Zagreb Airport considers reopening old terminal as passenger numbers rise

Zagreb’ Franjo Tuđman Airport

ZAGREB, 12 March 2026 – Zagreb Airport is considering reopening its former passenger terminal as traveller numbers continue to rise, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.

The facility has been closed to passengers since 28 March 2017, when the airport’s new terminal opened. However, renewed passenger growth and expansion obligations tied to the airport’s concession agreement have prompted discussions about bringing the old building back into operation, Poslovni dnevnik reported.

Under the current concession contract, the consortium operating the airport, Međunarodna tvrtka Zračna luka Zagreb (ZAIC), must begin expanding the existing passenger terminal within 90 days after the end of the year in which passenger numbers first reach five million.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, projections suggested that this threshold would be reached in 2026, although the milestone has not yet been achieved. Expanding the current terminal is estimated to cost around €70 million, making the reopening of the old terminal a potentially quicker and more affordable alternative.

Discussions are currently under way among stakeholders about relocating low-cost airlines to the former terminal building.

Ryanair, which has been a key driver of passenger growth at Zagreb Airport in recent years, has reportedly shown interest in using the facility. According to aviation industry reports, the airline has sought exclusive usage rights for the terminal.

Croatia’s Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure previously confirmed that talks have taken place regarding the reopening of the old terminal, Poslovni dnevnik said.

The state is reportedly prepared to extend Zagreb Airport’s concession by three years and nine months if the operator restores the old terminal and brings it back into service. The airport’s current concession agreement runs until 2042.

Old Zagreb Airport terminal (Photo: Suradnik13/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The airport’s development plan, defined in the 2013 concession agreement, outlines several expansion phases triggered by passenger milestones.

Phase 2 of the airport expansion is divided into three sub-phases – 2A, 2B and 2C – each activated when specific traffic levels are reached.

If Zagreb Airport handles five million passengers in a single year, construction of Phase 2A must begin no later than 30 March 2027. The following phases would be triggered once passenger numbers reach 6.1 million and 7.3 million respectively.

Most of the Phase 2A works must be completed within 365 days, or 540 days if all sub-phases are combined. Failure to meet the contractual deadlines would result in penalties of €15,000 per day for delays.

Passenger traffic at Zagreb Airport continues to grow steadily.

In February, the airport handled 281,489 passengers, representing a 7.8% increase compared with the same month last year. This growth was recorded despite a 0.7% drop in aircraft operations.

During the first two months of 2026, the airport welcomed 578,350 passengers, an increase of 6.8%, or 36,707 additional travellers, compared with the same period in 2025.