August 14 (SeeNews) - Serbia's main airport, in Belgrade, serviced record-high 3.134 million passengers in the first seven months of 2018, up 7% year-on-year, according to data of airport operator Aerodrom Nikola Tesla [BEL:AERO].
The number of takeoffs and landings at Belgrade airport went up 3% to 34,304 in January-July from 27,258 in the prior-year period, whereas cargo volume increased 24% to 12,247 tonnes, figures posted on the website of the airport operator show.
In July alone, Belgrade airport handled 670,354 passengers, up 6% on the year, while the number of takeoffs and landings rose 5% to 6,449 from 6,167. Cargo traffic increased by 52% year-on-year to 2,258 tonnes last month.
Belgrade airport serviced record-high 5.343 million passengers in 2017, up 9% on 2016, as cargo throughput increased 42% to 19,758 tonnes.
Serbia's government said in March it signed a 25-year concession agreement for the operation of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport with France's Vinci Airports.
Under the terms of the concession agreement, Vinci Airports will pay 417 million euro ($475.4 million) to the Serbian government and 84 million euro to the retail shareholders of AerodromNikola Tesla for the concession plus an annual concession fee of between 4.4 million euro and 15.1 million euro.
The Serbian government owns 83.1% of Aerodrom Nikola Tesla.
($ = 0.876992 euro)