Preparation for second phase of Bratislava’s airport development underway - an interview with Zdenek Schraml, the Chairman of the Board and CEO at the M.R. Stefanik Airport

2010-08-06



Central Europe Construction Review is talking to Mr. Zdenek Schraml, the Chairman of the Board and CEO at the M.R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava.

Katarzyna Grabarz, Central Europe Construction Review: Has the reconstruction work at the old terminal already started?
Zdenek Schraml: The second phase of the project, which also includes the demolition of the original departures terminal from 1970, is scheduled to commence in 2011. In the meantime old equipment, technologies and furnishing are being removed from the old terminal building so that everything is prepared for its demolition.

KG: What kind of works will be carried out in the second phase of the project?
ZS: During the second phase of construction in 2011 and 2012, the demolition of the old terminal will take place, followed by the erection of the second half of the new building (the first half has already been in operation since June this year). Other features of the second phase are: construction of adjacent roads, boarding bridges and the partial reconstruction of terminal B.

KG: What is the estimated cost of this undertaking?
ZS: The whole project of “Reconstruction and construction works of the new Bratislava Airport terminal” was procured at a cost of €85.9m in total for both the first and second phase of the construction works. The costs were covered by a bank loan and funds obtained from the state.

KG: Will the capacity of the airport improve thanks to this investment?
ZS: After completion in 2012, a new one-roof terminal will be in place with an annual capacity of around 5.5 million passengers (compared to 2.5 million passengers’ capacity of the old building). The number of passengers handled at peak hours will increase from 920 to 1500.

KG: Are there any other investments planned at M. R. Stefanik Airport in the near future?
ZS: Construction of the new passenger terminal will be followed by a corresponding development of the forefront landside area, which includes connecting the airport terminal to the future train station (a project under TEN-T, already in process), as well as complementing facilities such as covered parking (parking house), hotel and shopping facility, office building, etc. The latter are expected to be developed by the private sector in a mid-term timeframe.