return flight, reason why afternoon flight has lower lf.
But surely not enough for wide body.
DeleteCool. If they are planning to build an additional widebody gate as early as next year it means expecting more long-haul service in near future
ReplyDeleteLast week they said they were negotiating flights from China.
DeleteAnd Japan. And the USA.
DeleteWhere exactly do they plan to build this rent-a-car building?
ReplyDeletea really good question indeed ?
DeleteThe airport is already getting congested at certain times.
ReplyDeleteYes but that's maybe during two time periods of the day. They are expanding because of widebodies, not narrowbodies if you understand what I mean.
DeleteBut I often see planes still using the apron at the old terminal.
DeleteHad they not downgraded the project they originally won the concession tender with we wouldn't be needing this now because the terminal would already have extra gates.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't understand how the government allowed them to do that.
DeleteThe whole tender for the concession was very fishy and TAV even threatened to sue.
DeleteBut is this final project with all the phases the actual design they won the tender with? Because if it is then they didn't do much wrong. They just showed the eventual final design of the airport.
DeleteDoes anyone actually have a render of the project they won with?
DeleteYes here - https://backstage.worldarchitecturenews.com/wanawards/project/zagreb-airport-new-passenger-terminal-project/?source=architect
DeleteIt was supposed to be bigger and it was supposed to have a glass roof.
I see. Thanks for the quick response.
DeleteThey didn't win the tender with that design, this design won a competition that was held a few years before. It was part of the concession agreement that they build this particular terminal which won the competition but after signing the contract they made a bunch of changes to the design. Where they made their biggest mistake was with limiting the ramp. With the original planned ramp size, they could have had a number of remote stands in close proximity to the new terminal.
DeleteSo basically they're building a rental agency and admitting they don't have the facilities to efficiently serve wide-body aircraft.
ReplyDeleteNot really.
Delete@An.9:17
DeleteOf course ZAG has no facilities to serve efficiently wide body planes - Emirates, Transat, Air Canada, Korean Air regularly, and ELAL, Turkish, DHL and many others occasionaly are served by Martians :)
ZAG lacks a catering facility capable of serving these airlines. All flights are catered from their respective bases with food, beverage, blankets etc. ZAG is the only European airport where this happens if Im not mistaken.
DeleteIt is very strange to have rent a car companies in a separate building?! They have not envisaged counters for that in the main one?
DeleteArrivals hall is relatively small. Not enough space.
DeleteThe rental facility mentioned is actualy a multy level parking garage.
DeleteAny plans to build an observation deck?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. The terminal is all glass anyway.
DeleteYes and it has metal rods running over the entire surface of the glass. Very difficult to see or take a nice picture of the apron.
DeleteNo, you can take pics, i did, every time i fly, i take pics. at night you might not see much outside, but day time you can take pics just fine, you can sip your coffee and take pics as you chill waiting for your flight.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteIs ZAG Schengen ready?
ReplyDeleteYes, Zagreb airport is Schengen ready, Croatia suppose to enter Schengen soon, not sure if it is this year or next, we'll find out soon.
DeleteSorry but you won't, Orban said it will block your entry to schengen
DeleteSlovenija too.
DeleteWishful thinking. Croatia won't join Schengen soon, there are other very important issues on the EU agenda right now. And anyway not before Romania and Bulgaria. Maybe all three at once, but not next year.
DeleteI don't see what's all this fuss with being in Schengen. Cyprus is not in it and they don't seem to mind or care.
DeleteHow can you compare Cyprus, an island, with mainland states? Do you now how important is, for example, for Istria to have no borders? But this can understand only someone who was born there, I suppose.
