Belgrade Airport opens expanded terminal



HIGHLIGHTS 

• Videos from the expanded terminal building can be viewed in the stories section on the EX-YU Aviation News Instagram page
• In line with the terminal's open space concept,  all gates are accessible to passengers and are not partitioned, with exception to US departures (gates C11 and C12)
• New food and beverage facilities and shopping areas yet to be moved in. Mr Berisot describes it as the "major next step in the airport's development"
• Each gate named after famous individuals from Serbia's history. Their names are featured on the new third floor (arrivals corridor) and are accompanied by their silhouette
• Architectural design and interior in line with all other VINCI airports and open space concept
• Belgrade Airport's General Manager notes all of these projects are aimed at significantly boosting passenger numbers.  "In every aspect, Nikola Tesla Airport will be different.  We have strong ambitions for this airport. We want to be a strong hub in Eastern Europe", Mr Berisot, noted
• All major construction work and projects (listed in article below) to be completed on schedule by the end of next year
• Centralised security control to be implemented at midnight tonight, ending checks at individual gates. Only gates for flights to New York will have gate security in line with TSA requirements

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport will tomorrow open the first phase of its new expanded terminal building to passengers, following just over two years of construction. This morning, members of the press had the opportunity to tour the new facility with the airport’s General Manager, Francois Berisot, and the airport’s Head of Development, Petar Novaković, before it enters into commercial use on Wednesday. The expanded C concourse adds eight new airbridge gates and five bus gates to the airport. Although unnoticeable to travellers walking its corridors, the extension is not completely aligned with the rest of Terminal 2, Instead, the positioning of the new building allows for greater apron space, and in turn, enables the new gates to handle wide-body aircraft, which is in line with operator VINCI’s hub strategy for Belgrade.


New bus gates






Apart from featuring new food and beverage facilities, as well as a shopping area, the extended terminal also boasts an additional floor, which is now also being constructed above the rest of the Terminal 1 and 2 buildings. The five-metre-wide corridor will be used to separate departing and arriving passengers. Those arriving from a flight will enter the jet bridge and go up to the arrival gallery, from which they will reach a central transfer zone, a chimney-like structure with escalators going down to the first level, which will be used by transfer passengers (corresponding to departure level), while those leaving the airport will go down to the baggage reclaim area and arrival hall.

First floor (departures level)












The second phase of the expansion of the C pier includes the construction of an additional four airbridge gates, which is expected to start in the future. VINCI is also continuing construction of the new access plateau in front of the terminal buildings, a new car park, expansion of the airport’s ground floor which will feature 100 check-in desks, as well as new restaurants, bars and shops. In addition, work is also ongoing on the construction of a new inserted runway, overhaul of the taxiways, a new de-icing platform, helicopter terminal,  as well as a wastewater treatment plant, while new technology has been acquired for security and baggage sorting. The construction of the airport’s new control tower is also nearing completion. The airport has already completed work on a new long-stay car park, solid waste processing plant, solar power plant, new aprons and a new power plant.

New floor (arrivals corridor)



The entire multi-million-euro airport expansion project will be completed by 2025, although the bulk of the work will be finalised next year. It marks the biggest investment and overhaul of the airport’s facilities since the construction of the Terminal 2 building between 1979 and 1981.








Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Finally!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    Wonder what will be the first flight handled from the new terminal?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      Zagreb?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      Why would it be ZAG? Just wondering about your logic

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:13

      I am sure it will be Air Serbia, it will be one of their early morning departure to Europe. It will be for sure an A319 operated route.

      If I were BEG I would make it to be JFK.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:15

      Paris would make sense.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:08

      Moscow even more.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    They completed the thing quicker than here in Sarajevo where one jet bridge gate is taking over 2 years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    Admin will there be pictures added later on today?

    Could you ask them about the additional remote stands they planned next to the C terminal extension please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      It says at the bottom of the article:

      This article will be updated throughout the day with additional information and photos. Videos from the expanded terminal can be viewed in the stories section on EX-YU Aviation News’ Instagram page from 10.30 CEST onwards

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:03

    Congratulations BEG.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    Let's see what happens now. Airport and Air Serbia were saying how long haul growth will occur once this new part of the terminal is opened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Long haul growth. And why not now?!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:24

      Handling constraints

      Delete
    3. I don't think so! As I said before only if Belgrade become a tourist destination then you can expect some foreign airline to come from Canada, China or the USA. This is the reality like it or not.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:03

      @"Anonymous09:24

      Handling constraints"

      Curretly airport can handle 3 widebody aicraft, what do you mean handeling constrains ????

      Delete
    5. JATBEGMEL12:36

      @11,03

      Gate A1 cannot handle anything bigger than a B767.

