Zagreb Airport targets 5% growth in 2019
Zagreb Airport anticipates registering a 5% increase in passenger numbers this year, while aircraft movements are estimated to grow 3%. “We are in talks with a number of airlines over the introduction of new routes, however, as the negotiations are ongoing and confidential, we are unable to provide further information at this time. Over the past five years, a total of fifteen new carrier have launched operations to Zagreb”, the airport’s spokeswoman, Lidija Capković Martinek, told the “Avioradar” portal. Zagreb Airport handled 3.336.310 passengers in 2018, up almost 8% on the year before, while this January it welcomed 191.197 travelers through its doors, representing a decrease of 0.04% on the same month last year or just 79 fewer passengers.
This summer season, several carriers, including Iberia, Vueling, LOT Polish Airlines and Eurowings, will boost capacity on their flights to Zagreb, while a number of other airlines will increase their frequencies. Croatia Airlines has brought forward the resumption of its seasonal flights from the Croatian capital and will turn its Dublin service into a year-round route. Furthermore, Air Transat, Air Serbia and Aegean Airlines will add an extra weekly rotation on their services from Toronto, Belgrade and Athens. This year will also mark the first full summer season that Korean Air will be maintaining scheduled flights between Seoul and Zagreb, three times per week with its Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
As previously reported, Zagreb Airport has begun work on upgrading its facilities in order to enable the passenger terminal to reach its full capacity. Although the 300 million euro building has the capacity to handle five million travelers on an annual basis, the existing equipment is only suited for some 3.5 million passengers per year. As a result, the airport will open a fourth baggage carousel next month. It is also in the process of building airside parking for airport equipment and plans to set up a further fifteen check-in desks for a total of 45. The value of the ongoing upgrades inside the terminal are estimated to be worth fifteen million euros. “These developments will help us reach full capacity of serving five million travelers per year, in line with our concession agreement”, concessionaire Zagreb Airport International Company said.
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