Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has begun preparatory work for the expansion of its terminal building. The airport will add a new section to the C wing of its terminal, which will feature three additional gates and three new passenger boarding bridges, along with four new aircraft stands designed for narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The expanded area, which will add 5.350 square metres to the terminal, will be equipped with four new moving walkways, two for departing passengers on the first floor and two for arrivals on the second. Construction is planned to last thirteen months, after which the total number of gates will increase from 33 to 36.
Commenting on the project, Belgrade Airport’s CEO, Chivoine Rem, said, “We continue to invest in the development of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport under VINCI Airports’ management, strengthening our position as a regional hub in Southeast Europe. We are proud that both passengers and airlines have recognised our efforts, making us one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe in terms of traffic. During the past summer season, flights from Belgrade operated to a record 116 destinations, and in August the airport handled over one million passengers in a single month for the first time in its history”.
The latest terminal expansion follows several years of major development. Twelve new gates and eleven aircraft stands have been built. The number of car parking spaces have been doubled and 29 new check-in counters added, bringing the total to ninety. A centralised security checkpoint has been introduced, along with nine new passport control desks and automated e-gates for both departing and arriving passengers. The airport now operates a fully reconstructed main runway and a new parallel taxiway, which can also serve as a runway. Four rapid-exit taxiways, new aprons, a new de-icing platform, an energy plant, solar plant, solid waste treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant have also been added.
Work on the modernisation and upgrade of the existing terminal is also ongoing. The airport has recently completed work on new commercial space, located in the baggage claim area (pictured below). Furthermore, new office space, likely to house rent-a-car agencies, has been built in the arrivals hall. Belgrade Airport also plans to expand the turnaround area on runway 12L/30R and has submitted a request to the competent ministry to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required for the project.
36 gates is quite a bit. Hope this gives JU more room to expand too.
ReplyDeleteThe airport has gotten way too big
DeleteJust wondering the other day if this expansion will actually happen. Good to see!
ReplyDeletethree extra gates feels like the bare minimum. BEG needs to be thinking bigger
ReplyDelete+1
Deleteexactly a visionary project which will take 6-7 years to build, but will enable BEG to process 20-25 Mio or later more passengers per year. A new state of the art terminal for JU where also a train station could be included. Just further extending C and A gates makes not much sense as the walking distance are getting longer and longer. This little expansion is still ok but Serbia and BEG need to look further also to strengthen the JU BEG Hub.
DeleteWhen you put it on paper. A LOT has been done. But still a way to go.
ReplyDeleteThe airport has changed dramatically in just a few years
DeleteI agree. Frequent travellers don't really notice it but whenever I have friends visiting who haven't been in a couple of years, they are shocked by how much the airport has changed. At the end of the day VINCI has done more in five years than the previous management did in two decades. Could it have been better? Definitely.
DeleteAnother expansion! With Air Serbia and Wizz Air both growing, BEG definitely needs the extra stands.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we will see next year missing 15-20 new destinations. Another huge expansion is needed for JU and BEG to become medium airline and hub
DeleteThey desperately need to fast track permits to finally open all the shops. There are literally stores at the airport filled with stuff inside but cannot open because of lack of permits. And it's the airport's fault because they messed something up when they started the reconstructions years ago.
ReplyDeleteIf VINCI has actually followed the building code and other procesures, they would have been opened year or two ago. Especially after the Novi Sad accident nonone in their sane mind would sign off on the opening of shops without the usage permit
DeletePassengers are now deemed safe even when meter or two away from those shops. This Kafkaesque absurdity is esp noticeable for stores that were already open, such as Victoria's Secret new location, that was open and functional just to be closed again!!! That's not being strict about safety, that's just plain insanty. Bureaucracy that holds back issuing permits is to blame. Those bureaucrats have names.
DeleteThat is going to be one LOOOONG C hallway.
ReplyDeleteIf you get gate C17 it will probably take 20 minutes from security to the gate.
