Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Aleksandar Vučić launch the Belgrade airport modernisation carried out by VINCI Airports

16 July 2019 - 5:46 pm - Projects update and handover - Serbia

· An ambitious plan to expand the Serbian capital's airport and renown
· Excellent traffic performance since VINCI Airports took over operations at the end of 2018

On the occasion of his official visit to the Republic of Serbia, Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, joined Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia, to launch the Belgrade airport modernisation project alongside Xavier Huillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI and Nicolas Notebaert, President of VINCI Airports and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI Concessions. The event marks the first stage of an ambitious expansion programme for the airport in the Serbian capital, carried out by its concessionaire VINCI Airports.

The government of the Republic of Serbia awarded the 25-year Belgrade airport concession to VINCI Airports in March 2018. The contract covers financing, operations, maintenance, renovation and expansion of the airport and its existing runway system, the goal being to increase the airport's capacity and to foster the economic development of Serbia. VINCI Airports has made a commitment to open new medium and long-haul routes; improve passenger flow management; showcase the Serbian cultural heritage; and roll out AirPact, the VINCI Airports environmental policy, which includes wastewater management, waste management and development of solar energy.

To achieve these objectives, more than €730 million will be invested during the concession period to raise the airport's quality of service to the highest international standards and enable it to ultimately serve 15 million passengers. The modernisation works will be carried out in synergy with VINCI Construction Grands Projets.

Since VINCI Airports took over operations in December 2018, the Belgrade airport has achieved excellent performance. Over the first half of 2019, the number of passengers rose 5.9% to 2.6 million. Cooperation with airlines resulted in the return of Air France, which resumed its Paris-Belgrade route after a 6-year hiatus, and inauguration of a new Wizz Air route between Belgrade Nikola Tesla and Lyon-Saint Exupéry, which is also managed by VINCI Airports. These two route openings helped boost the number of international visitors to Serbia.

Xavier Huillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI, said, "VINCI is honoured to contribute to Serbia’s development and the strengthening of Franco-Serbian relations by improving air transport in the country."

Nicolas Notebaert, President of VINCI Airports and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI Concessions, said, "Over the coming 25 years we will work closely with the Serbian authorities as a key partner of the country's economy. The goal of VINCI Airports is to make Belgrade the future hub in Southeast Europe."

About VINCI Airports
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of 46 airports located in France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Serbia, Cambodia, Japan, the United States, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil. Served by more than 250 airlines, VINCI Airports' network handled 240 million passengers in 2018 (including traffic at London Gatwick). Through its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capability, international network and know-how to optimise the management and performance of existing airport infrastructure, facility extensions and new-build construction projects. In 2018, its annual revenue for managed activities amounted to €3.6 billion, for consolidated revenue of €1.6 billion. More comprehensive information is available on www.vinci-airports.com

 

About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions, energy and construction, employing 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally, socially responsible and ethical manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. Based on that approach, VINCI’s ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general.