BELGRADE (Serbia), November 6 (SeeNews) – Serbia's main airport, in Belgrade, serviced record-high 4.897 million passengers in the first ten months of 2018, up 6% 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 51,840 in January-October from 50,443 in the prior-year period, whereas cargo volume increased 15% to 17,925 tonnes, figures posted on the website of the airport operator show.
In October alone, Belgrade airport handled 495,881 passengers, up 3% on the year, while the number of takeoffs and landings rose 2% to 5,284 from 5,174. Cargo traffic increased by 22% year-on-year to 2,079 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 ($475.3 million) to the Serbian government and 84 million euro to the retail shareholders of Aerodrom Nikola Tesla for the concession plus an annual concession fee of between 4.4 million euro and 15.1 million euro.
The Serbian government owns 83.1% of Aerodrom Nikola Tesla.
($ = 0.877281 euro)