The new terminal is characterised by contemporary design and innovative solutions spread over 65,000sqm, with a first-phase capacity of five million passengers.
Jacques Feron, CEO of MZLZ, concessionaire of Zagreb’s Franjo Tuđman Airport, interviewed by Marta Dimitrova.
Over the past few years, Zagreb’s Franjo Tuđman Airport has been registering a continuous increase in traffic volume, positioning itself as the largest and busiest international airport in Croatia.
The arrival of 10 new airlines, including KLM, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Qatar Airways and Emirates, has increased the airport’s competitiveness and ensured a better offer of scheduled services for travellers. The airport welcomed 2.8 million passengers in 2016, a 6.9% increase compared with 2015.
This year, Franjo Tuđman Airport has welcomed two new airlines – Monarch with flights to London and Manchester which launched on 28 April, and Emirates with a daily 777-300ER service between Zagreb and Dubai that commenced on 1 June.
In addition, the airport anticipates increased frequencies on existing routes. Iberia will double the number of flights between Zagreb and Madrid, while Czech Airlines and LOT will increase seat capacity on routes to Prague and Warsaw by at least 50%. Meanwhile, Croatia Airlines has started four new routes from Zagreb to Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and Bucharest. “In 2017, we are expecting an 8% increase in traffic,” says Jacques Feron, CEO of MZLZ, concessionaire of Franjo Tuđman Airport.
New ‘21st century airport terminal’
Following the airport’s rapid growth, in March it unveiled a new €300 million terminal building, which ensures a smooth passenger journey. The building is characterised by contemporary design and innovative solutions which are spread over 65,000sqm.
“The new terminal building is projected to stand out in the region with its contemporary design and state-of-the-art technological infrastructure. It is a 21st century airport terminal,” Feron explains. “It is also an environmentally advanced building in accordance with LEED Silver requirements.”
Indeed, the airport is accredited at Level 2 Reduction of ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation.
In this first phase of the development, the terminal has a capacity of five million passengers, while in the second phase of the project it will be capable of handling up to eight million.
Jacques Feron, CEO of MZLZ: “We are focused on providing an excellent experience at the airport, in accordance with the highest international standards in every part of the passenger’s journey, making their experience a memorable one.”
Innovative solutions highlight the contemporary design of the terminal. “All areas, corridors and lounges have been designed according to the highest international standards in order to guarantee a smooth circulation in all public areas,” Feron comments.
For instance, a state-of-the-art baggage handling system enables the conveying, screening and sorting of all baggage in a fully-automated process. Franjo Tuđman Airport is, for the first time ever, operating eight boarding bridges, removing the need to transfer passengers to remote gates by bus.
In order to upgrade and improve the quality of service for travellers, the new terminal features an additional 30 check-in counters, 23 passport control counters, and 1,100 car parking spaces.
In terms of its commercial offering, the airport focuses on a greater selection of products. “Aside from the typical assortment of goods for travellers, there are special sections of exclusive brands, as well as Croatian products,” says Feron.
As part of its efforts to attract new routes, Zagreb Airport offers a solid incentive programme, which provides financial support via discounts on landing and passenger service charges for new routes, as well as frequency increases on existing routes. “We have updated the programme recently, together with the opening of the new terminal building, in order to extend our financial support to a greater variety of flights,” Feron adds.
Looking ahead, the airport’s ambition is to attract more airlines and increase the number of passengers. “We are focused on providing an excellent experience at the airport, in accordance with the highest international standards in every part of the passenger’s journey, making their experience a memorable one,” Feron concludes.
