Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is poised for significant growth, with plans to expand its terminal building to accommodate the upcoming Expo 2027, scheduled to take place in the Serbian capital between May and August of that year. The expansion will include the addition of three new gates in the recently extended C pier of the terminal, accompanied by four new aircraft parking positions. This addition will bring the total size of the C wing to 45,298 square meters.
The airport’s expansion is not limited to the terminal building. It is also undergoing a comprehensive overhaul, adding an extra 39,300 square meters to its overall size, bringing the total to 93,651 square meters. As part of this expansion, the airport has added twelve new gates, bringing the total to 31, and eleven new parking stands, increasing the total to 38.
Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of Belgrade’s operator VINCI Airports, stated that since taking over the concession, the company has been working closely with Serbian authorities and partners to transform Nikola Tesla Airport into a Southeast European hub, aiming to serve fifteen million passengers by the end of the concession period. The airport’s growth is reflected in its passenger numbers, which reached close to eight million in 2023, a significant increase from 6.2 million in 2019. This growth has been accompanied by an expansion of the airport’s route network, with the addition of 46 new destinations and 86 new routes, totaling 116 routes. The airport is now also home to four, and soon five, long-haul destinations.
The airport’s expansion extends to its commercial offerings as well. Work is underway to add 4,000 square meters of commercial space inside the terminal building, creating space for new food and beverage facilities and shops, bringing the total commercial space to 9,000 square meters. In addition to these expansions, the airport is installing 16 passport eGates, expected to be operational by October. The eGates are designed to streamline passenger flow through passport control, increasing processing speeds fivefold. As a result of the eGate installation, the airport’s passport control capacity has temporarily been reduced by 25% as some of its 29 passport control booths have been shut down to accommodate the new eGates.
The expansion and modernization of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport are a testament to its growing status as a key transportation hub in the region. The airport’s commitment to enhancing passenger experience through increased capacity and streamlined processes will further solidify its position as a gateway to Serbia and the broader Southeast European region.
