TAP completes first phase of access roads, bridges rehabilitation in Albania

Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, TAP, completed the first phase of road infrastructure rehabilitation in Albania at the end of 2016, upgrading approximately 58km of access roads, constructing two new bridges and refurbishing some 40 other bridges, the joint venture company said in a press release on Friday.

Minister Ismir Jusko with Minister Zorana Mihajlović: Traffic connections and projects in the interest of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia

Minister of communication and transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ismir Jusko has held a bilateral meeting with the delegation from the Department of Civil Engineering, Transport and Infrastructure, from Republic of Serbia, led by Minister Zorana Mihajlović.
Crucial questions examined were building a mutual border crossing Bratunac-Ljubovija, preparations for signing the agreement regarding the usage and maintenance of shared bridges, increase of contingent permissions for cargo transport for third countries, terminating the activities on signing the agreement for delegating responsibilities for providing services in the air traffic, activities regarding revitalization of railroad Sarajevo-Belgrade, as well as revising the agreement on railway border crossings.

Eight potential routes for Sarajevo-Belgrade highway (February 17, 2017)

The project of the construction of a highway between Sarajevo and Belgrade is strategically important for both B&H and Serbia, Minister of Communication and Transport of B&H Ismir Jusko and Minister of Transport and Communication of Republika Srpska Nedjo Trninic estimated during their talk about the project in Sarajevo on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

Swiss to deploy CS300 to Pristina

Swiss International Air Lines is scheduled to operate its brand new Bombardier CS300 aircraft on flights between Geneva and Pristina starting June 14. The carrier will take delivery of the aircraft, which is to be based in Switzerland's second largest city, during the month of May. Pristina will become the first in the former Yugoslavia to see scheduled CS300 operations. The Swiss CS300 will feature a total of 145 seats.

Pristina Airport launches new incentives

The operator of Pristina Airport, Limak, has announced a new incentives scheme in a bid to attract more carriers. In an agreement with the Unit for Public Private Partnership within the Kosovo* Ministry of Finance, and other relevant authorities, Limak will reduce handling fees by 50% for airlines that launch new routes out of Pristina or boost frequencies on existing destinations.

Qatar Airways begins Skopje sales

Qatar Airways has finally begun sales for its new Doha - Skopje service, which is scheduled to launch on July 17. As previously reported, flights will run four times peek, each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, on board the Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring a two-class cabin configuration with twelve seats in business and 132 in economy class. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said, “Our new four weekly service to Skopje is a much anticipated addition to our global route map, connecting leisure and business passengers to and from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Wizz Air Introduces Flights to Malta, Rome and Vaxjo

Low­-cost airline "Wizz Air" will introduce flights from Skopje to Malta, Rome and Vaxjo (Sweden) on July 14-16, in parallel with adding one more aircraft to the Skopje airport fleet. Wizz Air also marks the 3­-million mark in the number of passengers from and to Macedonia with a 20-­percent discount on Tuesday's bookings for flights from Skopje to any of 27 destinations.

One offer submitted for privatisation of Montecargo

Polish port operator and freight forwarding company OT Logistics was the only company to submit a bid for a 51% stake in national freight operator Montecargo. Its binding offer was opened by the Tender Commission for Privatisation on January 16, and is subject to review to ensure compliance with the government’s requirements.
OT Logistics offered a purchase price of €2.5m, and would commit to a €2.55m investment programme which would include the purchase of two multi-system Siemens Vectron electric locomotives and upgrading IT systems. It must also comply with existing employment agreements for at least three years.

Minister Nurković has visited Qatar

Minister of transport and maritime Osman Nurković has visited the officials of Qatar’s communications and transport minister Jasim Bin Saif Alsulti. According to the press releases, both parties have signed an agreement regarding air transport, which was drafted back in November 2012 in Podgorica, Montenegro. The signed agreement represents a legal framework for development of air traffic between the two countries. It contains all norms and regulations related to the issuance of licences and permits which are concerned with safety and security of air operations, degree of air traffic liberties, frequencies, etc. Furthermore, it is important to mention that the agreement appears quite liberate in terms of freedoms in the air traffic. Additionally, the ministers have talked about transportation-related infrastructural projects, as well as examining the options for the potential improvements of transport interconnections and future cooperation.

