Zadar Airport is preparing for a new investment cycle that will include further terminal development, runway reconstruction and extension, aircraft maintenance facilities and improved surface access. Speaking to the “Jutarnji list” daily, the airport’s General Manager, Josip Klišmanić, said its long-term development ambitions could ultimately require investments exceeding 500 million euros, although the various projects are at different stages of planning and implementation.
The airport last month opened its new seventeen-million-euro departures terminal, which has doubled existing capacity and enables Zadar to handle up to three million passengers annually. However, the facility represents only the first stage of the airport’s wider redevelopment. Plans envisage the eventual replacement of the older part of the passenger terminal with a larger and more modern building, allowing the airport to accommodate further traffic growth and improve passenger processing during the busy summer months.
Attention is also turning to airside infrastructure. Zadar Airport plans to reconstruct and extend its runway, with local authorities previously outlining a project that would see it lengthened by a further 700 metres. The investment has been valued at around 95 million euros and is expected to broaden the airport’s operational capabilities. Mr Klišmanić noted that the airport is also examining projects that could qualify for European Union funding intended for infrastructure with both civilian and military applications.
Aircraft maintenance is another area the airport is looking to develop. Plans include the construction of hangars capable of supporting aircraft servicing activities, potentially allowing Zadar to diversify beyond its core passenger business. The airport believes there is scope to attract maintenance operators and develop additional year-round activity at a facility whose traffic remains heavily concentrated in the summer season.
Improving access to the airport forms another important part of the long-term programme. Plans envisage a rail connection linking Zadar Airport with the city and the Port of Gaženica. Preparatory work on the wider rail project is already under way, with local authorities aiming for Zadar to become the first Croatian city with a direct rail link to its airport. A new air traffic control centre is also planned as part of the broader development of aviation infrastructure in the area.
The expansion comes as Zadar continues to record strong passenger growth. The airport handled 970.503 travellers during the January - July period, up 6.9% on last year. July traffic increased 5.3% to 367.934 passengers. Zadar handled a record 1.64 million travellers in 2025 and is targeting approximately 1.75 million passengers this year.
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteBravo Jasmine, without your professionalism and expertise Zadar Airport would never make this expansion. CEO Jasmin Bajic is a legend of aviation!
DeleteI passed through Zadar Airport on Wednesday at 9am and it took about 5minutes from entrance to Gate. I arrived expecting a mega wait for security but it was very efficient i must say.
ReplyDeleteLike a SF movie
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean?
DeleteAt this point, there are even no trains to the town of Zadar at all.
Deletesince 2014 there have been none.
DeleteAbout time a Croatian airport got rail link. Did not expect it to be Zadar though.
ReplyDeleteVery good passenger results
ReplyDelete€500 million is an enormous amount of money for an airport handling under two million passengers.
ReplyDelete+1 ridiculous amount of money to be honest.
Delete95 million for a runway extension seems very expensive. Would be interesting to see exactly what is included in that figure apart from the additional 700 metres.
DeleteThe runway extension makes sense if Zadar seriously wants to attract more long haul
ReplyDeleteIt doesnt have any longhul.
DeleteI know. I meant if it wants to attract them.
DeleteLonghul it will never have. Long-haul, maybe
DeleteA railway to the airport and Gaženica would probably be one of the most useful projects mentioned here. The road gets extremely busy in summer and public transport options are still poor.
ReplyDeleteA LRT/tram makes more sense.
DeleteI assume any rail link would connect to the existing line into Zadar which is being renovated, so the distance of new track is (potentially) minimal. I can't see this being a financially worthy project at the moment. For 5 months a year the airport is essentially shut, and many many people arrive an rent cars. Most residents of Zadar under 50 have almost no knowledge of the train there and are not likely to switch back to it even once it reopens to Knin.
DeleteYou have to start from somewhere, don't you? It requires vision.
DeleteThat is deeply lacking in the EXYU space i agree.
DeleteCroatia needs to diversify its offer.
ReplyDeleteNot remaining only a summer sea destination but investing in attracting people year round like Spain or Portugal are now.
But resurfacing both runways in ZAD is really a must. They haven't probably been resurfaced since the yugoslav era.
You realise both Spain and Portugal are massive compared to Croatia? And with more clement winter weather.
DeleteI agree. The biggest challenge remains seasonality. Having excellent infrastructure is one thing, but November to March is still a completely different airport compared to July and August.
DeleteYou don't realise that Croatia have almost same coast length as Spain(including islands)? And 3 times more than Portugal?
DeleteYou dont realise that its weather is shit in winter and doesnt have large international cities like spain or portugal?
DeleteThe weather in Zadar, Dalmatian in the winter is shit? You seem to know a lot.
DeleteI do actually. And love it. But shit enough to keep mass tourism at bay. Which is perhaps not a bad thing!
DeleteZadar nije pametovao Ryanairu, kao neki pametnjakovići u regionu- i sad počinje da ubire dividendu. Polako i stabilno.
ReplyDeleteLepo bato, lepo..
Ryanair is not going to pay 1 euro for that 500 million expansion plan, but your taxes will.
DeleteThe phase one was paid by the airport. In re 500mil they did mention the EU funding.
DeleteSomeone will get rich out of this development
ReplyDeleteSve ovo za Ryanair.
ReplyDeleteRyanair has basically changed the fortunes of Zadar Airport. Without them I doubt we would be discussing investments of this scale.
DeleteThe airport should be careful not to assume that Ryanair growth will continue indefinitely. Ryanair can pick up and leave whenever.
DeleteFR still only have 3 based planes for a few months a year
DeleteYeah but it generates 87% of annual traffic.
Deletemanagement need to do something about this. I know they cant rely on the national carrier, but other options exist to spread the love
DeleteJust a dream wishlist.
ReplyDeleteI think MRO is a smart move. Passenger traffic will always be seasonal in Zadar, whereas maintenance could bring aircraft and workers throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteThe MRO would create only limited movements at the airport.
DeleteIt would bring all year round employment and incomes to the the area.
But again you need more than a hangar, you need to attract the properly qualified peoples to work there.
Right. So?
DeleteIf they extend the runway by 700 metres, could we eventually see regular widebody operations? Obviously demand would still be the main question.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't stop that woman who was in charge pre covid take trips to China to secure flights
DeleteNot only did she travel there, she actually announced Hainan Airlines flights from Chongqing
DeleteYep, they seem to get away with it in this part of the world
DeleteI wonder how much additional apron space will be required if traffic reaches three million passengers.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed by the number of negative comments.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated, but does anyone know what happened to flight FZ762 Sarajevo - Dubai (August 29)?
ReplyDeleteAfter taking off, it ended up flying to Budapest, circled there, but did not land, and then continued the flight to Dubai, but got diverted to Amman. And then from Amman departed to Dubai, resulting in an almost 6 hours delay. The aircraft in question: A6-FEG
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/a6-feg
Mysterious.
Delete