Zadar Airport’s big €15 million transformation starting 

Render of Zadar Airport (Photo: Zadar Society of Architects)

Zadar Airport in Croatia is gearing up for a significant transformation as plans for a major reconstruction and expansion take shape.

The ambitious project, set to unfold in four phases, will give the airport a fresh look and boost its capacity.

The first step—sub-phase A of the third phase—has just been greenlit, with construction company Krekić Avangard awarded a €15.3 million contract to carry out the work, Baustela.hr reported.

The overhaul will see the existing passenger terminal revamped and expanded through a carefully planned, multi-stage process.

Sub-phase A focuses on extending the departures (gates) and arrivals areas while keeping the current building fully operational during the works.

After a tender process in September 2024, Krekić Avangard emerged as the winning bidder, and on 13 February 2025, the contract was officially confirmed.

Render (Photo: Zadar Society of Architects)

Once the contractor is formally onboarded, the work is expected to take 14 months to complete.

This initial sub-phase will involve building on a separate section of the terminal, known as dilatation A, which is spatially detached from the rest of the complex.

Plans also include a temporary structure, labelled B, to serve as extra waiting areas and gates until the final phase of the reconstruction wraps up. T

he project adheres to an updated location permit and follows detailed designs by Aking, Markiva projekt, and Zagreb Airport, with the award-winning architectural concept crafted by Split-based architects Ante Kuzmanić and Ivan Jurić.

Krekić Avangard secured the deal after outbidding four competitors—Kamgrad, Strabag, Tromont, and Texo Molior—whose offers exceeded the available budget.

Render (Photo: Zadar Society of Architects)

While the reconstruction was initially slated to kick off in late October, the contract award this month signals that work could finally get underway soon.

The Zadar Airport upgrade isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a hefty investment in the region’s infrastructure. Back in August 2023, €10 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) was earmarked for greening and electrification efforts tied to the expansion.

With the current sub-phase alone costing over €15 million, the total price tag for the airport’s makeover could easily climb into the tens of millions.

Once completed, the revamped Zadar Airport promises to better serve the growing number of visitors flocking to Dalmatia, blending modern functionality with a sleek new design.