One of major infrastructure projects to be finally launched.
The expansion of the Mali Lošnji Airport has been rumoured for years, and it seems that the project could finally be launched and completed by the 2018 tourist season, reports Glas Istre on August 21, 2016.
“The Lošinj Airport is one of the strategically important projects for Croatia which would certainly significantly increase the capacity for the arrival of tourists and give a new perspective to the further development of the town of Mali Lošinj, the islands of Lošinj and Cres, and Croatian tourism on this part of the Adriatic”, said Tourism Minister Anton Kliman.
The reconstruction plan includes the extension of the runway from 900 to 1,800 metres and the construction of a new terminal building, which would make it possible for planes with up to 180 passengers to land there. The project has been added to the list of strategic investment projects in May 2014, and according to current estimates the total value of the investment would amount to about 35 million euros.
The airport that can accommodate large passenger aircraft is an important segment of an elite destination development, and it is clear that the airport would change the future of tourism on the island. In the last six months, the Tourism Ministry has virtually finished with the preparations for the project. Just a few technical issues remain before the project can be presented to the government. “That would complete our part of the job and all the rest, investment and implementation, would be up to Jadranka Group”, said the Minister. Jadranka Groups owns the majority of major tourist facilities on the island and wants to further develop Lošinj as a tourist destination.
“It is good that Lošinj wants to expand the airport. Personally, I do not consider that the investment would in any way reduce the number of passengers at the Pula airport, which means that the number of tourists in Istria would not decline”, said director of the Istria County Tourist Board Denis Ivošević, responding to criticism that the Lošinj Airport expansion would endanger the airport in Pula in Istria.
“Renovation and expansion of the airport will enable charter flights to arrive in Lošinj. If all the requirements are fulfilled and if the decision is made soon, we plan to begin with the construction works after the next tourist season. Although the works will be very demanding, we hope that we would receive the first passengers at the expanded airport in 2018”, said Sanjin Šolić, the CEO of Jadranka Group.
