The Traian Vuia International Airport of Timisoara, western Romania, will have a new passenger terminal for international departures. The design and construction contract was signed on May 17, and the Romanian builder must complete the works by December 31, 2023, transport minister Sorin Grindeanu said. 

The contract has a value of RON 88.99 million (some EUR 18 million), excluding VAT, and was awarded to the builder SC Concelex SRL from Bucharest. The investment is covered with non-reimbursable funds from the EU and money from the state budget and the airport’s revenues.

Timisoara Airport’s new terminal will have a built area of 12,000 square meters, six security filters, 18 check-in offices, and six gates for automatic document scanning.

Last summer, Timisoara Airport opened a new arrivals terminal for international flights.

Romanian officials announced several other similar projects this year, most targeting the expansion of airports nationwide. Some will have new terminals, while others will improve their existing infrastructure.

The international airport in Iasi, eastern Romania, will also have a new terminal at the end of 2023. The contract worth around RON 328 million (EUR 66 million), without VAT, was awarded to Strabag last month. 

The Maramures International Airport in the northwest part of Romania is also set to build a new passenger terminal and add extra facilities such as a new car parking or a bus station. The County Council applied for funding for this project about a month ago through the EU-funded Large Infrastructure Operational Program. 

Also in the northwest part of the country, Oradea Airport launched in April the tender for infrastructure development and modernization, an investment estimated to cost RON 81.5 mln (EUR 16.5 mln) excluding VAT. Flight operations were suspended between May 2 and May 15 due to work on the taxiway connecting the airport runway to the future cargo terminal. 

In January, transport minister Grindeanu also announced the signing of two financing contracts to modernize the Transilvania Airport in Targu Mures, with a total value of RON 149 mln (EUR 30 mln). This project should also be completed by the end of 2023. 

In the meantime, the presidents of the county councils of Braila and Galati, Francisk-Iulian Chiriac and Costel Fotea, signed in early March a partnership for the construction of an airport to serve the two counties and also localities in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.  

Investments in local airports are quite necessary, especially as flying is the better option for long-distance travel in Romania and several low-cost companies operate domestic flights between big cities. The country does have one of Europe’s most extensive railway networks, but trains are not the fastest way to get around. While they may be considered for short-distance trips, trains are not the best choice for longer journeys. A direct trip by train between Bucharest and Timisoara, for example, takes almost 10 hours. 

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu)