STA, 26 December 2019 - Although Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport has lost its biggest client, carrier Adria Airways, this year, operator Fraport Slovenia is confident that the business hub around the country's biggest airport will continue to grow in the coming years.
Two big cargo hubs opened this year, while Fraport Slovenija has launched the construction of a new passenger terminal, which is set to open before Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of 2021.
The EUR 21 million investment follows years of passenger growth, with the total number of passengers exceeding 1.8 million last year. But shortly after construction started, Adria Airways went into receivership.
Slovenia's former flag carrier transported the bulk of its passengers through Ljubljana. But after the initial plunge in flights and passengers this autumn, other carriers have stepped in and restored most major routes.
"Traffic is picking up just as forecast. We are not building the terminal only because of passenger growth but also because we want to improve the standard and the quality of our service," Fraport Slovenija has said.
Apart from the new terminal, the operator is going forward with a host of other investments, worth a total of EUR 40 million. This includes utilities and roads in the growing Ljubljana Airport City, an area covering some 15 hectares.
"When you enter the airport, the first thing you notice is the growing Brnik Business District. TNT Express Worldwide, Cargo-partner and Kuehne + Nagel have already set up their own logistics hubs here," Fraport said.
UPS Adria (S) Ekspres is building a logistics facility as well, and Iskra Mehanizmi and SchäferRolls are building their facilities here, the operator added.
More than half of the plots are or will shortly be under long-term lease, while some of the bigger plots are still available, said Fraport.
It added that the fast-growing number of routes, following Adria Airways receivership, is restoring investor trust.