DeleteIt's really not unheard of at airports that you need to walk. The airport is no longer small. If it was designed smarter you they could run a train shuttle from C17, stopping at security and onto A10.
DeleteSomething that is really good is that JU planes are grouped together. If you are transferring there is minimal chance of you arriving at C14 while your next flight departs from A8. Air Serbia is usually parked up until A5 though this summer there were days when they occupied almost all gates. Luckily in the morning there are no tight connections so passengers can walk a bit more.
Delete@Anonymous 09:12
Deleteit is not unheard off on airports handling 50+ million pax a year. But it IS unheard on airports handling under 10 million pax a year.
A train shuttle for an airport with ~10m pax?!
DeleteNow that is unheard of.
ZRH Airport 1981 had 10 mio and opened the train station. U need to think in future nbrs not present
Deletenbrs, I love it. Write four letters instead of seven. Great time save.
Deletewill they finally introduce those moving walkway, people kept talking about 2-3 years ago.
DeleteActually, with these C terminal expansions, sounds like the terminal will soon reach the planned train track, so maybe they should just modify the planned spot for the airport rail station and make another set of chekins/entrance at future C25 of something lol.
DeleteThe train track does not go towards the C gates at all. It is coming from the opposite direction
DeleteThey should have added another gate for widebodies.
ReplyDeleteJust what I wanted to say. Three new gates is nice but with Air Serbia planning more long haul in the coming years BEG will need more wide-body stands, not just for A320s and 737s.
DeleteI believe all these gates can be used by widebodies. They double up two fates for widebodies.
DeleteYou can but it takes up other parking positions. They should have built one exclusively for wide bodies.
DeleteIt says three airbridges and 4 parking positions. It could be that one of the airbridges will be used for a widebody or for two narrowbodies. Maybe an A320 attached to the airbridge and an ATR parked next to it using the bus gate.
DeleteIt will be three normal positions, with a parallel allignment on one of the gates so that one widebody can fit in on 1-1.5 positions. Just like on all previous gates
DeleteBEG is stretching the terminal from every possible angle. At some point they should think about building an entirely new terminal instead of patching the old one
ReplyDeleteProbably about ten years down the road.
DeleteThat should have been done by Vinci in the first place.
DeleteNow they are going to keep stretching the current terminal until their concession agreement concludes.
...all the way to the highway.
DeleteThey need a hotel. For an airport trying to be a transfer hub, this is necessary.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia plans to build one.
DeleteYes but it won't be inside the airport. Whoever wants to stay there will have to exit the airport, which is not convenient for many.
DeleteThat's when an airport shuttle will come in handy
DeleteAny plans to do something with the old control tower?
ReplyDeleteIt is up to SMATSA. I think the airport said that they would like for a restaurant to be there.
DeleteThey saw The Line in Saudi Arabia and said "Hold my beer"
ReplyDeleteHahaha yes!
DeleteHahaha good one
DeleteLOL!
DeleteNot to be picky, but....this extension was planned from the beginning but was cancelled due to covid as the passenger numbers dropped for all airports worldwide. So it's actually just going back to what was to have been done 3 years ago.
ReplyDeleteSo?
Delete13 months is not long for Serbian standards. Let's hope they actually deliver in this timeline.
ReplyDeleteExcept China, this is a expected period for this type of extension anywhere in the world
DeleteI agree with you, I'm just saying that in Serbia everything takes longer than expected.
DeleteActually in Serbia they have been building projects faster then 90% of EU. I am talking about highways, high speed trains and all 3 airports. Just look at the EXPO what they have build in the last 18 months. So do not say in Srrbia everything tales longer, as that is not true.
DeleteAnd without all necessary documents.
DeleteNice. it is also good to see more and more airlines launching new flights. Aside from JU and W6, we recently got Scat Airlines, Royal Jordanian is coming, Air Baltic is coming back and easyJet has finally introduced a new route, which has been extended into summer too. Hope there are some more
ReplyDeleteI am curious to see what easyJet does with CDG-BEG in summer, I hope they keep it.
DeleteIf JU doesn't keep these extra flights in summer then I could easily see them increase their own to 3 or maybe even 4 weekly.
Would be great if anyone knows how their route to BEG is doing. When I looked some days ago, fares weren't rock bottom.
They just extended the CDG flights into the whole summer but it is 2 weekly.
DeleteI missed that one, thanks for the update! It sure is a vote of confidence for this route.
DeleteSummer is still a long way from now. Let's see if they actually add more flights.
@Nemjee
DeleteI have tickets for 01.12. CDG-BEG leg. Purched a month and a half ago, some 40€ ow. Idk what's the current price. Carry on only.
Dont expect too much from them.
DeleteTwice a week in summer is barely exciting.
There are actually still a whole lot of projects that they plan to do like a new administrative building, renovate the multi story car park etc.
ReplyDeleteMulti car storay is Parking servis property, as far as I know
DeleteParking servis handed over all the airport parking to Vinci. It's a huge source of income for any airport.
DeleteSo this should be completed about the same time the new train line is done. Really interested to see how they will connect the station to the airport. Whether they will just do a shuttle from the terminal or they will make some walkway.
ReplyDeleteIf it's a walk way it would have to be elevated. There is not enough space anywhere to build a corridor.
DeleteThey could always build it under ground :)
DeleteThere is space for a direct, at grade walkway. Just need to remove some auto parking spots along the way. It would be about 500 metres long. Not unheard of, but not ideal. It would have to be covered, protection from the weather.
DeleteManchester airport has a similar arrangement but not that long.
DeleteI never liked the choice of the finishing materials at the newer areas. They look cheap and seem like they will age very fast.
ReplyDeleteThey will age fast. Except for the commercial areas which make money, Vinci is investing the bare minimum in this shed.
DeleteI totally agree with you, specially floor tiles that imitate wood...
DeleteThey cheaped out, for sure.
DeleteAlso the aluminium panels in the new terminal exterior look cheap. Like an IKEA store.
DeleteCool warehouse design.
DeleteFinally shops in baggage claim! This has been missing at BEG forever.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn't an issue before when departing and arriving passengers would mix because you could go to the main duty free store after getting off the plane. But now it is an issue so you need a store. Only thing is it will probably take a year before they get a permit to open it.
DeleteWhy does it take so long?
DeleteIt was explained here once before. They messed up something with the documentation when they were building the new terminal and now every single shop and facility at the airport requires a separate permit.
DeleteAha, thanks.
DeleteVery complicated.
Hundreds of airports around the globe are working on hundreds of expansion or renovation projects every year, and paperwork errors certainly happen many times. Those errors get fixed and projects continue without years passing by. C extension opened around April 2022, new Terminal building a year later, and paperwork still can't be fixed?
DeleteLogical explanation implies there is something else holding those approvals back. Is someone abusing red tape to delay airport expansion projects?
Good news for BEG but... this is more or less it when it comes to this terminal layout. Sure, they can move the cargo building and add another 5 A gates but after that a whole new solution will have to be found.
ReplyDeleteEasiest and most practical solution would be to plan a satellite terminal along the B parking positions. They could easily add 6 gates on each side.
Is there an option to put fates on the other side of the C wing too?
DeleteI mean on the other side of the corridor, opposite the existing gates.
DeleteI don't know if there are any perimeter restrictions since the access road is close. However what they could do is add regional jet air bridges which are shorter and don't take as much space. All E90/95 jets could operate from there.
DeleteIt's better to build whole new terminal in place of cargo buildings, instead of just few gates. This also will be conveniently close to new railway station. But this is another level of investment.
DeleteThe most logical and easiest way to do it would be to build a satellite terminal along the B parking positions. Similar to what MUC did.
