Prime Minister of the Federation of B&H Fadil Novalić visited PC Sarajevo International Airport (SIA) today and held a meeting with the members of the Management Board – Managing Director Alan Bajić, Executive Director of Airport Infrastructure Development Samra Pehilj and Executive Director of Traffic and Aviation Services – Elvedin Begić.
The hosts informed the Prime Minister Novalić about current business activities of Sarajevo International Airport and about the progress of the works on extending and modernizing the Terminal B which would significantly increase the airport's capacities in the near future and modernize the services which are provided to the passengers.
Regarding the aforementioned project, 95% of construction and craftsmen works have been completed, and among other things, one of the most modern baggage handling systems is going to be provided to the passengers of Sarajevo International Airport by the end of this project, as well as 12 additional check-in counters, numerous business offices, gastro area and the business lounge fully furnished as well as a panoramic elevator.
- We are grateful to the Government of the Federation of B&H and to the relevant ministry for recognizing our needs, we are grateful for the incentives provided during the pandemic as well as for continuous support in terms of the investments. During the two years of the pandemic, we strived and succeeded not to fire any of our employees, said the Managing Director Bajić.
He also pointed out that SIA, for the first time last year, issued a public notice for training of seasonal workers for aircraft and passenger ground handling; 600 candidates applied for the training and 81 of them successfully completed it. Thereby, Sarajevo International Airport has prevented staff shortages that numerous airports across Europe face with at this point.
- Sarajevo International Airport is an important public company of the Federation of B&H. I definitely agree that, indirectly, the entire Federation of B&H benefits from successful work of the airport. The Government strives to recognize the needs of our airports and to provide maximum help.
The members of the Management Board of SIA took the Prime Minister around new premises which are being built as a part of the Project of extension and modernization of the Terminal B.
The most recent data show that 654.568 passengers have used the services of SIA until 14 July 2022, what makes 21% more passengers in comparison with the same time period of 2019, 7.852 flight operations have been operated and that is 12% more in comparison with 2019. Up to this time, the year 2019 has been the record breaking year in terms of business activities of Sarajevo International Airport.
In a period from July 2020 to March 2021, the Government of the Federation of B&H provided 8.2 million BAM from the Budget of the Federation of B&H so as to provide assistance to SIA for the purpose of settlement of a part of costs incurred and for the purpose of implementation of an important project of modernization and extension of the Terminal B. Also, the Government of the Federation of B&H reached a decision to exempt this airport in relation to profit distribution.