Belgrade Airport expansion advances


The expansion of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and the construction of a new control tower are progressing according to schedule. As part of several ongoing projects at the airport, work on two new bus gates, located underneath Pier A with the capacity to handle 130 passengers, is nearing completion. The gates have two direct exits to the apron and will be used to serve aircraft at remote parking stands. Simultaneously, the first phase of the expansion of the Pier C complex is currently in progress and will see the addition of eight gates equipped with airbridges, as well as four bus gates for outbound passengers flying out from remote aircraft stands. Its completion is expected in exactly a year’s time, in September 2021, with the second phase to begin immediately afterwards. It will entail the construction of an additional four airbridge gates.


New bus gates

Preparatory work for the new 3.500-metre insterted runway is in full swing, with over 50% completed. The inserted runway is expected to be ready in October or November of 2022 at the latest. It will be linked to the runway through a new system of taxiways, including four rapid exit taxiways. Other ongoing and upcoming projects include the overhaul of the existing terminal, new apron, new de-icing platform, remote car park facility, power plant, solar power plant, as well as a solid waste and wastewater treatment plant. Further details for each project can be found here.


Inserted runway

The Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency is in the process of building a new 75 metre control tower at the airport. The concrete foundations of the four-level tower are being laid next to the existing air traffic control centre, opened in 2010. A two-level flight control centre will be built at the base of the tower and linked to the air traffic control centre. The facility will stretch over an area of 7.500 square metres. The existing control tower at Belgrade Airport, built in 1962, will be closed and repurposed following the completion of the new facility, which is planned for August 2021.



Control tower
Cover photo credit: Uroš Mitrović 

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Good to see. Keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    So the tower and pier C expansion should be completed around the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      Yes

      Delete
    2. Marko12:32

      Now that Kosovo and Serbia signed a deal, we could see Belgrade - Pristina flights.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    I must say construction is going really quickly considering they started in March.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Would be nice if we could see somewhere what it will all look like in the end

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      https://beg.aero/sites/belgrade/files/vinci/news/fingerski_hodnik_c_buduci_izgled.jpg

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:41

      Any other pic except that one?

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    From the aerial photo we can see that the C pier expansion is bigger than the entire existing C pier. And that's just the first phase.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      You can see that bu the number of gates it will have :)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:09

    The biggest improvement of them all is the fact that they are building a third floor and separating inbound and outbound passengers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:12

      Why is this necessary?

      I don't think it is the case at Schiphol?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:49

      It's common sense, passenger flow is better if it's in one direction.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    I love BEG. Hope all the changes keep it passenger friendly.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:13

    Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:14

    Looking good. I’m glad that construction work has begun. This modernisation (which BEG does need) is good plus it’s not a waste of money..

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:14

    Nice, steady progress. When is terminal expansion scheduled to start and when will Aviation Museum get additional hangar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Terminal expansion has already started. Don't you see that new building in the photo/video?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      That's C pier expansion. When will central terminal expansion start?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:26

      In the linked article it says October 2020. So next month.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:16

    I'm so curious to see what they will do with the (old) control tower once the new one is built.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      They should open an observation deck :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:43

      Or a nice restaurant at the top :D

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:43

      As far as I know, the control tower is operated and (owned) by SMASTA. So it will really be up to them to decide what they will do with the tower.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:14

      The actual space up there is relatively small. No room for a restaurant, maybe a cafe.

      Delete
  12. Can't wait to visit the open-air museum when its finished!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:17

    Everything is great but 'уметнута писта' 🤦

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      For that we can thank the government. It was their condition to the new concessionaire.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:55

      The new condition should have rather been a whole new runway.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:55

      What a waste of money.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:57

      There was no other option. For a second runway you would have to tear down hundreds of houses or whole od Surcin .

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:02

      Belgrade really doesn't need any second runway. That would be megalomania.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:11

      This will be a second runway.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:15

      There was plenty of space for a second runway without tearing down any houses.

      https://goo.gl/maps/gxDP2EREc9yWeFcm9

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:22

      I still don't see where you would fit it. There is not enough space on the other side without moving part of the highway. And in addition to that, that area is outside of the airport complex and is not owned by the airport.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:47

      I'm also not seeing where you would fit a runway. Either the houses or the highway have to go. And it's possible the runway would then get too close to either, so the entire section of the of the highway or all of the houses (or both) would have to get demolished. There is no need for a second runway and let's face it - despite cheerful analysis that we were getting during spring how the aviation will bounce back - we are now seeing how wrong they were, the pandemic will set the industry back and it will take years (if not a decade) to get back to 2019 levels.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:58

      Once for all, London Gatwick is operating with one runway and Belgrade's capacity will not reach a need for a new runway probably ever. Also, Belgrade has excellent layout of the runway with literary no problems with crosswind almost ever, hence meteorological reasons for an additional runway does not exist. The "umetnuta" runway will allow smooth reconstruction of the existing runway and will resolve taxiway capacity in Belgrade, which is becoming an issue. So, this is very logical and reasonable.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous11:29

      The other runway was meant to be on the other side:

      https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwrzXyUVbz8/VQUzbPfixUI/AAAAAAAAQPM/xMmWbaU9y54/s1600/beg2025.jpg

      Wtf you talking about houses and highway?!!*%$#

      Are you blind?

      That was meant from the beginning.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous11:31

      Yes, that 2005 masterplan (which was not adopted) is based on the masterplan from the 1980s when houses didn't exist around the airport.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous11:31

      The houses are irrelevant since the runway was meant to be on the other side.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous11:36

      They are not irrelevant at all. In addition to the actual runway there has to be an empty permiter around the runway, like you see on the existing satellite image. So it can't fit,

      Government has made a new masterplan for that area (since that area is owned by the state not the concessaionaire). It will be used for commercial space, businesses etc.

      https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/jqxNHbLzlhNygAE_U_C_Zxp1knJeckNRFpKCD9n8p9MoZG_F8vUmNJBmUT2OkHZeGi_ssBMv3CKG_TkoWFT8tr1ZPfG4Tw3X1m6dz8alJPJm0KhSx8h4GjzrdcI

      Delete
    15. Anonymous11:54

      And where is that empty perimeter around the actual runway?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous11:55

      Look at the satellite image and the empty space around the runway surface.

      Delete
    17. Anonymous11:57

      There is ample space for a similar scenario on the other side.

      The runway could have been 3.000 meters or less like in SAW/BUD.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous12:51

      We would then get complaints how they cheaped out on the runway and that it's "short". In general, haters gonna hate.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous12:56

      In general, 3.000 is enough for 90% of traffic.

      IST runways were that much.

      It would anyway be secondary, the main one is 3.400.

      Delete
    20. Anonymous13:37

      But just to confirm, we do now agree that the 3,400/4,000 runway definitely cannot fit on the other side since the "settlement" would have to be demolished/highway moved? Since up there we were told we were blind, so just checking whether you are giving up on that argument now.

      Delete
    21. Anonymous15:30

      What freaking settlement?

      Where do you see a settlement?

      Delete
    22. Anonymous15:41

      As a matter of fact there is more than enough space on the other side:

      https://ibb.co/XWyG5n4

      Delete
    23. What about something like this?:

      https://i.ibb.co/qNQV7Y1/BEG-Rail-Plan.jpg

      Delete
    24. Anonymous19:14

      Everything was possible if these idiots didn't screw it up with 'inserted runway'.

      Delete
    25. Agreed. Since they already are building a second runway that should have put it on the other side of the airport, even if that means tearing down houses and moving the motorway.

      This way you cannot do simultaneous lands/take offs. You really have the worst possible result for a 'second' runway. You will have one but with limited use.

      Delete
    26. Aэrologic12:49

      Absolutely.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:18

    Wonderful news however I am still sceptical about this new floor. Why would people disembark, go up a floor only to go down two levels. Doesn't make sense at all..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      It's the same at many airports across the world.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      A lot of modern airports have this system where arrivals go through on the top floor and departures are on the one below.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:54

      An airport that has a similar layout is the Terminal 2 at Munich airport. All non-Schengen arriving pax (using gates) are sent to the top floor and then moved to the security screening area.

      There are many other airports as well.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:52

      So everyone was complaining how the gate security sucked and how BEG should finally become a "European" airport and have centralized screening. Now that that is being done, it's labeled as weird and not making sense.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:37

      Where did you get the impression that BEG is weird?

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:18

    Great and I think the new C gates will be ready before September 21.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:18

    I'm going to miss the retro interiors. Do we have any pictures of what the interiors will look like?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20

      About the interior they said in the previous article "The facility will have an open space configuration for gate areas and circulation areas for departing passengers."

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:37

      This is what C pier will look like
      https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RwVQfoNyC0/Xt1L6hxDs6I/AAAAAAAAyuo/hOik7W3KI0sophks1gUZUp8v4e9hShYfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/t2.png

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:19

    Is there a chance to somehow directly link the aviation museum to the terminal area?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      It's very close but the issue is making it accessible for transit passengers. Unfortunately I think that is impossible.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:54

      All the visitors to the museum (I am talking about people not traveling) would have to go through rigorous security control and the entire museum would have to be "fortified" to enable transit passengers to just pop up and return to the terminal. You would also have to prevent museum visitors from accessing the terminal. I agree it would be cool linking the two, but just creates needless headache. A fast track to the museum from the terminal would make more sense.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:29

    The entire complex with the museum looks very nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      The aviation museum building looks like out of a sci-fi movie. Really cool.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:31

    I hope that they will refurbish and streamline the facades around, so that there is a continuous look.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:33

    It would be nice if they brought back the old look to T1 with the beautiful fountain in the middle of the building.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      Don't count on it.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:33

    They need a food court, more resting space for connecting passengers and larger duty free space. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      We will get all of that

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:35

      Agree about the food court. The current cafe and a Hleb & Kifle bakery really isn't good enough especially with more and more transfer passengers using the airport and spending a few hours in the transfer zone.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      They also need area to safely leave the baggage on long connections, so passengers can hang out without it. Storage lockers.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:37

      Lockers are a must.

