Although Zagreb Airport is approaching the figure of five million passengers annually, a threshold that obligates the concessionaire under the contract to expand the terminal, there has been no word on these plans so far. This threshold represents a key point defined in the concession agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the concessionaire. Upon reaching it, the obligation to initiate the second phase of the passenger terminal expansion should automatically be activated, preparing the airport in terms of capacity and infrastructure for further traffic growth.
However, the International Airport Zagreb (MZLZ), the concessionaire of Zagreb Airport, did not provide a concrete answer to Lider’s questions regarding when the expansion could begin, how much the investment would be, and what the first phase of the works would entail. Instead, they sent a general statement about ‘enhancing the passenger experience’, without any technical or financial details.
– At the International Airport Zagreb, we are committed to providing the best possible service to passengers and enhancing their experiences through investments in infrastructure, greater connectivity, and richer travel experiences, while also considering the interests of the community and all our stakeholders – stated MZLZ.
It is indicative that the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure also did not wish to comment on the issue of expansion, even after several inquiries were sent. As passenger traffic in Zagreb continues to increase and approaches the contractual threshold, the topic of terminal expansion should have already been relevant in the public space.
According to current projections, Zagreb Airport is expected to achieve around 4.7 million passengers this year, which is an increase of approximately ten percent compared to last year. If traffic increases by just five percent next year, the threshold of five million passengers will be reached.
However, MZLZ estimates growth more conservatively. They believe that, if global conditions remain stable, the five million passenger mark could be reached in the next two years. They also emphasize that more precise forecasts cannot be made at this time as airlines are yet to announce their official flight schedules.
– Provided that the global situation, including geopolitical and economic factors, does not cause significant disruptions in international air traffic, based on the current trend and market dynamics, we expect to reach traffic of five million passengers within a maximum of two years – MZLZ stated.
The MZLZ master plan, approved by the concession provider, anticipates that the phases of expansion will be activated successively, depending on the number of passengers: phase 2A at five million passengers, phase 2B at 6.1 million, phase 2C at 7.3 million, and the final phase 2D by 2032 at the latest.
According to previously published information, the second phase of expansion, known as phase 2A, includes the complete finalization of the baggage handling system (BHS), increasing the number of check-in counters to a total of 60, installing a fifth baggage claim belt, and adding a fourth sorting carousel. An expansion of one wing of the terminal, a pier for non-Schengen departures, and an increase in the waiting area for international departures is also planned.
According to the contract, the concessionaire is obliged to revise the master plan every five years, taking into account traffic trends, flight structure, fleet, and any new regulations. All changes must be approved by the concession provider. Unofficially, it can be heard that the concessionaire wants to open the old terminal, which would provide additional capacity for up to three million passengers and potentially postpone significant investments in the expansion of the new terminal, estimated at 30 to 70 million euros.
If the concessionaire is indeed seeking alternative solutions to postpone investments, the logical question arises as to why the state would agree to ease obligations that are clearly defined in the concession agreement.
