Dubrovnik Airport welcomed 18.879 passengers in January, an increase of 6% compared to the same month last year. The result represents a strong start to what is expected to be a record breaking year. In 2012, Dubrovnik ranked as the fourth busiest airport in the former Yugoslavia, handling 1.480.470 passengers and was only 46.664 passengers short of overtaking third placed Priština. Last year within itself was historic for the seaside airport as it surpassed its all time 1987 passenger record.
It is believed Dubrovnik will greatly benefit from Croatia’s entry into the European Union this summer with tourism set to sky rocket as countless airlines have already announced new flights to the city. From Scandinavian countries alone the number of services will increase by 43% with 722 flights to be operated. Furthermore, Croatia Airlines plans to run 1.995 flights to and from Dubrovnik this year with 1.010 international flights and 985 domestic services. Airport authorities have announced that they are in talks with Hainan Airlines in order for it to open a seasonal service from the resort city of Sanya on Hainan Island in Southern China during the summer. In addition, some Middle East based airlines have recently expressed interest to launch flights to Dubrovnik.
Today, Dubrovnik boasts the most modern passenger terminal in the country. A new terminal is being planned in place of the old airport building, constructed in 1962, which has now been demolished to make way for a new modern structure. The price tag of the project amounts to seventy million euros and is to be financed out of a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In May 2010 a new terminal opened at Dubrovnik Airport stretching over 13.700 square metres. It has the capacity to handle two million passengers per year.