The contractor for the third phase of reconstruction and construction at Zadar Airport has been selected, according to the 057info portal. This phase focuses on construction work at the terminal itself, including the expansion of the departure area and gates. The project’s third phase is valued at €12,988,369.69 (excluding VAT). This is the result of a repeated tender, as the initial one was canceled due to an underestimated project value. Construction is expected to begin at the end of the tourist season.
Zadar Airport is undertaking a comprehensive reconstruction and expansion project, which is divided into 10 phases. The first two phases involve reconstructing a section of the airport and expanding the stand by 25,309 m² (connecting the main stand with the general aviation stand) to create a single-row aircraft parking arrangement. Additionally, these phases include the reconstruction and extension of runway 13/31, increasing its length from the current 2,500 meters to 3,150 meters, and improvements near threshold 13. The plans also include adding and reconstructing the taxiways along the runway.
The third phase is the first to involve construction work on the passenger terminal. The entire project is slated for completion by 2030 and is estimated to cost 160 million euros. Upon completion, Zadar Airport will boast a fully renovated infrastructure, including a new terminal covering 30,000 m². A key focus of the project is sustainability, with electrical equipment for servicing aircraft already procured, and the design prioritizing energy independence and a reduced environmental impact. Additionally, the project is designed so that the airport remains operational throughout the construction, necessitating the division of the work into 10 phases.
In an interview with Nacional, airport architect Ante Kuzmanić described the sequence of the planned works: “The first two phases of the project focus on the runway and the stand. Our design work, which pertains to the passenger terminal and its surrounding areas—including the parking lot, park, and infrastructural improvements—covers the third through tenth phases. The third phase of the overall construction marks the first phase of our project. It involves the linear expansion of the departure lounges, with new waiting rooms and passenger gates being constructed along the entire length of the existing building. This will give the terminal a completely new look, culminating in the final design of the departure area. A building permit has been issued, and construction is set to begin after the tourist season, with completion expected by 2026. The second phase of our project involves constructing a basement level and a new baggage sorting facility, which will serve as the heart of the airport. We have connected the check-in area to the new sorting facility through a tunnel. The new building will house the baggage sorting room in the basement, while the ground floor will accommodate passenger arrivals, security controls, customs, and police services. During this phase, part of the old terminal will remain operational until the new section is complete, after which the functions of the old terminal will be seamlessly transferred to the new building. We are applying a staged construction approach, similar to the one we successfully implemented during the reconstruction of Dubrovnik Airport. In the third phase of our project, check-in will be moved to the new part of the building, ensuring that all operational needs are met. In the fourth phase, we will completely demolish the old terminal building and transform that space into a new commercial and dining area for the airport. While this process may seem complex and impractical at first glance, we have fully adhered to the requirement that passengers must be able to pass through the terminal at all times, ensuring that the airport remains operational without any closures throughout the construction process.”
What’s particularly interesting about the construction project is that the architectural design includes space in the basement of the new terminal designated for a future railway station for light rail vehicles. Although the current project does not include plans to connect the airport by rail, architect Kuzmanić told *Nacional* that this space has been reserved for a potential future connection to the port of Gaženica and, eventually, to the center of Zadar.