      Delete
  22. Definitivno kontrolori leta sa Aerodroma Beograd ce zasluzeno dobiti svoju platformu na Kontrolnom tornju
    sa svim uredjajima za dvadeset prvi vek.
    Ovaj deo Evrope dobija potpuno napredan Aerodrom.
    Uz sve promene koje su u toku u komercijalnoj avijaciji,
    Beogradski Aerodrom bice spreman, osposobljen i opremljen za buduce decenije.
    Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. 🛫🌐🛫
    Kraljevo & Sydney ✈

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:44

    This is great news

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:45

    And how long will the work last?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      It says in the article...

      Delete
  25. Anonymous09:51

    The airport is really starting to look good. Can’t wait for the new level to be built.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous09:54

    All in all, it is great news.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous09:56

    I am so proud of my dear Belgrade!

    Keep that good work and you will shine more than ever...

    Gde god da krenem
    taj grad me prati
    Beograd moj
    sebi me vrati

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous09:58

    All looking great. However, I find the bus gates section a bit cheap with those chairs. Idk, it gives the impression it's designed for LCC or airlines not using air bridge or a 2 star hotel. Something like that. But, the rest is okay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:27

      We should wait for the finished product first.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:28

      It does look a bit LCC to me too. Perfect for Wizz Air by which it will be used :D

      Delete
    3. JATBEGMEL11:23

      I believe the gate capacity is supposed to be around 70 pax, so it cannot be used by LCC.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:23

      Yes. It is most likely designed to be a bit LCC because of W6 or those regional hops that don't require an airbridge e.g. SKP, TIA, etc.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:27

      The capacity is 130

      "As part of several ongoing projects at the airport, work on two new bus gates, located underneath Pier A with the capacity to handle 130 passengers, is nearing completion."

      Delete
  29. Anonymous10:14

    The good thing is the additional gates will allow for bigger planes for long-haul flights

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:19

      Yes. They said

      " The expanded Pier C complex is not completely aligned with the existing C gates, and while it will be unnoticeable to passengers walking the airport’s corridors, the positioning of the new building allows for greater apron space, and in turn, will enable the new gates to handle wide-body aircraft, which is in line with VINCI’s hub strategy for Belgrade. "

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10:18

    Considering we are in the middle of a pandemic, it's good to see that these works are going ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:19

      and not getting downsized.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL11:29

      The restrictions will have to end at some point.

      Recovery at BEG may come quicker as it isnt a tourist heavy destination, nor did JU have a large network reliant of transit pax filling its aircraft. In the mean time, BEG needed upgrades and new facilities, and now is the time to do these works without needing to create large inconveniences.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:38

      As far I know from comments on this blog, JU has huge numbers of transfer pax and it is carrying the same amount of transfers on FRA route as LH.

      Delete
    4. JATBEGMEL12:12

      Majority of the JU pax are still O&D. They only had a few transfer heavy destinations, but the rest was primarily O&D pax. Transfers just help them boost loads and increase frequencies to destinations with a decent O&D demand.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:13

      BEY was mostly only transfer.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:08

      Correct. The most passengers from BEY were flying to CDG via BEG.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous17:47

      At some point I think 50% of JU's passengers were transfers.

      Remember that Air Serbia grew 100% in its first year of operations.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:22

    Serbia keeps winning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:51

      These people are really boring!

      Delete
  32. Anonymous10:40

    Really good development.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous11:01

    It would be nice to see more carriers in the future at BEG with this new terminal. Like LCCs Ryan, Volotea, Transavia France and legacies which can improve connectivity like S7, British, Iberia, Finnair, Scandinavian....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:17

      Especialy Finnair. They have huge Chinese network and the largest japanese network among all european carriers.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous11:13

    Finally a new ATC tower!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous11:57

    Will there be an observation deck somewhere at the terminal?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Was near the Belgrade airport only last month, its going to be great by the looks

    ReplyDelete
  37. Spaghetti Western21:26

    What's that large round thing being built right behind SMATSA building? It's about 50m in diameter. Is it flying saucer? Miniature Apple headquarters for Serbia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:20

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeronautical_Museum_Belgrade

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23:30

      No, this:

      https://imgur.com/a/97LHJjZ

      Delete
    3. It's the new parking lot for the building, it's mostly completed

      Delete
    4. Balkan Blues16:36

      Thanks for that.
      So SMATSA paved their tenis court and put up a parking lot. ;-)

      Delete
    5. Big Yellow Taxi17:27

      Old parking lot is now new ATC tower

      Delete
  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous17:26

    When I see all these planes around the Museum, I always think about Transformers :)

    ReplyDelete

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