Delete@An. 10.00,10.02,10.04
DeleteZAG is Schengen ready. Croatia as country has fulfilled 95 % of the technical criteria to join Schengen, with 5 % remaining to be done until the end of this year, financed by EU funds. The only dispute with Hungary was INA, which is solved some time ago and Hungary will definitely not block HR joining Schengen. The issue with SLO is entirely political, European Comission refused to back up SLO related to arbitrary decision, elections in SLO just ahead, so I wouldn't be so sure that SLO would continue blocking HR. And I agree EU has many issue right now, one of them being migrants entering and leaving both EU and non-EU countries on the Balkans, which even my result in HR, BG and RO joining beginning next year
As you perfectly know, entering Schengen is a political decision (in the end), as it is entering EU. Considering the issues with the migrants and the borders, it won't be so easy. And I wouldn't underestimate Slovenia. As we know, they can get tough in this occasions. They will probably demand the acceptance of the arbitration decision, and that can complicate things. A lot.
DeleteOrban said; as long my president of Hungary, Croatia wont come to schengen and it was not INA but immigrants that Croatia was transporting to Hungary
Deleteand if you also think that Slovenia won't block you then my friend you are wrong(EU commison is backing up Slovenia- Croatia has a problem understanding what is international law)
@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 12:48 PM
DeleteNow you're talking utter nonsense. EU wouldn't allow Hungary to block another EU member joining any of the EU organizations, it would be penalized and its powers revoked. Hungary has no power with in the EU. Also Schengen is a done deal, question is when Croatia joins the process, not if. I don't follow the EU discussion so am not up to date.
However, Croatia needs to join Schengen and Eurozone by some date, not sure if it is 2020 or some later date for Eurozone.
Every EU member has a right to vote as they please and if they say no it's no
DeleteHave you ever heard about visegrajska skupnost(hungary, slovakia, CZ, baltic states) they allways stick together and they have have power
@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 1:48 PM
DeleteAgain you're talking nonsense, Croatia has better relationship with visegrad group than Hungary even though it isn't the member, Poland, Czech R, Slovakia, Austria and Germany are historically close to Croatia, they have close ties to Croatia and have extensive cultural and political links. FFs every year PMs of these countries spend their summer holidays in Croatia.
Hungary might have issues on some things with Croatia, which is Ina, and that has been solved as Croatia is buying back Ina share owned bu MOL.
A mutually agreed decision. With in EU, Croatia has no major political issues to worry about, yes Slovenia and Croatia need to work on improving border solution which would allow Slovenia access to the open sea.
This issue doesn't strain close relationship both countries have, they're extensive, to much greater extend than any other member state, due to the fact we shared a common state for so many years.
Croatian economy recovered and number of Slovenians visitors to Croatia is all time high.
Things are looking up and we should be happy for it. Slovenia won't block Croatian Schengen membership, as there's no support for it with in the EU and Croatia is taking reigns of EU presidency on January 1st.
So the chances of Hungary or Slovenia trying to do something silly during that period, would not only be unusual, but also fully hardy.
*foolhardy
DeleteGuys, you have to add the word plane, airport, helicopter or some other aviation related material in your conversation otherwise expect to be deleted.
DeleteAnonymus 2:35, even a single state can block any enlargment. EU, Schengen or Eurozone. You seem to repeat Jadranka Kosor words that Slovenia won't ever block Croatia, because others are against this decision. What happened? Croatia waited much more time to become a member and ONLY after Kosor/Pahor agreement. Oh yeah: plane, helicopter.
DeleteSo according to this map how will the separation of passengers look line?
DeleteAs you arrive and go through the passport control, passengers are sorted already, EU nationals to the right, non-EU to the left, from my memory, don't remember clearly, there are like 12 or so passport booths, with 24 Qs or something.
DeleteFirst 3 are for EU passports and EU nationals, and to the extreme left another 3 booths for non-EU passport booths. they open middle passport booths only when they're really busy, like 1000 passengers arriving at the same time.
So what are the increases we can expect in ZAG this winter? Besides Emirates and Aegean.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Air Canada?
It was reported here that Iberia will be flying year round to Zagreb this year.
DeleteI don't think AC will stay over winter.
DeleteThere will be OU to Mostar. It is only 2 per wek bit still.
DeleteI think CSA is also staying longer this winter with three flights.
DeleteI agree, AC won't stick around, not enough demand and the little there is uses VIE, MUC or AMS/CDG.