      Widebodies parked in positions C3A and C5A block 2 gates (C3/C4 and C5/C6 respectively). During JU peak waves, there wasn't that much room, if any, to accommodate more widebodies considering even narrow bodies were a problem.

      @09,04

      Can you find where JU stated they were waiting for BEG to open the enlarged C concourse before launching more long haul? I don't recall them saying that.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:17

      The whole B platform has been renovated to accommodate larger airplanes than GA. Those are used now and that leaves additional gates for the WB operations.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:38

      I noticed that the last few months when LH sent CRJ from MUC, it was boarding from bus gate and the plane was parked on the B stand.

      Delete
    8. JATBEGMEL16:39

      @15,17

      GA traffic is parked on apron A. Apron E is the new apron your talking about. Apron B hasn't been touched and was always able to handle widebodies. B positions never had gate space (waiting areas) for boarding. Gates for remote stand boarding were A4A, A4B and C7. Those gates weren't designed for accommodating pax for widebodies. The new extension has more remote stand gates which frees flights on ATR's, CRJ's, Dash etc from blocking gates with air bridges + another 3 on the A wing (A7A, A7B and A11 for domestic flights).

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:22

      Search it up, complains were about not having enough gates to handle multiple widebodies at the same time during peak periods when gates are also needed for narrowbody jets.

      Well now they have them with C7/8, C9/10 and C11/12 able to serve 3 widebodies with dual bridge each at the same time. With new gates and increased post-covid travel demand BEG will have no excuse to bring long haul services as they mentioned at the beginning of concession.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:04

    The new part alone is bigger than most terminals in ex-Yu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:47

      "Anonymous09:04 - The new part alone is bigger than most terminals in ex-Yu."


      New expansion isn't that much, only 11 000sqm for total of 46000sqm for both terminals, eventually when all is done it'll be around 66 000sqm. All airports in the region can expand as demand grows. Ljubljana will also expand a bit in decade or so, with 2 more air bridges and another 5000sqm for total of around ~30000sqm totally sufficient for 7-8 million pax and needs of Slovenia. Zagreb will expand to initially 16 air bridges and 77500sqm, in phase 3 terminal will expand to 225x125m footprint (presently 125x150m) with final terminal area being in the region of 160 000sqm and 20 million capacity.

      Pristina airport will also expand to around 65 000sqm and 14 air bridges, Skopje airport will also expand to around similar size. Split airport is already @37500sqm and Dubrovnik Airport @36500sqm with future plans to expand airport to at least 55000sqm.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:03

      The only problem is that your figures for Belgrade Airport are completely wrong and you forgot the factor in - the ongoing expansion of the terminal buildings (check in area where completely new structure is being built) and further expansion of C concourse.

      The current C concourse (with new gates) is 45.000 square meters alone, which you can check on Belgrade Airport website. So no, the whole airport isn't 46,000.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:10

      LOL. Belgrade has 24 air bridges today not including 5 new bus gates! Three more bridges are coming in the next phase. Large central processor building is under construction. No other airport in EXYU is close right now. Even if others expand to those utopian numbers they will all stay far behind. Nice try neighbor!

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:04

    13 additional gates! Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:41

      Now that's an expansion. :)

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:08

    Looking okay for the time being. How many passengers have been served during the first 3 months of 2022?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:11

    It will be quite a track getting from C14 gate to A10 :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      * trek

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:00

      Travellators are installed in the C extension. A10 will be closing for reno.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:17

    Would be cool to announce new airlines and destinations to coincide with the opening... any hints that that may also be on the agenda by the BEG management?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      Highly doubt it. The focus is on the terminal today.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:21

    Flying tomorrow from BEG. Hope my flight is from the new part :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:23

      If you fly tomorrow you will have no issue to visit the new part regardless if your departure gate is in the new part.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:31

    Can't wait to see more pics

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous10:23

    It is good that the refurbishment and additions are taking place but in my opinion more concern was to be put into planning of the works. Current situation where everything is being done at the same time is really not very convenient to us passengers using the airport. It is a messy place wherever you step and look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:56

      Come on, it is not messy... Outside yes, but from the moment you step in the building, you barely nitice the works considering their scope.
      And, even outside it was messy due to weather conditions, corridors to move are well marked. Maybe I things got worst in 2022, but my experience from 2021 from numerous occasions I used to fly were rather very positive.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous12:10

    Looks fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous12:20

    Wonder if there will be some chain restaurants at the airport?

    ReplyDelete
  17. JATBEGMEL12:20

    I find it amusing that they have themed each gate after prominent Serbian individuals, yet have shown no respect to the Serbian language and current Serbian law which requires them to use Cyrillic on their signage. In fact, signage must be in Serbian, Cyrillic script, which goes first, then any other foreign language or alphabet.

