FRENCH PRESIDENT IN BELGRADE FOR UNVEILING OF AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT

Operator, VINCI Airports, today launched its blueprint for the expansion of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, in the presence of the presidents of France and Serbia. 

French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, were joined at the launch of the project by Xavier Huillard, chairman and CEO of VINCI and Nicolas Notebaert, president of VINCI Airports and CEO of VINCI Concessions.

The event marks the first stage of an ambitious expansion programme for the airport in the Serbian capital, carried out by its concessionaire VINCI Airports.  

The government of the Republic of Serbia awarded the 25-year Belgrade airport concession to VINCI Airports in March 2018.

The contract covers financing, operations, maintenance, renovation and expansion of the airport and its existing runway system, the goal being to increase the airport’s capacity and to foster the economic development of Serbia.

VINCI Airports has made a commitment to open new medium and long-haul routes; improve passenger flow management; showcase the Serbian cultural heritage; and roll out AirPact, the VINCI Airports environmental policy, which includes wastewater management, waste management and development of solar energy.

To achieve these objectives, more than €730 million will be invested during the concession period to raise the airport’s quality of service to the highest international standards and enable it to ultimately serve 15 million passengers. 

The modernisation works will be carried out in synergy with VINCI Construction Grands Projets.

Huillard said: “VINCI is honoured to contribute to Serbia’s development and the strengthening of Franco-Serbian relations by improving air transport in the country.” 

While Notebaert said: “Over the coming 25 years we will work closely with the Serbian authorities as a key partner of the country’s economy. The goal of VINCI Airports is to make Belgrade the future hub in Southeast Europe.”

Passenger numbers at the airport have increased by 5.9% to 2.6 million in the first half of 2019.

Two highlights of the airport’s new co-operation with airlines have been the return of Air France, which resumed its Paris-Belgrade route after a six-year hiatus, and inauguration of a new Wizz Air route between Belgrade Nikola Tesla and Lyon-Saint Exupéry.