newstodate.aero
Nov 02, 2012 (newstodate): The Dutch consulting company NACO has now finalized its master-plan for the development of Lithuania's Siauliai Airport.
The future of the airport belongs to air cargo operations and thoughts about establishing the airport as a destination for low-cost operators have been abandoned, except for a possible role for Siauliai as an alternate airport.
The plan has, however, not yet been endorsed by the Siauliai City Council as the size and localization of the airport's apron area is disputed.
The mayor of Siauliai finds that the apron area is too big, and this issue will now be discussed with the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense that operates and owns the area.
When this issue has been solved, presumably within only a few weeks, the master-plan will then be submitted for approval by the City Council.
After that, a tender process will be prepared to attract international bidders for management of the airport, the free-trade zone and a logistics terminal.
One feature of the master-plan is that it sees development potentials with inclusion of space pertaining to the military areas, rather than through acquisition of privately-held land adjoining the airport.
In any case neither the airport, nor the city can by itself foot the investments needed to realize the projects comprised by the master-plan, requiring instead foreign investors to deliver the about 67 mio euro needed.
The future of the airport belongs to air cargo operations and thoughts about establishing the airport as a destination for low-cost operators have been abandoned, except for a possible role for Siauliai as an alternate airport.
The plan has, however, not yet been endorsed by the Siauliai City Council as the size and localization of the airport's apron area is disputed.
The mayor of Siauliai finds that the apron area is too big, and this issue will now be discussed with the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense that operates and owns the area.
When this issue has been solved, presumably within only a few weeks, the master-plan will then be submitted for approval by the City Council.
After that, a tender process will be prepared to attract international bidders for management of the airport, the free-trade zone and a logistics terminal.
One feature of the master-plan is that it sees development potentials with inclusion of space pertaining to the military areas, rather than through acquisition of privately-held land adjoining the airport.
In any case neither the airport, nor the city can by itself foot the investments needed to realize the projects comprised by the master-plan, requiring instead foreign investors to deliver the about 67 mio euro needed.