Osijek Airport has presented plans for the reconstruction of its terminal building valued at 14.3 million euros. The airport and contractors Projektgradnja plus, Osijek-Koteks and Trames signed an agreement on Thursday to overhaul the facility, with construction work scheduled for completion within fourteen months. The scope of the project includes the refurbishment of the terminal’s interior and exterior, as well as the construction of an outside canopy. The 2.800-square-metre building will be adapted to Schengen Area standards. “Osijek Airport can be one of the catalysts for economic development in eastern Croatia, and this project is a good indicator of moving in that direction”, Osijek Airport’s General Manager, Ivan Kos, said.
During the January - August period, Osijek Airport handled 24.026 passengers. This year, Ryanair introduced a seasonal service from London Stansted, while over the upcoming winter, the airport will be served by Croatia Airlines to Munich, as well as Trade Air’s domestic public service obligation flights. “Osijek Airport has potential, not only in terms of passenger traffic, but also in terms of the economy and logistics. This has been recognised by both national and local authorities and we are subsidising services to both Munich and London, as well as domestic flights within Croatia. We will not stop there, we are also working on the launch of new routes”, the Prefect of the Osijek-Baranja County, Ivan Andrušić, said.
Osijek Airport was opened on May 31, 1980, with the inaugural flight operated by JAT Yugoslav Airlines to Zagreb. Prior to the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, it boasted scheduled services to both Belgrade and Zagreb, as well as seasonal operations to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Rijeka. In 1982 a cargo terminal was built resulting in the export of live poultry to the Middle East and North Africa. Heavily damaged during the war, the airport was overhauled and reopened in 2001, while its last reconstruction took place in 2007. Osijek’s Mayor, Ivan Radić, noted, “A year ago there were no international flights out of Osijek and now we have both Munich and London. Passenger numbers have grown 134% compared to last year”.
Put that 14.3 million euros in the subsidies of the flights instead...
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, there is more from where this came from...
DeleteThere are still sheep to be shorn..
They can't. The airport building is too small - they can't separate out Schengen and non Schengen passengers at the moment
Deletemay I also say, 15 M € for such small terminal is a lot of money. Somebody will earn some side money again...
DeleteOf course it will start with the right companies getting the jobs and they will issue massive invoices for the job. After that money will be divided among friends. Typical in the Balkans.
DeleteKradeze is Champion of not only Balkans in crime and corruption and the only party that has full verdict to be criminal organization. And they created such electoral system that they win and remain on power every time with 10, 15 or maximum 20 percent of voters. Croatia hasn't seen D of democracy for its entire existence. It is Partitocracy and parody of democracy. Mindset of Kradeze and their voters is stuck back in 1950's and disappointment with such a situation is main reason why young, educated, clever and productive people. Much much less is economic reasons. People are simply fed up with being made idiots by thieves and criminals, which in croatian case are not in jail but in power
Deleteeducated, clever and productive people, leaving country forever missing
DeleteLooks good. I like it
ReplyDeleteAll flights from this airport are subsidized...
ReplyDeleteAnd? Are you paying the subsidized? Better a few flights than nothing
DeleteHello Mr. Šćuric, how are you today?
DeleteOutside looks good but not seeing much difference on the inside
ReplyDeleteSelo gori a baba se ceslja.
ReplyDeleteBravo
DeleteInvesting that much money in airport that handle just 24.000 pax I dont really see a potential to be honest ....
ReplyDeleteGreat news for Osijek!
ReplyDeleteOSI has quite a big catchment area. There is potential there.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the catchment area prefers to use other airports, even Ryanair can barely fly there from London. I think it's time for Croatia to consider shutting down this airport.
DeleteOSI was primarily built as a cargo airport for SFRJ to be between Belgrade and Zagreb. Since there is a border between the two airports OSI has lost its purpose. Backa is very wealthy but all parts of it use Belgrade for obvious reasons.
OSI is a relic of a different time. It has no purpose now.
