Pula Airport expansion

Pula will expand terminal building

The 1987 Pula Airport expansion project will finally become a reality as the airport’s management announces that work will begin soon. Although the expansion of the terminal building began 14 years ago, the project was never fully completed due to the breakup of Yugoslavia. It involves the expansion of the departure lounge and cafes as well as the addition of new restaurants and shops. Since Croatia is set to join the European Union during the summer of 2013, the expansion will allow the airport to separate passengers arriving from countries of the Schengen Zone and those arriving from countries outside the zone, as outlined by European Union regulations.

The big expansion project will not only see work on the terminal building but will also include an overhaul of taxiways, construction of a new multifunctional hanger and the expansion of the aircraft parking area, which will be able to accommodate up to 28 jets.

In the first 5 months of this year Pula handled 39.854 passengers, an increase of 17.1% compared to the same period last year. The airport set its passenger record in 1990 when it welcomed 660.000 passengers and is unlikely to achieve these figures this year either. According to a 1980s master plan the airport was expected to handle 1 million passengers sometime during the last decade of the 20th century.