Montenegro Airlines applies for JFK codeshare

Montenegro Airlines has lodged an application for a foreign air carrier permit with the United States Department of Transportation (DoT) in order to codeshare on Air Serbia's flights between Belgrade and New York. In its request, submitted last Friday, the carrier says, "Montenegro Airlines requests the issuance of a foreign air carrier permit and exemption permitting it to engage in scheduled air transportation of persons, property and mail from Podgorica via Belgrade to New York on all scheduled flights of Air Serbia on the route Belgrade - New York - Belgrade. Montenegro Airlines intends to be only the marketing carrier on this service in accordance with its codeshare agreement with Air Serbia". Montenegro Airlines and Air Serbia initiated a wide-ranging codeshare deal in late 2016, with the Montenegrin carrier placing its designator code onto its counterpart's flights from Belgrade to over thirty destinations.

Purchase of land for Fruska Gora corridor soon – Route worth around EUR 400 million

The Government of Serbia will start buying land and resolving property issues on the Fruska Gora corridor route in January, says the president of the Provincial Government, Igor Mirovic.
– The purchase of land on the route through Novi Sad is a bit late. It’s the route from Miseluk, through Petrovaradin, to the Zezelj bridge. I expect that the procedure regarding urban planning solutions on the route will speed up and for the conceptual design to be prepared afterwards – he says. As he adds, everything else regarding the project documentation is already prepared.
– It’s now up to the Government of Serbia and the Ministry of Construction and Transport to find a partner for the job in agreement with potential contractors, through a credit or a concession, in agreement with the Provincial Government – Mr. Mirovic emphasized, as reported by Novi Sad’s Dnevnik.

Serbia gets exit to Albanian port – Nis-Merdare-Pristina highway project to be completed by May 2017

Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic stated that the Nis-Merdare-Pristina highway project would be completed shortly. She pointed out that the section in question was very important, as it would provide an exit to another Adriatic port – Durres in Albania. It’s a part of a regional highway connecting Serbia with Tirana and the Adriatic Sea.

Belgrade-Nis modernisation to be signed during this year

Serbian Minister of Transport Zorana Mihajlovic expects that the agreement on further modernization of the Belgrade-Bar railway line would be signed in 2017.
“If we want to travel to Hungary at 160 km/h, we need to be able to develop 110 km/h towards Nis,” Minister Mihajlovic said.
For Belgrade-Nis line modernisation, at the beginning of the year, Serbia’s infrastructure manager signed a EUR 24 million contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The company will modernise Rasputnica G – Rakovica – Resnik section of the main line.

Full reconstruction of Belgrade-Budapest railway to begin – Trains to run at 200 km/h in five years

In the next five years, Russian and Chinese construction workers should fully reconstruct the railway between the capitals of Hungary and Serbia. The works on the section are to be carried out in three phases, and the technical documentation for the middle section, Stara Pazova-Novi Sad, financed by the Russian loan, has been completed. The preliminary design for the span from Belgrade to Stara Pazova is finished, and the main design and the detailed design are currently being prepared.

Possible termination of contract with Aktor on construction of east branch of Corridor 10 – State expects the works to be completed in 2017

The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure will be considering the proposition of Greece's Aktor for the completion of the works on the east branch of Corridor 10 until February 8, when it will be decided whether the arrangement will continue or whether the contract will be terminated for certain sections, stated Minister Zorana Mihajlovic.

Belgrade Airport terminal overhaul advances

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has begun the third phase of its Terminal 1 overhaul today. As a result, the entire facility will be closed off to passengers with check-in and passport control procedures to be carried out solely at Terminal 2. The ongoing overhaul, scheduled for completion by April 2017, includes capacity expansion, new commercial space and a new automated baggage sorting facility. The newly refurbished hall between terminals one and two will feature 28 new check-in desks.

Government looking for concessionaire for Nikola Tesla Airport – Public invitation for reconstruction, construction and management of Belgrade airport opened

The Government of Serbia and the Nikola Tesla Airport company have opened a public call for parties interested in the concession of the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. According to the conditions of the concession, which is to last 25 years, as reported by Tangosix, companies already managing airports in the radius of 450 km within Belgrade are eligible, which means that the companies ADP and the Turkish conglomerate TAV are out of the competition.

Belgrade-Pancevo line reconstruction completed

RZD International has completed the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Pancevo railway line in central Serbia. The reconstruction of the line has increased the maximum train speed limit to 120 km per hour, raising train-handling capacity and traffic safety. The infrastructure has been turned over to the client, starting a three-year guarantee period. The value of the contract was USD 90 million.
Works on the railway line started in March 2014 and included rehabilitation of the existing 16 km single-track line, construction and electrification of a second track, construction of two stations and two halt platforms, a 242-metre bridge over the Tamish river and smaller railway bridges.
Additionally, three transformer sub-stations, a signalling and telecom building in the Glavna railway station in Pancevo were built. Other works included construction of drainage systems, rehabilitation of the catenary system, signalling and telecommunication systems. RZD International also conducted full replacement of two overpasses with the installation of new metal spans.

