Franjo Tuđman Airport welcomed its four-millionth passenger of 2026 on 26 October, reaching the milestone earlier than ever before. Alongside continued passenger traffic growth, Međunarodna zračna luka Zagreb (MZLZ), the airport’s concessionaire and operator, has announced plans to begin preparatory work for the expansion of the passenger terminal in 2027.

The expansion announcement comes amid sustained growth in passenger numbers. According to MZLZ, passenger traffic is almost 40 per cent higher than in 2019, with results so far pointing towards another record year. However, the press release did not specify the scope of the planned expansion, the investment value or the timeline for the start and completion of construction.

MZLZ says growth has been achieved despite rising operating costs, capacity constraints across the aviation industry, and geopolitical and market conditions affecting route networks. The operator attributes the continued positive performance to cooperation with airlines and the development of its destination network, placing Franjo Tuđman Airport among Europe’s fastest-growing airports in the category handling up to five million passengers.

The recently established Air China connection between Beijing and Zagreb is highlighted as one of the more significant developments in international connectivity. MZLZ also says it is working with several airlines on further network development and expects positive developments in the near future. Specific new destinations, airlines and launch dates have not yet been announced.

The concessionaire identifies relatively low seasonality as one of Franjo Tuđman Airport’s key advantages. Demand throughout the year is supported by a combination of business, leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. According to MZLZ, this traffic mix helps airlines sustain year-round services and contributes to network stability.

Reaching four million passengers earlier than ever is therefore accompanied by plans to prepare for further infrastructure development. While the precise scale of the terminal expansion will become clear once more detailed plans are published, the activities MZLZ has announced for 2027 signal preparations for continued traffic growth.