    Their social media pages only has information in Serbian, where I am sure these updates would benefit foreigners as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:58

      Be proud that you can write and read two scripts instead of having the constant need to get rid of of one or the other.

      Delete
    2. Vlad13:02

      While I won't delve into the legal aspects, insisting on Cyrillic signage at the airport would be an exercise in futility. There isn't a single practical aspect to it (as all people that can read Cyrillic can also very well read Latin), and it would make the signs more cumbersome and more difficult to decipher. In fact I think they should remove Cyrillic also from the departure/arrival screens.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:14

      Well Serbia is not the only country to use non-Latin alphabet and everywhere there is always local signage (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, whatever) and Latin/English signage. Nothing difficult about it.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:15

      Why hijack an entire article about a major development?

      Delete
    5. JATBEGMEL13:33

      @12,58

      I didn't mention that I am not being proud to read 2 scripts.

      @ Vlad

      While we are with your suggestion, lets get rid of Serbian altogether from signage and just keep it English. SOF obviously struggles with foreigners with using Bulgarian and Cyrillic, as does ATH, TBS, SVO, DME, VKO, DEL, BOM, ADD, PEK, PVG, SIN, ICN, NRT and the long list of other airports using their national language and alphabet on airport signs. Even AKL has signage in Maori even though all New Zealanders speak English. Law is law.

      Im not suggesting to remove the Latin script completely, it's just Cyrillic should have prominance.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous13:34

      @13.15 It's a national sport to latch on to the most unimportant things.

      Delete
    7. Nemjee13:50

      Respecting Cyrillic which is the foundation of our culture (Latin isn't) is not something that should be considered as unimportant.

      They should have used it here at the airport. I don't like these designs of famous Serbs. Isidora Sekulic looks like a zombie in that design, especially the eyes.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:53

      Imagine if the eyes turn red :D

      Delete
    9. Nemjee13:56

      Haha maybe they should put red eyes that start blinking once boarding starts!

      Delete
    10. Anonymous13:58

      Wonder who all the famous Serbs are. From what I saw on ex-Yu's insta page there is Isidora Sekulic and Nadezda Petrovic. That leaves another 6

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:59

      At least they made a much better choice than Air Serbia's "living legends" which is an absolute embarrassment.

      Delete
    12. Nemjee14:06

      I think I saw Pupin on another picture some time ago.

      Delete
    13. Abronimus18:13

      They're doing it all the other way around.

      Where there should be Cyrillic, they're putting Latin.

      Where they should be putting English first (social media), they're putting Serbian.

      Complete ignorance and incompetence.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous02:33

      No, even Dodik's Cyrillic law (which got revoked in RS, but stayed on in Serbia) does not make it obligatory to use the Cyrillic script everywhere. And let me tell you, even where the law makes it obligatory - it's being ignored throughout the country, and rightly so. It's been passed as means for the ruling party to once again score some points on the right of the political spectrum. The same was the case with the original law, passed by the previous (in name left wing) government, which was trying to win the right wing votes. They, obviously, failed.

      While modern Cyrillic has been around for about two centuries, Serbian has been actively using Latin for at least a century (while rules have been set ever since Vuk's era). We have two scripts and those calling for favouring one over the other are simply trying to politicise the language and force their "national" agenda on the other half.

      In the end, one of the first things you learn about the language is that it is alive. It changes, adapts to contemporary times. Today's speakers wouldn't even be able to understand Serbian speakers from the 1800s without much difficulty, if at all. And never ever have politicians imposing restrictions on the use of language been successful.

      The only effect of the law is Vesić forcing Starbucks to brand its Belgrade stores as Старбакс. Ridiculous.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous08:24

      Latin in Serbian language was made official in 1954 after the Novosadski sporazum. Before that no one in Serbia used it. Cyrillic on the other hand has been used since Cyril and Metodius brought it to the Southern Slavs. I believe that was in the 9th or 10th century. So no, Cyrillic was not used for 2 centuries. Only thing ridiculous is you attacking the Cyrillic as something that should be completely dropped. Shame on you.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous12:57

    I love how much natural light there is inside the terminal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:59

      The open concept is also great

      Delete
  19. Anonymous13:03

    Thanks for the photos. Much appreciated

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:52

      Ditto. Thank you for the report. Good to finally get some sense exactly what has been done.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee13:57

      +1

      Delete
  20. when are the disgusting gates a7-10 going to be renovated?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:12

      These wull be the last to be renovated.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:34

      *will

      Delete
  21. Anonymous13:48

    great to see so many projects and that they are all on schedule. Good work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous13:48

    Bravo Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous13:49

    Nice. It really is a transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous13:49

    Those are some very nice views from the top floor gallery :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous13:51

    Does the new part of the terminal have a food court area?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous13:51

    100 check in desks?! That's huge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:55

      Indeed. Just goes to show that they plan to handle some singificant traffic.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee13:59

      This is very good with more and more leisure routes being added. Charter flights see a lot of luggage (which makes sense) so adding additional check-in desks makes a lot of sense for the summer season.