RZD International to build second track for Belgrade-Budapest line section

Serbian Infrastructure minister Zorana Mihajlovic announced that Russian railway engineering company RZD International plans to start the construction of a second track on the Stara Pazova-Novi Sad section of the planned Belgrade-Budapest railway corridor in May. Government officials of Serbia, China and Hungary will meet in May to discuss the project, she added.
The Serbian government signed a USD 338 million deal for the preparation of project documentation and reconstruction of the Stara Pazova-Novi Sad section in July 2016. The Stara Pazova – Novi Sad section has a length of 40 km and its upgrade involves the construction of a twin-track viaduct over the Danube flood plain as well as a 2.2 km two-track tunnel.
Hungary, China and Serbia signed an intergovernmental agreement on the refurbishment of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line in 2015.

Contractor for construction of railway on Ada Bridge to be known by March 10, 2017 – France's Colas Rail offers best price

The French company Colas Rail is the most likely to get the job of building the railroad tracks on the Ada Bridge, looking by the price offered. Their offer amounts to RSD 1.6 million, followed by Austria's company Strabag SE, with 1.7 million and Poland's Zue S.A.
The Belgrade Land Development Public Agency should disclose which company has been awarded the contract by March 10, 2017. The deadline for the completion of works is 420 days from the possession of the site, which means that the Cukarica and the New Belgrade coasts will be linked by railway in 2018.

Works on expanding Batrovci border crossing start – Additional six lanes to be completed in September 2017

The works on expanding the Batrovci border crossing by six additional passenger vehicle lanes started on February 22, 2017, and should be completed by September 16, 2017.
– We are continuing with the expansion of Batrovci and now we've secured RSD 460 million from the budget. There will be a total of 18 lanes with an additional parking lot – said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction Zorana Mihajlovic.
She added that a special parking lot for impounded vehicles will be built, as they are now parked in one of the current lanes. The minister said that the works would be completed within the deadline and added that Batrovci was the busiest crossing border in the country. The works are being carried out by Ingrap-Omni, the investor is the Building Directorate of Serbia, and the project has been prepared by the Institute of Transportation CIP.

European Commission projects Albanian economy to grow by 3.5% in 2017

Progress on the Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Interconnection - Mediterranean Corridor

The first instalment of the €22 million EU grant allocated to the cross-border point and bridge in Svilaj (Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina) has recently been paid by the European Commission to cover for the investment works executed since September 2016.
The investment concerns the construction of a border crossing, a cross-border bridge over the River Sava, as well as 10 km of motorway on the Svilaj – Odzak section that is being built between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, along the Mediterranean Corridor (CVc). With total costs estimated at €109 million, the project was included in the 2015 Connectivity Agenda package endorsed by the European Commission, WB6 Ministers, and EU Member States at the Summit in Vienna in August 2015. More details can be found here.

Deputy Minister Sasa Dalipagic attended the meeting of SEETO secretariat with the representatives of transport sector in BiH announcing the need to update SEETO network

The main focus of the meeting was beset upon the accomplishments in the implementation of connectivity reform measures 2016/2017, as well as projects which are within the range of SEETO network (both core and comprehensive). Additionally, the meeting was to examine the realization of transport policy and strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Wizz Air confirms new Pristina - London service

Wizz Air has confirmed it will launch new flights between London Luton Airport and Pristina this summer season. As reported by EX-YU Aviation News on Tuesday, the new service will become the carrier's second destination in Pristina after Budapest, which is set to launch this April. Flights from London will be introduced on June 24 and run twice per week, each Tuesday and Saturday.

CRRC to supply locomotives to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

CHINA Railway Rolling Stock Corporation’s (CRRC) Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive subsidiary announced on January 12 it has signed an €8m contract with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s national freight and passenger operator MẐ Transport to supply four electric locomotives.

Air Berlin to end Pristina and Skopje flights

Air Berlin will discontinue services from Zurich to both Pristina and Skopje at the end of next month as the airline undergoes restructuring in an attempt to improve its finances. The last flight to Pristina will operate on March 25, while the final service to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia capital is scheduled for March 31. Edelweiss Air and Germania Flug will continue to link Pristina and Skopje with Switzerland's largest city. Zurich was the busiest destination served out of Pristina in 2016 and the second busiest out of Skopje.