If AirCanada Rouge (which is actually subsidiary flying to Zagreb) has available aircrafts. Do not forget they have a strong winter season with flights to Caribbean!
DeletePlanning for the future. Good job.
ReplyDeleteZAG ground operations still need to improve a lot. Many airlines are still complaining.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Deletebecause
DeleteVery good answer. Mature. Backed up with the facts. Showing You are not troll at all
DeleteThe French are doing a good job. Happy with the way things are developing at ZAG.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that this early expansion is due to Emirates request for an A380 gate? Also, it's not in the article but new check-in counters are already being installed.
ReplyDeleteEK A380 is the natural progression of ZAG as a regional trend-setter. Since the French arrived the airport has continued to set the bar high.
DeleteArrival of Korean Air and soon Hainan and Singapore Air is best proof.
We don't know if Singapore Airlines is coming, or Delta or American...
DeleteWhat we know is that Japanese carrier, most likely ANA and Chinese Carrier, most likely Hianan are talking to start flights next year.
The deal is in advanced stage of negotiations and routes when agreed should be announced this autumn or winter.
Singapore, Delta or American airlines are only wishful thinking at this point, yes Emirates has improved chances of more carriers coming in, and the chances are Singapore airlines, Cathy Pacific and and even Delta airlines might start flight operations to Zagreb in not to distant future, perhaps 2021/2 is plausible, but nowhere near certain or even discussed.
Zagreb still needs to bring back SAS, TAP, Finnair, Aer Lingus, EasyJet and few EU based carriers to cover any holes in the European market.
If Zagreb is a trend-setter then no other airport in the vicinity should be able to reach 3.5 million... Oups.
DeleteLets first wait for the EK to stabilize with daily frequency! Then it would be better to go to double daily with B777 than to have A380.
DeleteZAG wont see the A380 anytime soon. Its not capable of handeling it even in an emergency. Premium loads outside of July and August are not that great either. I see EK sending the 2 class B77W, as they often did last year.
DeleteOf course Zagreb is capable of handling any plane in emergency!
DeleteHaha no it is not. Especially not an A380. Also, just to remind you, Zagreb was not capable of handling a Croatia Airlines A320 which was diverted from Dubrovnik after midnight so it had to go to Rome.
DeleteAnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 6:54 PM
DeleteYes, and this is why every emergency landing in region ends in BEG.
BEG is a very well run airport.
Delete@AnonymousJune 25, 2018 at 1:48 PM
DeleteWe don't know what EK asked airport management, but considering the load factor is performing above expectations, it is inevitable EK will be sending A380 to Zagreb.
Question is, when?
Well, new gates should be constructed from this October to April/May next year.
Probably EK will put A380 in service on Zagreb route. This should increase capacity by 20-25% on current B777, which often is 97% full on flights to Zagreb. I had a look at EK LG on Zagreb route for May and load factor is very good @87%.
From what I understand every week EK sends its largest B777 - 300ER with 428 seats, often these flights are also sold out.
EK is doing really well with business class product on Zagreb route, even first class sells well.
I anticipate this year EK will have over 170 000 pax on the route to Zagreb. Next year, 200 000 is probable.
@JATBEGMELJune 25, 2018 at 5:48 PM
DeleteThat is bit silly to say, Zagreb is quite capable of handling A380, it is capable handling any aircraft that can land on 3250m long Cat IIIb runway.
Terminal is being readied, well works will start in late October, on adding double gates that can handle A380, design is somewhat different from current jetways in use by the airport, and structuralist work should be completed by mid 2019, well late April, early May.
So Airport will be capable of handling A380, in fact A380 will be able to perfectly connect to the terminal so passengers can disembark.
Current gates at terminal can handle A380, but it is not ideal, as double decker a 380 disembarking 500 passengers could take 40 min or longer with one gate.
B777 300ER is almost as big as A380, just as long and carries 360 passengers, @90% LF that's 325 passengers, imagine how long it takes to leave A320 with 170 pax on a single gate, now imagine twice that.
Don't be surprised if from next year in late May, regularly see A380 in Zagreb, perhaps even daily.