Agree 100%
Deleteshould rather invest in a fast train connection ZG-OS, with a connection to BG
DeleteWhen a fast train link between BEG and ZAG and further to LJU was proposed by Belgrade, Zagreb turned down the idea. BEG is now completing its fast train link between Belgrade and Subotica, with Hungarians to link onto this from Subotica to Budapest. This will then ultimately link Belgrade and Vienna with a speed train. Missed opportunity On Croatian but hopefully a project that can be considered some time in the future. Especially since Slovenia is very keen to go ahead with such a project.
DeleteThat reminds. JU offered to operate charters from Osijek in 2016 but they were turned down by Croatian CAA. And no subsidies were required. Each to their own I guess.
DeleteYes that's also the same time when they had charters from BNX
DeleteWaste of money for so few pax.
ReplyDeleteIf the government can throw money at OU then why not OSI?
DeleteI hope Wizz will return, at least from BSL, the flights were mostly full
ReplyDeleteDTM might work too
DeleteOSI-BSL were around 80% full which is not enough for Wizz.
DeleteVienna - Osijek would be good.
DeleteMore focus should be put on developing traffic.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGreat things are happening in Osijek. Jabil will open a huge production location, new football stadium and no. of tourists is increasing. Therefore, I think 14.3 mil. is not a lot of money. A nice Airport is very important in term of having a first good impression and gives you definitely better vibes for what you came for (business, tourism etc.)...looks really great!
ReplyDeleteAnd then you look at the rest of Slavonija and realize what the situation really is like. Osijek is losing population because there is very little prospect and people realize that it's better to leave.
DeletePopulation of Osijecko-Baranjska Zupanija
1991: 367.193
2001: 330.506
2011: 305.032
2021: 259.481
So in the period 1991-2021 the County lost 29.4% of its population, that's a third of the whole population that left. You still think one factory in Osijek will change things?
Yes I do! The bad statistics and economical situation I think we already all know. Now you can cry, do nothing and judge every investment or you can try to change things step by step, which is Osijek doing.
Delete@Mario 10:04
DeleteToo expensive vibes for such a few guests. But ok, better than nothing.
Let's not forget that additionally to these 14.3 mil EUR each year huge amount of money is thrown on PSO flights.
DeleteEach seat on OSI-ZAG route has been supported by the Government in the amount of 599 EUR!
No it hasn't. That's a retroactive calculation. The subsidy doesn't work like that.
Delete"The largest share of the subsidies went towards the upkeep of the Osijek - Zagreb service (1.3 million euros per year), where the airline was compensated approximately 599 euros per passenger".
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/11/croatia-launches-tender-to-subsidise.html
That's atrocious, so much money
DeleteThose numbers show number of people leaving accelerated after joining the EU.
DeleteBut the statistics show that if everyone comes home once a year - it is 100 000 pax! Haha
DeleteEastern Slavonia has so much potential, I visited it this summer. It's amazing, people are super friendly, the food is great, looks gorgeous..and yet it's the poorest region in Croatia. Go 150 - 200km west and the standard of living is western European compared to Slavonia.
DeleteOsijek population dropped from 140k to under 100k currently. Something, anything needs to be done, because the level of neglect there has been criminal. Those few kilometers of A5 highway to the Hungarian border need to be finished ASAP too.
The airport investment is great and the traffic has started recovering too, but more money needs to be pulled from the EU funds!
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Preparations for arrival of OSI-VRA/MIN A220 served routes are in high gear! One needs to serve all those gastarbaiter customers who fleed the region. Just a hint Jasmine, many are in Ireland too ;)
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that flights to Varadero (vra) are going to be served. Lol
DeleteHahah he probably meant, Vra-furt.
DeleteOsijek is in a difficult position because it has very low potential to become an airport that serves more than 100,000 passengers. If it does nothing, people will complain the management is asleep at the wheel. If it invest money into its infrastructure people will complain that it's throwing money away. And both are sadly true.
ReplyDeleteNice, although I do hope they choose a different color and not the yellow panels.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a different color. I would have liked to see somewhat of a larger terminal. That way they would be able to attract more airlines be it low cost or legacy.
DeleteGood year for Osijek Airport, hope next one will be even better!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome news from OSI
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a rendering, but it looks like a patched up construction job. Not appealing at all.
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDelete