Work on the expansion of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is progressing with foundation work completed for the addition of three new gates, along with three new airbridges and four additional aircraft parking stands. The project will expand the terminal, creating more space for passengers and improving passenger flow in both departure and arrival zones. Upon completion of this development cycle, the airport will feature a total of 36 gates. The airport is adding new gates to the C wing of the terminal building - C15, 16, 17 and 18. While C15 - C17 will feature airbridges, C18, unlike adjacent stands, will be a non-contact (remote) gate, meaning travellers will not use a passenger boarding bridge but will be transported to and from the terminal by bus. The stand is designed to accommodate Code C aircraft, with a maximum wingspan of 36 metres.
The project also includes the construction of the connecting section of Taxiway T, linking stand C18 to the broader taxiway system and de-icing platforms, development of new service roads to allow circulation of ground handling vehicles and equipment around the new gates, installation of a dedicated stormwater drainage system, including slot drains, underground piping, connections to the main stormwater collector and partial reconstruction of existing drainage infrastructure, installation of external lighting infrastructure, including 22-metre-high lighting masts equipped with LED floodlights, new power supply cables, control systems and obstacle lighting, as well as the construction of apron pavement structures, including reinforced concrete slabs and multi-layer aggregate foundations designed for aircraft load-bearing operations. As part of the upgrades, four new travelators will be installed inside the terminal, two in departures and two in arrivals.
Commenting on the project, Belgrade Airport’s CEO, Chivoine Rem, told the “Bloomberg Adria” network, “So far, we have invested 360 million euros between 2019 and 2025 into the Belgrade Airport project. We have decided to keep investing in the development of the airport. We started work on further expansion in November [2025]. This will help us keep unlocking traffic development and airport capacity for the future”.
Operator VINCI noted, “We are in a new phase of investment in the development of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Construction is progressing steadily by VINCI Construction Grands Projects. Sustainability remains one of our key priorities. We are implementing modern, environmentally conscious materials and infrastructure solutions, all in line with our ambition to further strengthen Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport’s role as a leading regional hub in Southeast Europe”.
Commenting on competition from nearby airports, Mr Rem noted, “It is hard to compare because the countries in the region are very different. On top of that, we are the only country in the region with a national airline that is building a hub. The model is very specific, with transfer passengers coming from all over the region”.
I notice in the photos that there is also work on the other side of the terminal next to the highway. What are they doing there?
ReplyDeleteI am also wondering. It would have been smart to add gates on that side too.
DeleteJU HQ probably?
DeleteJU HQ is not located directly in front of the terminal. It's across the road. The photos show construction work directly in front of the terminal building.
DeleteWhen is it expected to be completed?
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be operational by start of 2027 summer season.
DeleteHopefully the shops will be allowed to open by then.
DeleteFingers crossed for JU's new lounge. They have to be operational for EXPO volume of traffic!
Delete+1
DeleteFrom C17 to passport control will take one hour :D
ReplyDeleteImagine first taking a bus from your aircraft to C18 and then try to reach the main terminal with the travellators IF they are all operational!
DeleteHighly unlikely that the bus from C18 will drop you of at C17. They usually take you down to C1.
DeleteIn January I had a connecting flight from Amsterdam to SKP.
DeleteThe A320 from AMS was parked arround Gates C11/12 and the connecting fligh to Skopje was at gate C13. I had to make a circle walking first down the arrival zone,-> than via security and dutyfree-> than climb and come back to almost the same spot on the departure C gates. This took me probably arround 15-20 minutes.
BEG felt like FRA.
^ unfortunately because you had to go through security. Otherwise you would have been able to just enter the C gates wing straight away.
Delete^ That is only possible on domestic flight or intraSchengen area flights.
DeleteWhen we join the E.U. that would be possible at BEG.
It's not only on intra Schengen flight (how would the gate agent know which flight you are transferring to). You can enter the gate area immediately from the plane depending on the destination you are coming from. I think passengers arriving from all EU destinations can enter the gate area straight away.
Delete09:53 Completely right, I could enter the gate area anytime I connected from EU to Sarajevo via BEG. Other way around is still not possible because Bosnia is not in the One Stop Security program yet, but people tell me same applies to Montenegro flights in BEG, even though they're a part of OSS.
DeleteMore information about OSS countries
Deletehttps://online.flippingbook.com/view/183113574/124/
Bravo E.U.
DeleteActually you were supposed to be able to enter the departure zone directly at gate C12 and take a short walk to your gate. Either there was no one there, or it might be that you’ve taken a wrong turn at the gate - there is signage “Transfer” and “Exit Belgrade” at each gate. To end up on top floor you would have to take the Exit Belgrade route.
DeleteThis is available only for flights from OSS countries, but AMS surely fits the description (unlike SKP).
Where can the airport be expanded after this?
ReplyDeleteA side of the building. Knock down the cargo depot and expand all the way there.
DeleteThat should have been done from the start. It just makes sense.
DeleteContinuously expanding C gates doesn't
+1
DeleteThe old Cargo depot should be replaced by a passenger terminal. In fact BEG should built a new both cargo terminal and the platform from the scratch, question is where.
It would also make A wing extremely long. Same as C gates.
DeleteThey could add gates on the other side of the C wing if they wanted too.
Delete^^ I suspect there wont be significant expansion after this until the time comes to start again with a better shaped terminal in the ealy 2040s.
