This year expects to be another stellar one for the popular Dubrovnik Airport, which hopes to grow their passenger numbers 5%. Recall, in 2018, Dubrovnik hit a new record after welcoming over 2.5 million travelers through their doors, which is already up over 9% on 2017, reports Ex Yu Aviation on January 6, 2019.
“This past year was demanding and turbulent but our goal of achieving 10% growth, which is above the global average, has been more or less attained. We expect that our net profit for 2018 will amount to 9.8 million euros. In 2019, we estimate passenger growth of 4.59%. The biggest increase in travelers is expected from the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic,” said Frano Luetić, the general manager at Dubrovnik Airport, who continued:
“After 28 years, Croatia will be linked with the United States thanks to American Airlines’ service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik. During the summer, Flydubai will continue to run flights from Dubai while the world’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair, will launch services to our airport.”
Up to 70 airlines will operate to Dubrovnik in the summer of 2019.
“A significant increase in traffic is expected from cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Dublin,” Luetić added.
Romana Vlašić, the director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, is also optimistic about the summer season – and especially the new route on American Airlines.
“This pilot project with American Airlines will grow over the coming years to include more American cities. We have already arranged joint marketing opportunities and cooperation. We are only too happy to help fill these flights and make sure that this new link is successful,” Vlašić said.
Dubrovnik’s expansion project will also continue this year, which is estimated to be worth 225 million euro.
Constructing two new rapid exit taxiways, expanding the western apron, and constructing a new commercial aviation apron on the west side, a new east apron for general aviation, a small general aviation terminal and developing aircraft maintenance and operation facilities in addition to the hangars, and a 700-vehicle parking lot is all part of the improvements. Domestic operators will also get a housing area with its own maintenance and operations premises and a new aviation fuel tank, among other things. All construction work should be done in 2020.
A new terminal building is also in Dubrovnik’s plans, though it would only be used during the peak season.
“Current capacity is at five million passengers, and I believe this will be sufficient for some time. As a result, we will not require any significant investments following the completion of this project. However, we do have plans for a new seasonal terminal to the west of the car park, although construction should begin in 2025 or 2026,” said Luko Vuletić, the General Services Manager at Dubrovnik Airport.
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