Notice regarding contract assignment towards the rehabilitation work of the railroad Vitapazar-Sutomore in tunnel Sozina

Work contract ”Rehabilitation Works on section Virpazar-Sutomore in tunnel Sozina ”, within the framework of Operational Programme ”Regional Development” 2012-2013 under Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) in Montenegro.

Global Ports Holding continuing to invest in enhancing Port of Adria capacities

The Turkish company Global Ports Holding has started the year 2017 with additional investments whose main goal is enhancing Port of Adria’s operational capabilities, and the new addition to port equipment is Gottwald crane HMK 260e, the company reported.
This universal machine/crane, with maximum capacity of 80 tons, is suitable for various applications. It can be used for loading and discharging of general cargoes, containers and project cargoes as well.

Minister Nurković initialized the contract regarding the establishment of transport community in West Balkan region, conducted in Brussels

Delegation of Montenegrin Government, led by the Minister of transport and maritime affairs Osman Nurković, has participated in the meeting conducted for the purpose of initialization of the final draft of contract which will establish regional transportation community in the West Balkan region. The meeting was held on the 10th of February, in Brussels.

Montenegro Airlines plans Russia expansion

Montenegro Airlines is considering introducing flights to a third city in Russia following Moscow and St. Petersburg. The head of the carrier's representative office in Russia, Božidar Koljević, says services to a third point in the country are likely to commence in 2017, without giving further details. "Montenegro Airlines, being the most punctual airline, with a modern fleet, represents the best choice for travelling to Montenegro. Since 2007, Montenegro Airlines has been operating regular flights from Moscow to Montenegro, and we also operate flights to St. Petersburg from 2015. Our plan is to introduce a new flight to a third city in Russia. Despite strong competition on the Russian market we have managed to establish cooperation with the biggest tour operators such as TUI, PAKS, Biblio Globus, Natali Tours, CG Tours, ICS…", Mr Koljević said. Currently, up to seventeen airlines fly between the two countries during the summer months. Mr Koljević added that the biggest challenge for the airline in the coming period will be establishing scheduled flights to the Caucuses and central Asia. Last month, Montenegro Airlines announced the launch of regular charter flights between Podgorica and Tehran this summer.

Works on Resnik - Rakovica section from February 2017 – EUR 23 million for reconstruction of 7.5 km railway and new facilities

Representatives of Infrastruktura Zeleznice Srbije and the Chinese Company CCECC (China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation) today signed an agreement on the works on reconstruction and modernization of the Rasputnica G section of the railway, from Rakovica to Resnik.
The agreement worth more than EUR 23 million was signed by General Manager Dusan Garibovic and the director of the Chinese company’s Serbian office, Ju Tianran. The agreement, it was said after the signing, envisions the reconstruction and replacement of the civil engineering and electrical infrastructure in the length of 7.5 kilometers. The works entail the adjustment of the elevation of the platform at the Rakovica station using BG Voz kits and rearranging the platform and canopies at the Kijevo - Knezevac stop and the Resnik station.
Furthermore, they entail the construction of an underground passageway and the extension of the station building and garage with an auxiliary track, modernization of three road crossings and the reconstruction of the culvert.
The parties to the agreement said that the works were being financed from an EBRD loan, and that they should start in mid-February. The completion deadline period is 351 days.

Serbia signs rail agreement for Belgrade-Nis section modernisation

Serbian state-run railway infrastructure operator Infrastruktura Zeleznice Srbije said it signed a EUR 23.8 million (USD 25.2 million) contract for the reconstruction of a railway line with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The Chinese company will be in charge of the modernisation of the 7.5 km-long Rasputnica G – Rakovica – Resnik section of the Belgrade-Nis line for a period of 351 days, Infrastruktura Zeleznice Srbije announced.

Unused funds from EBRD loan for Corridor 10 to be redirected to other works – Savings of EUR 40 million for new projects in Serbia

The EBRD Director for Serbia, Mr. Daniel Berg, announced that the bank was prepared to redirect EUR 40 million, the amount not spent from the loan to Serbia for Corridor 10, to other projects in Serbia, reported the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.
As stated, Mr. Berg talked with Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic about infrastructural projects and new possibilities of cooperation and congratulated her on the job she had done in 2016 in her domain.
Mr. Berg said that the ministry had saved around EUR 40 million from the loan approved by the bank to Serbia for Corridor 10, as the project costs had been lower than expected.

