Fraport Greece plans expansion at Thessaloniki Airport with new terminal
Posted: 21 September 2018 | International Airport Review | 2 comments
Fraport AG, is investing €100 million in Thessaloniki’s “Makedonia” Airport (SKG), to create a “new era” at Greece’s second largest city.
Fraport Greece presented the future look of Thessaloniki’s “Makedonia” Airport (SKG) at a ceremony held 19th September 2018 on the site of the new 34,000m2 passenger terminal that will soon be standing in the next two years.
Fraport Greece, a subsidiary of Fraport AG, is investing €100 million in creating a “new era” at Greece’s second largest city. Along with the second terminal, this investment includes: refurbishing the existing terminal (total floor space of 24,000m2 ), constructing a new fire station, and upgrading the waste-water biological treatment unit, as well as connecting it to the main city network. Other enhancements will increase operational capacity thanks to more check-in counters (up 47 per cent), a doubling of the security lanes, additional baggage delivery belts (up 75 per cent), and a 50 per cent increase in the number of terminal gates.
At the same time, major upgrade works taking place elsewhere at the airport include reconstructing the runway and apron areas and installing a modern baggage handling and control system. Fraport Greece’s SKG development programme, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021, will significantly increase capacity for a modern gateway to the city of Thessaloniki and its wider region.
Commenting on the Thessaloniki Airport expansion and the Greek regional airports, Fraport CEO Stefan Schulte said: “Fraport is proud to present the new exciting vision of Thessaloniki Airport – our single largest infrastructure investment in Greece. Thessalonki region has an amazing heritage and a dynamic future – which requires an airport fit for the future. Step-by-step, we are improving procedures, operations, services, connectivity and infrastructure. Our goal is to enhance the overall customer experience. We are highly committed. Together, with our partners and stakeholders, we are meeting the challenge – not only in Thessaloniki but also at the other regional airports.”
Fraport Greece CEO Alexander Zinell stressed the importance of the project for Thessaloniki and the Makedonia region, as well as for the entire country: “Today marks the dawn of a new growth era for Greece. There is no better place to start a new chapter than at this historic city. Thessaloniki’s newly-emerging airport represents much more than the €100 million construction project – out of Fraport Greece’s total €415 million infrastructure investment for all 14 regional airports. Quite simply, our goal is to completely transform Thessaloniki Airport into a modern hub for the southeastern Balkans.”
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Aeronautical revenue, Airport construction and design, Airport development, Capacity, Passenger volumes, Runways and pavements, Terminal operations
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“Thessalonki region has an amazing heritage and a dynamic future – which requires an airport fit for the future.”
Sure…that’s why they will build an ugly glass terminal with no relation to the “amazing heritage” and no jet bridges! Instead all transports will be with busses out of respect for the environment and for serving the passengers better who will have to climb stairs up and down in cold and warm – and they call it “an airport fit for the future”! Makes you wonder where the incompetent “Greeks” who are responsible are and what they do about this other than applausing…
Does LS believe that the existing rusted steel Terminal has any reference to Greek heritage – or even modern air travel?
What would the ‘amazing heritage’ Terminal look like – a pastiche of elements from the Parthenon?
Fraport Greece seeks only to make economical improvements to the regional airports – for the benefit of the Greek population and the vital tourist industry it relies upon.
The lack of ‘jet bridges’ is an airline preference – they will simply not pay to use ‘jet bridges’. Much of the traffic on Fraport Greece’s 14 Regional Airports is highly seasonal – and most passengers do not mind a short walk in the summer sunshine – it becomes part of the whole holiday experience.