DeleteThey can put the road underground and continue expanding A wing. At one point they would reach the positon where a wing of a newly planned terminal2 could start and then just continue building this new terminal in phases. Not a usual way to build a terminal, but with some creative planning I think it could work.
DeleteNext stage would probably be to build gates on the other side of the C pier, thus adding 7-8 gates on the other side.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just flew back from ATH and they have a lot of bus gates, many more than BEG. Instead of boarding Embraers on gates and some Airbuses, they could easily be sent to bus stands right next to where current JU ATR fleet stands
Is there more space for bus gates/ more parking slots? Much bigger airports do not develop only terminal and bridge gates, but also for wide-body. Sometimes, it is better to have bus gates as both doors on the aircraft are used for boarding
DeleteOr here's another idea. If they don't plan on adding gates on the other C side, why not widen the terminal.
DeleteBelow on the departures area they could add shops, restaurants, bars... while above they could expand the corridor and maybe add another moving track for passengers. It can get quite stuffy when several planes arrive at the same time.
^ That would make the most sense but Vinci looks for the cheapest possible solution.
DeleteC-Dobanovci, and will extra expand in C- Batajnica,
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteAbsolute engineering nonsense + all very ugly (from used materials, signage to cheap panel look).
DeleteAll in all, BEG has made a tremendous change for the better. Could it be better design, faster, sure it could. Are there delays with shops (I have to say this is irking me a lot now), and lack of ceiling space, yes. But, honestly all in all if we look objectively both BEG and AS are big success stories vs. early 00's.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but BEG expansion could have been done much better.
DeleteBEG might not win any beauty awards but it is functional enough, especially now when you have a hallway right after the duty free area leading you to C gates.
DeleteMany complain about long walks to the passport control but it's the same everywhere. Take LCA as an example. If you are parked by the end of the terminal, get ready for a long walk.
Dosta je uradjeno. Terminal nije na svetskom nivou, da se poredi. Ali u odnosu na proslost, Aerodrom je neuporediv. U svakom pogledu. VINCI radi dobar posao. Koliko para, toliko i muzike. Ali za EXPO 2027 terminal ce biti tesan... Jos ako se ne izgradi hotel kod Terminala.
ReplyDeleteZa jos 14 meseci moze da se izgradi dosta. Vreme ce pokazati...
Will the hotel be ready for the EXPO?
DeleteThey will need at least dozen remote bus positions for Expo. Later they may continue normal expansion. But for Expo, they need quick and cheap solution
DeleteAt this point I'd prefer to be bused from the plane. It legit takes 15min of walking from disembarking the plane to the baggage claim. And you are just walking in an empty lifeless corridor. I saw they are adding a travelator but what kinda solution is that?? (saves like 30s tops) At least add some art/stories about Serbia or something. Unfortunately I think they'll just keep adding more advertising...
ReplyDeleteC'mon bro, 15 is a nice jaunt.
DeleteAny obseravation deck planned?
ReplyDeleteWould be nice.
DeleteNice.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know why it’s no longer possible to book parking spaces online at Belgrade Airport? It’s also been impossible for quite some time now to make a reservation for the Tesla parking area. In addition, the prices have recently increased — for example, parking at the Tesla lot currently costs 500 dinars per day.
ReplyDeleteThey tried and noticed that people are paying so why not increase revenue on the account of your customers? I recently purchased a one way ticket and I was shocked to see that airport taxes and security fees account for about 45e per passenger. That is a lot for what the airport offers.
DeleteHave ambar and burrito madre opened yet? What about the other spaces like WHSmith in t2?
ReplyDeleteNo, none of them. Someone is probably rejecting them wih "fali ti još jedan pečat"
Delete^1000
DeleteWHSmith in arrivals hall has opened but not on the ground level
DeleteA bit off topic, but what’s with the airport website? It is so lacking and disorganized. Who even running it seems to be missing common sense and logic. Unimportant things come up on main page, priority details need navigating around, as if somebody put it together after smoking something.
ReplyDelete