Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport achieved excellent results in 2024, with the number of passengers exceeding 400,000 in June for the first time. Specifically, in June 2024, 406,031 passengers passed through the airport, representing a 17% increase compared to the same month in 2023, which saw 347,019 passengers. Notably, this record number of passengers was achieved during the same month when work on the renovation of taxiway F is ongoing at the airport, which is why the Crocontrol introduced a slot system for flight approvals.
In total, in 2024 Franjo Tuđman Airport recorded 1,970,817 passengers, which is an increase of 16.37% compared to the first 6 months of 2023, when traffic of 1,693,512 passengers was recorded. The growth in the number of passengers was certainly influenced by the opening of new routes for the summer flight schedule of 2024, which include 3 new Croatia Airlines routes (Stockholm, Berlin, and Tirana), 5 new Ryanair routes (Alicante, Girona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, and Pisa), as well as the new T’Way direct route for Seoul. This summer, Zagreb is connected by airlines better than ever and has 66 destinations (6 in domestic and 60 in international traffic), which will be served by a total of 20 airlines.
In this spirit, we asked MZLZ Jsc., the operator of Zagreb Airport, about their development plans, particularly regarding the expansion of the new passenger terminal. According to the concession contract and confirmed by AvioRadar in 2021, to maintain optimal service levels related to flight registration waiting times, the airport can initiate an intermediate phase of capacity expansion once it reaches 3.5 million passengers per year. In the same interview, it was stated that the intermediate phase includes increasing the number of check-in counters from the current 30 to 45 and expanding the baggage sorting area. MZLZ has now confirmed to AvioRadar: “MZLZ has planned certain works in the next year (expansion of the check-in zone, baggage sorting area…), to increase traffic capacity.”
The concession contract regulates the expansion and increase of the passenger terminal’s capacity in line with the rise in passenger numbers. Reaching 5 million passengers per year should trigger the start of the second phase of the new passenger terminal’s expansion. This phase includes the full completion of the baggage handling system (BHS), increasing the total number of passenger check-in counters to 60, installing a fifth baggage claim lane, and adding a fourth baggage sorting carousel in the sorting room. Additionally, phase 2 plans to expand one terminal wing (the pier for non-Schengen departures) and increase the departure waiting area (boarding lounge). The photo below shows the expansion plan according to the MZLZ Masterplan, approved by the concession grantor. The phases of the work are activated based on reaching specific passenger numbers: Phase 2A is planned at 5 million passengers per year, phase 2B at 6.1 million passengers per year, phase 2C at 7.3 million passengers per year, and the final phase 2D should start no later than 2032.
We additionally asked MZLZ about the alleged plans to activate the old terminal to resume passenger traffic (mainly for low-cost carriers), to which MZLZ replied: “According to the Concession Agreement, the old passenger terminal is also covered by the concession and in this sense MZLZ has full authority and responsibility In view of this, and depending on the further development of traffic, its growth and structure (low cost/traditional carriers), the company can decide whether the old terminal will be used for passenger traffic. Descision regarding reopening of the old passenger terminal to this day was not concluded.”
