Zagreb Airport prepares for EU presidency boom


Zagreb Airport expects for passenger numbers to grow during the first half of next year as Croatia assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2020. In line with the expected growth in traffic, the airport has launched several infrastructure projects to avoid congestion. It is currently in the process of building a new VIP lounge, stretching over 215 square metres. The facility is expected to open in September. Furthermore, an additional fifteen check-in desks will be opened at the start of next year along with new self check-in kiosks and self baggage drop off counters. Other upgrades will include European Union ePassport gates or automated self-service passport scanners, three of which will be placed at departures and two at arrivals.

Zagreb Airport recently put into operation a new conveyer belt within its automated baggage sorting facility, allowing it to process 1.200 pieces of arriving luggage per hour. In addition, the airport has installed a fourth baggage carrousel inside its arrivals hall. Airside, a 6.000 square metre parking space for airport ground handling equipment is being built. Overall, a total of over one million euros has been invested into the terminal building since its opening in March 2017. The upgrades come ahead of the planned second phase of the terminal's development, which will commence in the year Zagreb Airport anticipates handling five million passengers. According to the airport operator, the milestone will be reached in 2026.

Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Huseyin Bahadir Bedir, recently noted, "We are currently updating the masterplan which will specify deails for each expansion phase. At this point, the main project for the second phase has still not been finalised. Based on the previous model, the second phase will involve an investment of 75 million euros". Mr Bedir added, "Currently, some thirty airlines maintain scheduled flights to Zagreb, connecting the city to fifty destinations in Croatia, Europe and the world. Zagreb Airport is in constant contact with a number of carriers concerning the launch of new routes. By optimising space in the existing terminal, we will expand capacity".




Comments

  1. Anonymous09:00

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    And then in 2021 they will complain that bad result came as the consequence of EU presidency in 2020.

    We can all remember Croatia airlines and the story about slots on LHR

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    What rate of growth could we expect because of the EU presidency?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      15-20%

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:09

      well I would say 8%

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    3. Anonymous09:11

      15-20%

      LOOOOL

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:16

      What is funny with 15-20%?

      If OU schedule 3-4 new routes as year round, and for sure, LF will grow on other carriers routes, 15-20% is very easy reachable. Dont forget it is first half of the year with poorer traffic, so big % of growth is not so hard to achieve.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:18

      This winter, almost without any new routes, they have more than 5% of growth!! Next winter, 20% is reality.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:24

      If OU keeps the routes they have now it could be taken as success.
      This winter they have new wide body route to ICN - not operated last winter

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:26

      Oh, they had 3pw to ICN shared with ZRH, it cant generate big growth. Summer with direct flights is different story...

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    8. Anonymous09:26

      I think OU might extend some routes in winter 2019/20 that were seasonal. Don't know which ones are plausible.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:31

      Will frequencies between Brussels and Zagreb be increased?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous09:34

      Maybe SN extend its flights thru winter again .

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    11. Anonymous09:43

      But it is wide-body to ICN.

      I am just saying that it is not correct statement they had no new routes comparing to previous winter.

      The airport that has average of only 200.000 pax per month during first 3 months does not need many passengers to increase the growth to 5% especially as April growth was driven by Easter holiday

      Delete
    12. Anonymous09:53

      I wrote "almost without any new routes", because 3pw shared with ZRH is almost nothing... the key word - ALMOST :)

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    13. Anonymous09:55

      Easter is every year, in March or April... but total increase in first 4 months was more than 5%!

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    14. Anonymous09:55

      But alle people here claim that KE was flying empty. Only 20-50 pax which is around 1200 Passengers a months.

      How can that be?? or is it that KE is flying full to ZAG in winter???

      Delete
    15. Anonymous09:59

      from ICN, Some flights was 30-40pax to ZAG, some flights was more than 150... but still not big numbers on mothly base.

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    16. Anonymous10:08

      So where was all thet growth coming from in Q1 without any single new flight?

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    17. Anonymous10:28

      better LF

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    18. Anonymous11:40

      I think people are overestimating the importance of the presidency. The only beneficiary will be OU on flights from Brussels and maybe CRL-LJU for those who are more price sensitive.

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    19. Anonymous12:28

      +1

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    What I find worrying is that they are redrafting the masterplan. This probably means they are downgrading the original plan for the second phase.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      That thought went through my head as well. They already had a planned out phase two project and now they seem to be changing it.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:08

      No, that means that they are doing preparations for EU presidency that was not initially planned.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:09

      Does anyone know what was planned in phase 2?

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    4. Anonymous09:10

      https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zJwz5tbs1Vk/WzB3gJ73TLI/AAAAAAAAlTE/0SXEJIu5fYo-1KyMGLJWVlyZjtfSJ242gCLcBGAs/s1600/radovi-faze-2.png

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:11

      https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TmJ6qgRPwYE/W7OolETN6QI/AAAAAAAAnPU/3qYKE-SMiTs2f4NpBa2gDR5U4pQqTiA4wCLcBGAs/s1600/radovi-faze-2.png

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:12

      Ops sorry we posted at the same time.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:13

      No, I was first :P

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    8. Anonymous09:20

      So phase 2A is extension of the international departures and a dual jet bridge gate?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:52

      In all honesty they should have started building an additional gate the moment they finished the terminal.

