Zagreb Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Zagreb Pleso Airport
nativename = Zračna luka Zagreb/Pleso


IATA = ZAG
ICAO = LDZA
type = Public
operator = ZLZ
city-served = Zagreb, Croatia
location = Pleso, Croatia
elevation-f = 353
elevation-m = 108
coordinates = coord|45|44|35|N|016|04|08|E|type:airport|display=inline
website = [http://www.zagreb-airport.hr/en/index.aspx www.zagreb-airport.hr]
r1-number = 05/23
r1-length-f = 10,669
r1-length-m = 3,252
r1-surface = Concrete/Asphalt
stat-year = 2007
stat1-header = Number of Passengers
stat1-data = 1,992,455
stat2-header = Number of Landings
stat2-data = 21,629
footnotes = Croatian Aeronautical Information Publication [http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadcms/eadsite/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=25&Itemid=3.html AIP] from the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation]

Zagreb Airport airport codes|ZAG|LDZA, also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also one of the Croatian Air Force and Defenses primary fighter jet bases. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 1,992,455 passengers in 2007. It is the primary hub for Croatian flag carrier Croatia Airlines. Croatia Airlines have established their operating base in Zagreb. With 14% annual passenger growth, the expansion of the airport is due to start in 2008.

History

The first airfield in Zagreb was built in 1909 near the western city neighbourhood of Črnomerec. It was used by Slavoljub Eduard Penkala for the airplanes he designed.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made a landing in Borongaj Airfield (east of Zagreb) after his successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

The airfield began serving passenger traffic on February 15 1928.

After World War II, commercial service was moved to a former airbase near the village of Lučko, southwest of the city, on April 1 1947. At its peak in 1959, Lučko served 167,000 passengers.

On April 20 1962, service was once again moved, this time to the current location near the suburb of Pleso in the southeast. It first opened with a 2,500 m long runway and 1,000 m² terminal.

A new 5,000 m² terminal was built in 1966, as well as the apron expansion. In 1974, the runway was extended to its current 3,250 m, and the terminal expanded to its current 12,000 m².

The airport's peak level of traffic was in 2007, with 1.99 million passengers. It is expected to surpass 2 million in 2008. In 2004, the airport installed a CAT-IIIb instrument landing system (ILS). The VIP terminal was finished in 2007 and is located just south-west of the old terminal, which is also going to be refurbished.

Expansion and modernization

A new terminal is planned for 2011. The initial plan, made by NACO in 1997, was for 47,000 m² of space, capacity for 11 jetways, and capability of handling 3 million passengers annually, but the airport authority decided to scrap this plan in favor of a larger terminal.

A new master plan has been developed by Scott Associates in 2006 and the new terminal is now expected to have 11 jetways and a capacity of 3.3 million passengers annually. It will be approximately 65,600 m² in area, nearly five times the size of the current terminal.

A competition for the final architectural and urban planning solution is yet to come.

The current proposal has been designed by Ted Nasmith. The design includes a retail component with stores, banks, cafes and restaurants. A new luxury hotel with direct underground links to the terminal is planned, directly in front of the new terminal.

Construction is expected to cost €212 million, and is expected to begin in 2008. Following completion in 2010, the old terminal will be used for low-cost operators.

Air Force operations will move to the south end of the airport due to the construction.

The new terminal will be expanded in stages, as needed. The first expansion may happen as soon as 2015.

Accompanying the terminal will be a second parallel runway. The completion date is unknown at this stage.

By 2011, there will also be a new rail line alongside the Eastern bypass of Velika Gorica, which extends from Zagreb across the Homeland Bridge completed in 2007. These elements will create an entirely new east entrance into the city.

Airlines and destinations

*Aeroflot - Moscow-Sheremetyevo
*Air France - Paris-Charles de Gaulle
*Austrian Airlines - Vienna
*Belle Air - Tirana (Starts October 2008)
*B&H Airlines - Sarajevo
*Croatia Airlines
**"Domestic" - Bol, Dubrovnik,Osijek (seasonal), Pula, Split, Zadar
**"International" - Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Munich, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Podgorica, Pristina, Rome-Fiumicino, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tel Aviv (seasonal), Vienna, Zürich
*Czech Airlines - Prague
*Flybaboo - Geneva (Starts 28 October)
*Germanwings - Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund, Hamburg, Stuttgart
*Lufthansa - Frankfurt, Munich
*Malév Hungarian Airlines - Budapest
*SAS - Stockholm-Arlanda
*TAP Portugal - Bologna, Lisbon
*Turkish Airlines - Istanbul-Atatürk
*Wizz Air - London-Luton

Cargo airlines

*MiniLiner - Bergamo
*Trade Air - Ljubljana, Sarajevo

Charter Flights

*Dubrovnik Airline - Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid
*Japan Airlines - Tokyo-Narita (seasonal)
*Skyservice - Belfast-International, Toronto-Pearson (seasonal)
*Nouvelair - Monastir

Traffic figures

*Data for first 6 months.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.zagreb-airport.hr/en/index.aspx Official airport website] en icon
*WAD|LDZA