EBRD approves Sarajevo loan

Sarajevo Airport to expand

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved of a 25 million Euro loan for construction and upgrade at Sarajevo International Airport. The loan will finance an extension of the passenger terminal, together with the upgrade and expansion of the taxiways and apron. The project, when complete, will meet the growing passenger traffic at the airport. The EBRD has a long-standing relationship with Sarajevo Airport and has contributed to the creation of Sarajevo Airport as a limited liability company owned by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As part of the current project, the bank will support measures that increase the participation of the private sector in the airport’s operations through the outsourcing of selected activities to private companies. In addition, the bank will assist the airport in increasing the share of non-aviation revenue such as duty free areas, catering, business lounges and car parks. Finally, the project will include support for the European Union’s Open Skies policy. The current terminal at Sarajevo has an annual capacity of 800.000. The project should commence once all documentation is finalised and all bureaucratic difficulties are overcome.

Meanwhile, passengers heading to Sarajevo Airport will finally be able to do so from the city by bus. Sarajevo is one of the rare European capital cities not to have a bus service to the airport. Until now passengers either had to use excessively over priced taxis or find alternative transportation to the city centre. A train terminal is located some 6 kilometres from the airport. Bus services from the city to the airport should commence soon.