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    10. Anonymous10:16

      The original project (before they cut costs) had several extra gates which were supposed to be built immediately.

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    11. Anonymous10:23

      In my opinion there should have just been more space between the gates and more space for aircraft to push back.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    They don't plane 5 million passengers until 2026????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      That is really pathetic

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:08

      They do not have an interest to reach 5 million fast, as then they would have to invest a huge amount of money for the expansion, which would limit their profits. So they are putting it on the long bench and rest with the profits they are making now...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:12

      It is short term thinking.

      If they manage to reach 5+ million they will also have bigger revenue which they could further invest to develop more the airport.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:16

      Well but it has to be offset against the investment, which is not exactly for free. in 20-25 years that would be the case.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:28

      That is realistic for a small capital like Zagreb.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:42

      No way to reach 5 mil. without attracting LCCs.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:47

      Even with some LCC's it won't be possible in the foreseeable future

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:03

      well ZAG will handle around 3,5-3,6 million this year. With a LCC and one AC based at ZAG it could immediately go to 4 million. With 2-3 based AC 5 million is no problem.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:31

      Anon 10:03 Lets make it 10 million

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    10. Anonymous10:59

      well I would not exaggerate as you do with the 10 million, but 5 million is realistic within 5 yaers ;)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    And at same time they have stopped free 10 minute parking to drop off people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      They are looking to save costs.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      That topic was once discussed between Mr. Scuric and myself about the fact that ZAG has 10 minutes free parking and that the same should be introduced iN BEG due to the fact that some people, including himself, misuse the opportunity of not having 10 min stopwatch in Belgrade.

      Now we see that Belgrade should keep its system as it is

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:11

      How exactly do they save costs if they do not let pax park 10min free.???

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:12

      I didn't mean save costs but generate more revenue. More people will now actually park and pay for it.

      Delete
    5. Or you can just go to the departure area and pick up passengers there.

      Delete
    6. 10 minutes you still have on 2nd floor platform (departures), so you can pick up passengers for free.

      They did not cancel it because income increasing, but because they move taxi terminal to what was previous drop off (10 minutes free). Now all those taxis without paying parking in Zagreb airport can not come to that position. Because of that taxis stops in parking spots and makes lot of crowd. They tray to manage it with security officers but they had some 3-4 of them to make order. So, they use this unpopular measure to prevent this chaos.

      They should build 10 minutes stop on this route going parallel with new taxi terminal, where there is one line now, but there is too big space for pedestrians, so if they take some 1,5 meters from it they can make 2 lines for at least 25-30 cars to stop in few minutes. Not big investment and system could be still on.

      For sure option to allow free stop is not good one. You spent security officers, there is big chaos and still you have situation which Zagreb try to prevent by this measures.

      They should do this changing of taxi position better with more planing and than they would not have this problem they have now.

      Delete
    7. Last comment is Purger

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:05

    Where is the VIP lounge going to be located?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 2nd floor international part

      Purger

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:14

    There are some things that they mentioned they would do in the past that they still haven't but I hope they will realize soon. They said they would make a gate with dual jet bridges for widebodies and also some area in front of the terminal with rent a car kiosks and so on.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:14

    They needed those check-ins from day 1. I guess politicians and bureaucrats are more important.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:14

    So they will have 45 check in desks next year when they open those 15. Nice.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:15

    The electronic passport checking system is a good addition especially since they will have it in departures and arrivals.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:17

    I admit I have never been to ZAG airport and I really like the building design but I read somewhere there is a parking right across the upper floor of the terminal where people are dropped off. Is this true?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not a parking, but more of a drop off zone. You can leave car there, but there's not much space on the upper level.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:00

      I see, thank you for the explanation,

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:19

    It's good that the presidency will come during first half of the year because it encompasses the slower months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      And Slovenia has the second half of the year?

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    2. Anonymous09:23

      Not Slovenia, next half of the year is Germany.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      No Slovenia gets the presidency in July-December 2021.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:25

      Hopefully LJU finishes its new terminal by then :D

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:31

    I hope Brussels Airlines uses this as an opportunity to extend BRU-ZAG flights into winter.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sve ovo je trebalo biti pod nekim redovnim, normalnim poboljsanjima....

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:36

    ZAG and SOF might be step brothers in the future. Yesterdat, ADP paid the highest price for the SOF airport concession. The Danes came second.

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-airport/adp-led-group-offers-highest-concession-fee-in-sofia-airport-tender-idUSKCN1SF1E7

    If ADP wins, I am sure that there is a high possibility of connecting ZAG with SOF.

