The operator of Ohrid Airport, TAV Macedonia, yesterday officially launched its long-awaited upgrade and refurbishment project, valued at 2.7 million euros.
The first phase includes the refurbishment of the passenger terminal and an increase in operational capacity. The check-in area will be expanded from six to eight counters, with an additional 100 square metres of space. The security screening and hand baggage area will be expanded to nearly 200 square metres, while the gate area will grow to 350 square metres and the baggage reclaim area to 230 square metres. The project will also introduce a new duty-free shop, new escalators, as well as upgraded equipment and technology to ensure safer and more efficient passenger processing.
Passport control will be expanded to 150 square metres, while operational offices within the restricted zone will be refurbished across 270 square metres. In addition, the terminal’s front parking area will be reorganised to improve passenger flow. Importantly, the reconstruction will increase the terminal’s capacity by between 30% and 40%, allowing the airport to handle more aircraft and passengers during peak hours.
The second phase of the project focuses on the expansion and upgrade of the administrative building, which will grow from 290 to 746 square metres. In addition to TAV Macedonia’s offices and a new staff restaurant, the building will also house new facilities for border police and customs, as well as a dedicated employee parking area. The primary goal of the project is to relocate administrative functions from the terminal building to the upgraded administrative facility, thereby freeing up space within the terminal to better accommodate passenger traffic.
The airport will remain fully operational throughout the construction period. “This project will give Ohrid Airport a completely new look, delivering a more comfortable, efficient and pleasant travel experience for passengers, while also improving working conditions for our staff and partner institutions, including the police and customs. We see these activities as an investment in a better everyday experience for everyone within the airport community”, the General Manager of TAV Macedonia, Nejat Kurt, said.
Finally!
ReplyDeletelong overdue!
ReplyDeleteWell deserved Ohrid! Congrats! This airport has so much potential.
ReplyDeleteThey could it try and attach one or two jet bridges to the terminal in this overhaul
ReplyDeleteNo need to generate unnecessary costs. It’s a generally summer destination with nice weather and clean air.
Delete@14:54 Jetbridges are not needed on such an airport.
DeleteWhen should it be finished?
ReplyDeleteEnd of May
DeleteGreat news for OHD, this was much needed , also the airport currently have 17 routes which 3 are charters ,definitely this airport starting to grow again after a long time of stagnation. Hopefully this will also bring new routes and airlines in future👏👏
ReplyDeleteYay finally can't wait to see the finshed product. Does anyone know what the capacity is currently and after the upgrade what the new capacity will be?
ReplyDeleteCapacity is 600k , not much expansion, just cosmetic fixing as the airport since is open never had any renovation , this is the first one after all that time. It will just get modern look thats all
DeleteIt is long overdue that some money is finally being invested in the airport’s infrastructure. However, considering the relatively modest amount that is planned, I have very low expectations when it comes to any meaningful or noticeable improvements. My concern is that this will once again result in a project that looks presentable from the outside, while the interior remains functionally poor and disappointing.
ReplyDeleteFrom the available information and animations, it is still largely unclear what will actually be rebuilt or improved. The visuals remain vague and leave far too much room for interpretation. Are there any detailed, transparent plans that clearly show what the public can realistically expect from this investment?
I have the following questions, which hopefully someone can answer:
– Will the entire administration be relocated from the existing building into a new one, or is this only a partial move?
– How large will the departure hall actually be once the final expansion phase is completed?
– What will be the final size of the check-in hall?
– How large will the arrivals area at passport control be, and will it finally be designed to handle passenger volumes efficiently?
– What will be the size and capacity of the baggage claim hall?
– Is a modern baggage handling system finally planned?
– How exactly will suitcases be transported from the “basement” to the exit? Will the airport continue to rely on the current, clearly unergonomic conveyor system where luggage frequently falls off?
– Will there finally be a covered waiting area for people in the arrivals zone, or will visitors still be forced to wait outside in all weather conditions?
– Will there be any genuine improvements for people with reduced mobility? The animation still shows the old gate staircase, which is notoriously problematic and a serious obstacle for elderly and mobility-impaired passengers.
I ask for your understanding, but based on the material published so far, it remains completely unclear what tangible benefits the population will actually receive in return for the money being invested.
The expansion is ridiculous for an airport, 100 - 300m2 is nothing, just esthetic..
ReplyDeleteIts capacity is 600k which will probably never reach or even come close to that numbers. The airport never been renovated since its opening. This will giwe new and modern look which is much needed.
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