Thessaloniki: Makedonia Airport on course to become a high standard international terminal

Upgrade works in Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Airport seem to have entered a relatively turbulent period. Just a few weeks before this year’s high touristic season ends, uncertainly has started being increasingly apparent regarding the following season, commencing in mid-April 2018.

The fuss appears to be about the disagreement that has arisen concerning construction works on the runway 10-28. Makedonia has two runways which, from a vertical point of view, create an X shape as they intersect diagonally. Upgrade works for the runways started in 2006, with an initial scope of a 1,900-yard extension towards the sea, a project which will be finally be completed early next year after a long delay and multiple postponements.

Another contract is also underway regarding the upgrade of the existing runway 10-28. Part of the works (asphalting) is located precisely at the runways’ intersection creating a coordination problem. The scope of the project, according to the contract, must be carried out in a period of about 4 months, starting from October 2017; On the other hand though, Fraport, being the new airport manager argues that there based on its studies these works are not necessary and should be skipped.

Company officials told Ypodomes.com that should these works be implemented, they would create major operational problems at the airport, with implications that are difficult to assess. As it is pointed out, the implementation of these projects would reduce dramatically the ability of the airport to accept aircrafts due to the suspension of its main runway’s operation, causing Makedonia’s capacity to drop as low as 25% compared to today’s traffic, and all that in a city with a booming touristic industry.

The confusion is even bigger if we consider that schedules regarding public works are generally unreliable causing concerns for the next touristic season with regard to the plans of the airliners and tourist operators.

Fraport works to start soon

At the same time, we are just a month away from the initiation of Fraport’s uprade projects. In October, the construction period for the refurbishment of the existing terminal and its expansion of the 31,000 sq.m. is starting.

The upgrade includes a series of projects that will be completed within 4 years, according to the contract, setting its scheduled completion for October 2021. With regard to the refurbishment of the existing terminal there is a provision for a series of extensive revamps: new access ramps, replacement of the sewage treatment system, a new Fire Station, rearrangement of the aircrafts’, HBS installation, increase of check-in points from 30 today to 44, baggage claim points from 4 to 7, gates from 16 to 24 and checkpoints from 6 to 12.

During the summer period, major works were carried out to improve the existing image of the terminal, which included 909 interventions: 48 signalling works, 110 building-related works, 188 electrical works and 563 hydraulic or mechanical works.

The only oversight, from Fraport’s behalf, is the appearing lack of jetways in the new facilities due to budget reasons. Fraport argues that there is no need for jetways as, based on the new design, aircrafts will be very close to the terminal. However, the lack of such equipment in a, hopefully, very touristic Thessaloniki in the future would give passengers the impression of a regional airport.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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