    Good luck with the EU presidency!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      Cool. Maybe we finally see ZAG-SOF flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07

      gosh, poor SOF! Good luck with ADP :D

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:12

      Who on earth would be flying ZAG - SOF? 10 Croatian citizens per year?!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:44

      The same was said to LJU, and it was the only new destination that was not cancelled. Even A319 is sometimes operated:

      https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/jp324#2072d6d5

      There is more O&D demand than you can think of.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:09

      Maybe they would want to go to the Bulgarian seaside phaphaha. Not.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:47

      Puni ste predrasuda, sve sto je Zapad je super a Istok sljam. Nemate ni malo znatizelje, puni ste sebe. Malo vise umiljatosti i zelje za sirenjem svojih horizonta. Trenutno ste zatucani. Wofija moze biti zanimljiva city break destinacija. Ako je Zagreb, zasto ne bi bila Sofija?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous17:41

      Zagreb has Christmas market number 1 in Europe. The traffic would be in the other direction.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous18:22

      Anon 16:47 Ever been there? Same flair as in Skoplje, do not expect much. The language seems to be also very very similar.

      But there might be connecting passangers via ZAG.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous18:26

      Most tourists coming to Sofija usually stay for a couple of hours and then head to Plovdiv, which is much more touristic and beautiful and only 1h drive or 6€ by bus.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous20:45

      Anonymus 18:22, sprdnja oko jezika samo dodatno potvrduje kompleks vise vrijednosti. A ekonomija nam je u banani. Da propadne turizam, bila bi nacionalna tragedija.

      Delete
    11. Weekend u Bugarskoj nije za one slabija "kapaciteta"

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:38

    Good work. Congratulations Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:02

    Seems that ZAG is on the right track but it should work on reducing seasonality and getting more airlines to fly year round.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:03

    Will the effect of the presidency really be so big on passenger numbers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      Not only politicians will fly on new routes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:06

      I'm not so sure either. People were saying that when Croatia joined the EU Zagreb would have a boom but growth was pretty stable.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:07

      Croatia entered EU during the financial crisis so it didn't have the same effect on the airport as it did when Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:08

      It was actually boom growth,... compare all Croatian airport numbers before and after EU join. It is short period of just 6 years.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:13

      no need to argue with ex-yugos. If it is not magalomanic, it is not good. Complete loss of reality. They probably expected 100million pax and salaries of at least 10.000€ which they assume is the reality in western eu countries.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:29

      We also heard that ZAG will boom with passenger number once Croatia joins NATO. Even Purger wrote about it.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:26

    Congrats

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:27

    I still don't understand why there is no LCC in ZAG! Someone will say they can't pay, or they are competing with Croatia Airlines, but neither is true. LCC have their own market.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:32

    Nothing will change during next first 6 months of 2020. ZAG will have more private/state jets and that's it. Unfortunately, there will no be more airlines which is bad. OU will lease one CRJX just because they need to do regular maintenance on Dash, so actually they will not change some routes from seasonal to year-round. DUB is new year round destination, but that is not connected with EU presidency. Lufthansa and Austrian will send bigger A/C to collect that demand and that's it...such a shame! This was great chance for some airlines to fly year round, for example Brussels Airways, Czech, Swiss...horrible management!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:42

      :(

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:07

      Unfortunately I think this is a correct summary of the situation.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:08

      This is a typical negative ex-yu citizens´ view.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:21

      @anon 10:32

      Excellent view. You explained it perfectly.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:42

    The airport is already congested at times so any upgrade is more than welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:56

      Unfortunate they are waiting to hit 5 million before they start the expansion project.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:06

      It get congested only during certain periods of the day. At certain periods you could also find it empty. It depends at what time you are flying out.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous11:15

    It will be interesting to see how the airport will develop now that TAV is effectively running it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous11:16

    Having this event will definitely increase ZAG's prestige. Croatia joined the EU 6 years ago and it is now already going to lead it for 6 months.
    15 new top airlines arrived since 2013 and the growth is purely organic and subsididy free.
    Two words: Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No one takes you serious, you do understand that, right?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:27

      No need to always be negative on the positive things happening in Croatia. You always do this. Change your sunglasses, sinko.

      Delete
    3. No need to be a political bot. You're repeating yourself. Take off you pink glasses, "sinko".

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:05

      The best part

      "subsididy free"

      LOOOOL

      Delete
    5. And Anonymous should really get a reality check.

      Delete
    6. Keep Calm and visit Dalmatia12:33

      The success of Croatia really angers some people...

      Delete
    7. Such a success. You really must have the bar quite low.

      BTW, boy, I'm also from Croatia, but I'm trying to keep some dose of reality in what I say or write.

      Delete
    8. Friški, da uložiš tolko energije u nešto smisleno, već bi bio bogat...kak ti se da?
      :)

      Delete
    9. Kako znaš da nisam?

      Bogat, jel. B)

      Delete
  26. Anonymous13:48

    Qatar started flying ZAG-DOH and few other destinations over Syria. No other ME3, EU or US airline is doing it. Is it safe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:48

      Yes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:37

      then why are others not doing it???

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:03

      Only Qatar requested to fly over Syria. And Qatar has problem with gulf airpace blocade, so they need the Syrian airpsace more than others

      Delete
  27. Jesus, you Balkan people, why are you still so bitter and fighting with each other? You're all the same to me. Greetings from the US:)

    ReplyDelete