Plans for the construction of a new airport in Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina are progressing, with a new enterprise set up to run the future airport and a consortium of fifteen construction companies submitting their offer to carry out work on the airport site. Operator Airports of Serbia has named Mladen Stanković, who currently works at Niš Constantine the Great Airport, as the new head of the company which will manage Trebinje Airport. Local authorities will now begin work on a zoning plan for the airport site and a special law will be adopted for the project in order to expedite construction. The new airport will be built in the village of Mionići, some ten kilometres from Trebinje. It will feature a 3.5-kiloemtre runway, taxiways totalling 4.5 kilometres and a 7.000 square metre terminal building. The first commercial flight to Belgrade is planned for December 2021, although the development of the airport’s full proposed capacity is expected to take up to four years, Ex-Yu Aviation news reports.
A consortium of Herzegovinian construction companies has submitted a bid for the construction of the largest infrastructure project in this region – Trebinje Airport, the Herzegovina Press has learned.
In the letter of intent signed by 15 renowned companies, it was pointed out that they are fully ready to participate in the airport construction project with technical and personnel capacities, respecting all regulations and rules of the profession, as well as construction deadlines set by the investor, eKapija business portal reports.
The members of the consortium employ more than 800 people, of which 80 are highly educated staff of various profiles who can accompany one such project, which is in every sense a construction and engineering challenge.
”Considering that this is a facility where earthworks represent a good part of the work, we must be proud of the fact that we have construction machinery that can certainly perform all works in the required quality, as well as within a reasonable time,” the consortium’s letter of intent states.
The first planes from the airport in Herzegovina, whose construction could start by the end of next year, will most likely take off in 2022, said the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia, Zorana Mihajlovic.
Mihajlovic stated that, given the complex planning procedures and the period necessary for the preparation of technical documentation and obtaining building permits, the works at the main airport in Trebinje could start in the second half at the earliest, ie by the end of 2021, and added that, depending on the selected location and the selected model, the duration of the construction of the airport may be different, Vijesti.ba news portal reports.
She emphasized that an attempt will be made to provide conditions for the first planes to take off from the airport in Trebinje as early as 2022, emphasizing that the development of full, proposed capacity will take up to four years.
Mihajlovic pointed out that, immediately after the agreement between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, Serbia proposed to the authorities from Republika Srpska three possible locations for airports, two near Trebinje and one near Gacko.
“After analyzing the locations, we will decide on the final one at the ministerial level. After that, RS will prepare planning documentation and an agreement will be made on determining-establishing the future airport operator, financing technical documentation and performing works,” Mihajlovic told Glas Srpske.
She pointed out that, in addition to the connection with Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and airports in Serbia and other countries in the region, this airport would enable citizens and businesses in RS to connect with the whole world.