The airports in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina have all seen their passenger numbers improve in June compared to the same month last year. Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport led the way, recording its busiest month on record. It saw 451.324 passengers pass through its doors, an impressive increase of 28.8% compared to June 2013. Results in other areas such as flight operations and handled cargo also improved. Serbia’s Nikola Tesla Airport recorded 5.602 arrivals and departures, up 28.7% on last year’s 4.354 flight operations. In addition, the airport handled 747.681 kilograms of cargo, up 20.3%. So far this year, Belgrade has welcomed 1.988.564 passengers, an increase of 32% compared to the same period last year.
Croatia’s Zagreb Airport also put in a sound performance as it handled 243.984 travellers in June. The figure represents a 6.8% increase on last year. The result comes despite a 3.8% decrease in the number of operated flights to Zagreb. This is primarily because in late June 2013 the airport saw a significant number of flights carrying government officials and dignitaries to the Croatian capital to mark the country’s entry into the European Union on July 1. The amount of handled cargo is also down slightly.
During the month, Zagreb welcomed its millionth passenger for the year, six days ahead of 2013. During the first half of 2014, Zagreb Airport handled 1.083.706 passengers, an increase of 2.1% on last year.
Finally, Bosnia Herzegovina’s Sarajevo Airport has seen its passenger numbers rise 2.8% this June. The airport welcomed 74.976 travellers. The modest rise comes despite an 11% surge in the number of operated flights, which totalled 585. The amount of handled cargo also soared by 17%. “The passenger increase comes as a result of new routes as well as an increase in the number of charter flights over the summer season”, the airport said in a statement. It added, “Further growth is expected in the coming period and the airport anticipates handling close to 700.000 passengers by the end of the year, surpassing last year’s record figure of over 650.000 travellers”. In the first half of 2014, Sarajevo welcomed 320.438 passengers, an increase of 5.5%.
Source Balkans