DeleteWill Vinci be part of the concession then?
Delete@09:46 hope not 🫣
DeleteVINCI concession commenced in 2018 and runs for 25 years.
DeleteI doubt they will build us a new terminal and then handle back the airport to the state in 2043.
Till then we are stuck with what exists currently plus small improvements wherever they can find free space.
"VINCI secured an additional year and a half on its 25-year concession of the airport, as part of force majeure compensation resulting from operations which were severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic."
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/04/belgrade-airport-to-open-overhauled.html
So no major redesign of the airport will begin until at least 2045...
DeleteThe airport has just gone through a major redesign and looks nothing like it used to.
DeleteThe 1980s is not the benchmark. It is the other similarly sized airports in Europe in the 2020s.
DeleteWho said anything about the 1980s? Although parts of the airport have a fun 1980s vibe still
Delete^ Except for Terminal 1 which is being kept in its original look there is no part of the airport that gives a "1980s vibe" at all.
DeleteIf Air Serbia keeps growing traffic, they will need to expand much more than this.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe C wing already feels like a marathon walk. Can't imagine with these extra gates.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
Delete+1
DeleteA whole corridor cross section is already narrow and with this expansion it will look like a tunnel. Quite a walk to/from the most remote gate.
^^ the whole terminal is quite a mash-up. The walk is relatively long for an airport of this size but tbh mostly i find it takes no more than 20minutes from deboarding to exit nowadays which is not bad. That being said one can exit airports such as Heathrow Terminal 5 often even faster.
DeleteThey should have completely redesigned the terminal, cargo area, maintenance hangar, parking spaces.
DeleteThis is just trying to add gates wherever they can find some space which isn't very efficient or user friendly.
+1 they 'should' have started again with a far better orientation for a terminal. However as they didnt they have to make do. Tbh most passengers through Belgrade Airport wont really notice some of the design flaws. Rather they'll be excited to travel so ultimately its about dealing with volume until such time that its clear a whole new terminal will be required because the current method of adaptation extension has its limits.
DeletePretty much anyone that is not a frequent traveller is impressed with the terminal. I hear it all the time especially when they compare it to what it looked like. I have a few foreigner friends who came at the end of last year. They were here last time more than 5 years ago and they couldn't believe it's the same airport. For us frequent flyers or those following this expansion it's a different story.
Delete'Impressed' is perhaps being generous. Improved definatly, but there is little impressive about the work done from an architectural perspective.
DeletePretty much anyone who compares the airport to what it was like in the 1990's and travels by airplane extremely rarely is impressed.
DeleteEveryone else who is visiting other modern airports in the rest of Europe is not.
Yes they are impressed because the airport was dreadful before and it was hardly an architectural masterpiece either.
DeleteI am sure anon @ 11.53 did a poll and knows exactly what "everyone else visiting" thinks.
Delete@11:53 unlikely, considering the passenger levels during the 1990s - not even than many Serbs used the airport during that decade, let alone foreign visitors. People compare experiences at airports. Belgrade Airport is defiantly not dreadful, and I think most people here would agree on that. Its often really fast to transit, its relatively clean etc. But I agree with many observations that lots of missed opportunities are there. But I do not think many people compare with the 1990s.
DeleteMost people here complain, cry and spit on everything. No matter the country and no matter the topic.
DeleteOut of curiosity, how many gates does BUD have?
ReplyDeleteDon't know but it had 19.6 million pax last year!
Delete67 gates
DeleteThank you
DeleteFeels like BEG has been under construction non-stop for years now. Looking forward to a “finished” version.
ReplyDeletePerhaps its a synonym for so much in the region..functiomally unfinished has a degree of beauty hihi
DeleteWhy is the bus gate is the farthest one? It doesn't make sense...
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean? Where would they put the bus gate? At C15 and then continue with air bridge gates?
DeleteSomewhere near the passport control, maybe on lower level. Or at least at A gates. It's cruel to make people walk to C18 only to put them on a bus.
DeleteHope they also invest in more seating areas and charging points.
ReplyDeleteI've always found that quite good in the airport. I stuggle with the lack of good air conditioning during the summer. But seating with a view i find is really good.
Deletesaw on some asian airports that they have "small" fountains like areas where people can chill around, like quite area. Never saw this on any airport in Europe.
DeleteThey have created a relatively nice area at the so called "Tesla Square", with some trees, tables with chargers and seating. When the restaurants around it which are ready and set to open for the past year finally open it will be even nicer.
DeleteI think one passport control and one security checkpoint at BEG are not enough. Maybe build a new terminal in the middle of the C wing or something else because its not convenient to walk from the terminal all the way to the end of the C wing.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteI get the expansion, I get 'they' had to compromise with Vinci and we got 'not Whoaa design' which is better than what we had. What I do NOT get is why the heck are restaurants still not open while they are nearly all done? Don't give me 'paperwork' problems, as it is BS. Its more than that. Embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteIt is a paperwork issue.
DeletePaperwork or not, its not good enough.
DeleteLiterally on every topic same thing. I am unhappy about it too but you have been told about it and the reason. Asking every single time won't change it. I also find it interesting as if many here go to the airport purely to shop for Victoria secret underwear which is awaiting to open.
DeleteIsnt the owner of Victorias Secret connected to Epstein
Delete