For the upcoming Expo 2027, Belgrade Airport will expand its capacity with the construction of three new gates and four additional aircraft parking positions, according to Belgrade Airport company officials.
The operator of Nikola Tesla Airport announced that it is working closely with the concession grantor and the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure to obtain all necessary approvals in order to begin construction work on time. They also stated that they are in active communication with the Expo 2027 organizers to determine the best branding and promotional strategy for the exhibition at the airport.
According to an earlier statement for EX-YU Aviation News, the addition of three new gates will increase the C-wing area by 18,353 square meters, bringing the total surface to 45,298 square meters. With ongoing expansion and reconstruction efforts, the airport has already increased its surface area by 39,300 square meters, now totaling 93,651 square meters. The number of gates has grown by 12, reaching 31 in total, while the number of aircraft stands has risen to 38 with the addition of 11 new positions.
The airport continues to enhance its passenger experience through infrastructure development and new hospitality offerings. Several new cafés are being built on the ground floor of the central terminal, while construction work on new restaurants in the departures area is nearing completion.
EX-YU Aviation News also reported the introduction of a new automated taxi receipt system at Nikola Tesla Airport. Passengers can now obtain a printed taxi receipt from a self-service machine, which they present to the taxi driver at the official taxi stand before boarding. This system aims to reduce the presence of unlicensed taxi drivers in the arrivals area and replace the previously unreliable manual receipt process. Three machines are located in the baggage claim area, and one is in the arrivals hall.
According to figures from the first quarter of 2025, more than 73 million passengers traveled through the airport network managed by VINCI Airports, the parent company of Belgrade Airport—an increase of four million, or six percent, compared to the same period last year.
Nikola Tesla Airport alone handled over 1.6 million passengers in the first three months of the year, representing a 0.4 percent increase compared to 2024 and a 56 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. Nearly 16,000 flights were operated, slightly below last year’s number (down 0.2 percent), but still 38 percent more than in 2019, confirming Belgrade Airport’s status as one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe compared to pre-pandemic figures.
In 2025, Belgrade will be connected to 116 airports, 103 through regular flights and 13 through seasonal charter services, as the airport continues to play a vital role in linking Serbia with the rest of the world.
