The new multi million euro terminal in Pristina is set to open its doors to passengers this fall. Construction work on the 45.000 square metre building is nearing completion with late September being tipped as the official opening date for the new terminal. Project manager Holdon Koktur says 130 million euros has been invested into the terminal building, which will have the capacity to handle 3.2 million passengers per year. “We have expanded the airport’s capacity and I am sure that the government will be satisfied. We have invested more into the project than was originally planned. I am very pleased with our progress“, Mr. Koktur commented.
Pristina Airport believes the new terminal will also lure passengers away from using its nearest rival – Skopje Airport. “People do not want to cross the border to use Skopje Airport. It is not attractive for those in Kosovo to travel two hours to Macedonia. We are ready for any kind of competition and believe we will provide much better services than other airports in the region”, Mr. Koktur said. He added airport authorities are considering subsidising low cost airlines in order to attract more customers. Low fares have recently attracted many from Kosovo to use Skopje Airport, with the airport recently launching its own shuttle bus to Pristina.
Pristina Airport is the Balkans third busiest after Belgrade and Zagreb. In 2012 it handled 1.524.134 passengers and has been recording considerable growth throughout this year as well. The new terminal, which will employ fewer than 700 people, features three air bridges. Furthermore, a new control tower, apron and car park have been built as part of the project, launched when the Turkish-French operator Limak-Aéroports de Lyon took over the airport.