PREMIUM
Zadar Airport has been one of the star performers in Croatia in recent years and was projected to handle over a million passengers in 2020, which would have made it the fourth in the country to do so within a single year, following Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik. However, the coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted its operations, which largely depend on incoming tourists. In the end, Zadar welcomed 120.747 travellers in 2020. However, there is hope recovery will begin this summer, with General Manager Josip Klišmanić having to navigate the health crisis while also planning to expand the airport’s terminal building and runway. He spoke to EX-YU Aviation News about the airport’s current operations and plans for the future.
What are some of the measures Zadar Airport has undertaken to secure its liquidity?
Klišmanić: Since the start of the pandemic, Zadar Airport has adjusted its operations and business activities in this unprecedented situation which has been ongoing for almost a year, and the consequences of which will be felt far longer. Our focus has been on maintaining staff numbers and controlling expenditures, as we expected a significant impact on our income. All our investments have been aligned with the needs and expectations of the business in such a way that we have reduced and eliminated all expenditures that were not crucial for the airport’s functioning and maintenance of the required safety levels. As a result, Zadar Airport is awaiting the 2021 summer season liquid and financially stable. We believe that this will be the year of recovery, which will see the return of positive trends that were present before the pandemic.
Zadar Airport passenger performance in 2020
What are your expectations for the 2021 summer season?
Klišmanić: It is difficult to predict how the situation will evolve since we are witness to changes to the epidemiological situation on a daily basis in different countries. However, we still expect an improvement over the results from last year. If the vaccination of the general public continues at an appropriate pace by the summer and if there is no major increase in the number of new infections in countries that are the most important tourist markets for the Republic of Croatia, then we expect up to half a million passengers in 2021.
How will Ryanair’s decision to cancel plans to open a base at Zadar Airport impact its business and is there a possibility it may station aircraft in the future?
Klišmanić: Ryanair closed its base in Zadar in 2018. However, despite not having aircraft stationed in Zadar in 2019, it saw passenger growth of 42.5% compared to the previous year. The end result does not ultimately define whether a certain destination is a base or not but it certainly has a positive effect on the prospects of future growth.
As was previously announced, in 2020, Ryanair intended on stationing three Airbus A320 aircraft in Zadar operated by its subsidiary Laudamotion. However, Covid-19 made it impossible for these plans to materialise. Zadar Airport is logistically prepared to provide services to stationed aircraft and we are certain this will occur in the future. We are constantly in contact with Ryanair, however, we can not speculate on the business decisions of our partners as to when and to what extent they may occur.
What is the status of the planned extension of the runway and expansion of the terminal building at Zadar Airport?
Klišmanić: Upon marking the fiftieth anniversary of Zadar Airport towards the end of 2019 we presented the new plan for the expansion of the passenger terminal, with which we could, in the foreseeable future, handle between two and 2.5 million passengers per year. Despite the pandemic slowing the dynamic of the construction of the new terminal, as these are business decisions based on achieved results and needs, we are in the process of preparing project documentation and project solutions for the terminal. Given the tender requested for the phased expansion and construction of the terminal, we expect to be ready to begin the first phase of expansion by the end of the year, while we expect for construction to start after the 2022 season.
Project documentation for the expansion of the taxiways, apron and runway has been completed and we expect for all necessary permits to be issued during the year. That will enable the construction of additional parking positions on the tarmac and the extension of the runway to 3.200 metres.