      Delete
  27. Nemjee13:52

    Clean, simple and efficient. A much needed expansion without any wow factor.

    Anyone know why beg.aero is down again? Are they launching a new website or are Ukrainians going wild again?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:54

      There have been bomb threats at the airport again. As well as Moscow flight.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee13:59

      Didn't know about the bomb threat, it's really unfortunate to hear that.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:02

      I think the airport and JU have found some way to avoid these threats since there was no evacuation at the airport, although JU652 is delayed . As for the websites, beg.aero and airserbia.com are under constant attack but airserbia.com has a good security and is able to repel the attacks. Beg.aero not so much.

      Delete
    4. Nemjee14:16

      Yes I noticed that JU's website remained unaffected, good for them.

      Hopefully these issues are resolved soon so that operations can continue normally now that traffic is picking up.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous13:52

    Finally centralized security is back! Yippy

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous13:54

    Impresivno,aerodrom kakav Beograd kao buduće čvorište jugoistočne evrope zaslužuje.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous13:55

    Good to see that the new gates will be able to handle widebodies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:56

      From what I can gather it's double gates like on the existing c pier gates which can also handle widebody.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous13:57

    I like that these projects are being completed relatively fast and that we won't have to wait a decade for them to be completed and put to use.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee14:01

      In a way covid saved BEG from total collapse during the S20 season. There were so many new announcements and increases on existing routes that the airport could not have coped with it all. I remember that for the first time ever there was a gate shortage in the morning.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous14:07

    What times does London depart tomorrow?

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jedva cekam dolazak pocetkom maja na Aerodrom Beograd koji obozavam.
    🇦🇺✈🌐🛫🇷🇸✈

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous14:23

    Really interested to see which airlines will be given the use of these new gates tomorrow. My guess is Air Serbia will be heavily favoured.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This report is good but it will be interesting to see the airport when all the work is finally completed in two years. By then, there should be at least four or five more long haul routes.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous16:29

    According to beg.aero first airline to use the new extension was Swiss.

    14.45 C10 ZRH LX A321
    17.20 C12 MUC LH A319
    18.00 C13 TIV YM E95
    18.35 C14 VIE OS E95
    20.05 C9 MLA W6 A321
    22.05 C7 TLV IZ B738

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:38

      They are not using it yet, they are just parking at the gate and passengers are being bussed. First passengers that will actually use it is tomorrow.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:45

      Passengers are boarding these flights, they are not bused from other gates. Seems like BEG decided to start using the terminal from today which makes sense.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:32

      All three Wizz Air flights tomorrow morning are also going from the new extension.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous08:26

      JU to CDG departed from C8 this morning at 06.40. I guess first airline from the new terminal is indeed Swiss with its magnificent A321.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous17:19

    It would be nice to see video in the article. We don't all use Instagram

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:22

      You don't have to use it to see the video. It takes a click.

      Delete
  38. Anonymous22:41

    Such a terminal must be linked by rail or metro. This is really important, especially for business travellers.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous22:43

    The individual security checks at the gates won't be missed.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous22:44

    First flight that will use the new bus gate is JU180 tomorrow to Tivat. C10A

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:53

      Almost all flights tomorrow morning are using new C gates :)

      Delete
  41. Anonymous23:18

    I'm excited that things are moving in the right direction for the airport :))

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous23:18

    8 new bridges and 4 more right after that? Sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Posle otvaranja Beogradskog aerodroma izgranjen je
    Izlaz u jednom smeru, iz zemlje . Posle 60 godina Vlada Srbije je izgradila i Ulaz na drugom nivou. Da se putnici ne mesaju u odlasku i dolasku. Doslo je vreme
    da emigraciju zameni imigracija. A napustanje zemlje
    zameni turisti. Rastu i u pripremi su novi Aerodromi Srbije. Novo doba dolazi kroz Aerodrom Beograd, kakav nikada nije postojao. Put u oba smera!
    Mogucnost i izbor. To je osnov i realnost.
    Mnogo uspeha Aerodromu Nikola Tesla Beograd i svima sto veruju u njega. Racunam i sebe medju Njima. Srecan dolazeci Vaskrs.
    Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. 😀✈

    ReplyDelete

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