Sarajevo Airport unveils future plans

Sarajevo Airport is preparing to commence work on the multi million euro expansion of its terminal building (pictured above), as well as the construction of its new business and administrative headquarters, while pursuing new carriers and routes. Last week, Sarajevo Airport inked a 15.3 million euro contract with local company ANS Drive to add an extra 10.000 square metres to its terminal building. Furthermore, the deal also includes the construction of an office/business facility at the airport, worth three million euros. The two projects will be financed from the airport’s own funds. «The expansion of the passenger terminal and the construction of a business facility are important strategic projects for Sarajevo Airport, which will provide capacity for further growth», General Manager, Armin Kajmaković, said.

Sarajevo Airport’s planned new business and administrative headquarters

Upon completion, the terminal building will have the capacity to handle two million passengers. Currently, Sarajevo can welcome one million travellers per year, with the airport set to surpass that figure during the fourth quarter of 2018. Construction is expected to start this autumn, with its completion scheduled for late 2019. Previously, the old terminal A building was demolished in order to make way for the expanded facility. The new business and administrative building, which will house offices for airport staff, will be located next to the control tower. In addition, following two years of trials, the airport will fully implement its anti-fog system this winter, in order to reduce cancellations and delays resulting from adverse weather conditions. The system involves spraying liquid propane into the atmosphere, which turns fog into ice particles or snow crystals that then fall onto the ground . «We can say with all certainty that this system will be fully operational this winter. Over the past few seasons we successfully tested it and had fewer cancelled flights», Mr Kajmaković said.

The airport is also looking to attract new carriers. Aegean Airlines will commence seasonal flights from Athens to Sarajevo on June 13 of next year, while talks are taking place with several other carriers as well. «We expect developments in the opening of new routes. I recently attended the singing of a new bilateral air service agreement between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina and I had the opportunity to hold talks with Chinese aviation regulators, as well as representatives from several of their airlines. There is a lot of room for cooperation«, Mr Kajmaković said. He added, «We are in talks with several airlines over flights to Riyadh and Bahrain, and we have also held discussions concerning services to Skopje, however, airlines remain apprehensive about this route. We are working hard behind the scenes. When the talks are finalised it will be easy to announce and promote new routes».