Zadar Airport held a ceremony on Friday, 24 July, to mark the completion and official opening of its new departing passenger terminal, which has doubled the airport’s existing terminal capacity. However, the new section did not enter service on the day of the ceremony. Passengers had already been using it for more than a month, with the event formally marking the completion of the project and the terminal’s official presentation.

The €17 million investment enables Zadar Airport to handle up to three million passengers annually, creating the conditions for further traffic growth, new routes, expansion into new markets and the development of year-round air connectivity.

The new terminal represents the largest investment in Zadar Airport since its post-war reconstruction and forms part of a broader investment cycle worth approximately €35 million. The project was financed through a loan taken out by the airport itself, while funding from Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan was also used for other development projects.

The opening ceremony was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, together with Deputy Prime Ministers Tomo Medved, Ivan Anušić, Tomislav Ćorić and Oleg Butković, as well as Minister Alen Ružić.

Plenković said that the development of Zadar Airport, from its beginnings in the late 1960s, through the destruction it suffered during the Homeland War and to today’s strong traffic growth, represented a major step forward for the entire region.

“This is a major step forward, not only for Zadar Airport, but also for the city of Zadar, Zadar County, its tourism sector and its economy. This investment, financed through a loan taken out by the airport itself, is part of a broader investment cycle worth around €35 million, which has also included funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan,” Plenković said.

He placed particular emphasis on the airport’s electrification and environmental projects, which have enabled Zadar Airport to become Croatia’s first green airport.

Zadar is currently connected with more than 60 European destinations, with services operated by more than 15 air carriers. According to the prime minister, this level of connectivity demonstrates the importance of the airport for Croatian tourism and for the continued economic development of Zadar County.

Zadar County Prefect Josip Bilaver noted that the opening of the terminal marked the completion of the largest single investment in the airport since its post-war reconstruction. The development cycle in recent years has also included infrastructure modernisation, environmental projects and the construction of a new aircraft apron.

“The new passenger terminal will be able to handle up to three million passengers and gives us room for further growth. However, this is not the end of our investment plans. The next major project is the extension of the runway by an additional 700 metres, worth around €95 million, which will give Zadar Airport a completely new strategic and transport dimension,” Bilaver said.

The runway extension is expected to enable the airport to accommodate larger and heavier aircraft, increase traffic capacity and further strengthen Zadar’s position on the international market. The project also includes increasing the load-bearing capacity of the existing runway and upgrading the taxiway system.

Plans are also under way to connect the airport with the centre of Zadar by rail. Following the issuance of a location permit for the construction of a railway tunnel that would divert the existing line away from Bibinje, preparations are being made to extend the route towards the passenger terminal.

“Our goal is for Zadar to become the first Croatian city directly connected to its airport by rail. In addition, construction of a new air traffic control centre will begin soon, creating new jobs and further improving air traffic safety,” Bilaver said.

Zadar Mayor Šime Erlić said that the airport had increased its passenger numbers approximately three and a half times over the past decade. Around 1.6 million passengers used the airport in 2025, bringing the existing terminal close to the limit of its capacity.

“From the Homeland War to the present day, Zadar Airport has been one of the most important strategic development assets of this region and a strong driver of tourism and economic growth. The new terminal places us alongside modern European airports of a similar size and creates room for further investment, new routes and new markets,” Erlić said.

Zadar Airport Director Josip Klišmanić announced that the investment cycle would continue with an expansion of parking capacity for rental vehicles, the construction of a new airport entrance and the development of a new car park with approximately 1,000 spaces and a vehicle washing facility.

“This will allow us to further improve operating conditions for car rental companies, for which Zadar has already become an exceptionally important centre,” Klišmanić said.

These projects will be followed by preparations for the reconstruction and extension of the runway, which is expected to become the largest capital investment in the airport’s history.

“The plans include extending the runway, increasing its load-bearing capacity and upgrading the taxiways, which will significantly increase traffic capacity,” Klišmanić said.

The airport’s future development will not be based exclusively on passenger traffic growth. Airport management also plans to develop maintenance hangars for aircraft base maintenance. The project has already been presented to the relevant ministry, while financial support is also expected to be sought under the European Union’s multiannual financial framework for the 2028–2034 period.

“Our aim is to establish ourselves in a highly sought-after and underserved niche in the global market. Due to its climatic and meteorological conditions, Zadar has ideal prerequisites for the development of such a maintenance centre. Industry interest already exists, and initial contacts have been established with a secondary school that trains aircraft technicians,” Klišmanić said.

The development of an aircraft maintenance centre could create new, highly skilled and well-paid jobs, while also encouraging the introduction of new education and university programmes related to aviation and the expansion of the University of Zadar’s activities in the sector.

“The new terminal is not merely a building made of glass, steel and concrete. It is a symbol of our vision, ambition and readiness to keep pace with the highest standards. With the new capacity, we are improving service quality, safety and passenger comfort, while opening the door wide to new routes, new markets and year-round connectivity,” Klišmanić concluded.

In addition to representatives of the national, regional and local authorities, the ceremony was attended by members of Parliament, representatives of the aviation sector, the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, figures from cultural and public life, and employees of Zadar Airport.