Serbia to receive EU funds to elaborate documentation for priority projects

EUR 12 million from European Union are available for Serbia by mid-2017 that will support the preparation of documentation for priority projects, it was said at the session of the National Board for Investments.
Ms Jadranka Joksimovic, the national coordinator of IPA funds and developmental donor aid, emphasized the need to harmonize the funds available through various instruments, EU above all, with the national budget in order to best utilize the available funds.

Economic exchange of Serbia and Greece EUR 380 million – Modernization of Belgrade-Thessaloniki railway and construction of highway to Athens possible

Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced on January 31, after his talks with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, that the joint session of the governments of the two states would be held in spring in Thessaloniki.
Prime Minister Vucic said that the economic exchange between the two countries amounted to EUR 380 million at the moment, which, as he estimated, is insufficient, and the goal is thereby for it to increase considerably in the years to come, says the Government’s website.
He underlined that Serbia could increase the export of agricultural and food products to Greece and emphasized that it was important for a better railway infrastructure to be built, as well as the railway between Belgrade and Thessaloniki. The goal to be achieved by 2020, as he said, is for the trip from Budapest through Belgrade to Thessaloniki to take less than 30 hours, instead of the current 49h.

Niš Airport terminal overhaul advances

The overhaul of Niš Constantine the Great Airport in south-eastern Serbia is continuing to progress. The airport completed the expansion of its check-in areas this week by adding additional counters, while work on the exterior and roof is ongoing. The project is being funded jointly by the Serbian government and local authorities and is valued at EUR 210,000. Niš Airport handled 20,693 passengers in January, an increase of 316.4% from last year. It anticipates welcoming over 300,000 travellers in 2017. Recently, both Swiss International Air Lines and Germania Flug confirmed they would launch flights from Zurich to Niš in April and June respectively, joining Wizz Air and Ryanair in serving the airport.

Serbian infrastructure contractor privatised

The government has sold a 90.6% stake in rail infrastructure construction and maintenance company ZGOP to Kazakh transport infrastructure contractor Zhol Zhondeushi for €3.6m. The contract was signed on February 8.
ZGOP is based in Novi Sad and has 290 employees. Austrian, Russian, Chinese, French and Turkish companies has expressed interest in the privatisation process, but the Astana-based firm was the sole company to submit a bid.

Greek company Aktor asking for deadline extension by half a year, for each section of Corridor 10

The Greek company Aktor has asked for the deadlines for each of the four sections on Corridor 10 to be extended by half a year, said Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic.
She said at the press conference at the Government of Serbia that the ministry had adopted a position following the report by the working group and the supervisory commission on the works’ being late and forwarded it to the PE Corridors of Serbia.
– The party to the agreement with Aktor is the company Corridors of Serbia, which is in charge of realizing the works. The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has defined its position and is waiting for an answer – Ms Mihajlovic said.
She pointed out that “it’s not unusual for there to be problems sometimes, but the main reason for company Aktor’s being late with the works is that there not enough people working the routes”.

EU inquiry into Budapest-Belgrade high-speed railway project

The European Commission is investigating the planned 350-km high-speed railway between Budapest and Belgrade. The investigation is “assessing the financial viability of the USD 2.89 billion railway and looking into whether it has violated European Union laws stipulating that public tenders must be offered for large transport projects.” According to a European Commission spokeswoman, the dialogue between the Commission and national authorities is in progress.
The Hungarian cabinet did not deny the EC probe but said it had signed the agreements with China, including an annex explaining how it had complied with EU procurement law, following consultations with Brussels.

Air Serbia and AtlasGlobal launch partnership

Air Serbia and Turkey's AtlasGlobal have today announced details of a broad commercial partnership that will grow both carrier’s networks. The initial phase of the agreement involves a codeshare deal that will see Air Serbia place its “JU” flight code onto AtlasGlobal’s new daily service between Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Belgrade set to launch on March 15. Following this, and pending government approvals, Air Serbia will also code on AtlasGlobal’s international flights to markets such as Russia, Moldova and Kuwait in the Middle East, as well as domestic flights to additional points in Turkey, all via Istanbul. In return, AtlasGlobal will increase its connectivity by placing its “KK” code on selected Air Serbia regional services in Southeast Europe and its long haul flights to New York. The two carriers are also exploring opportunities to provide passengers frequent flier benefits, including the ability to accrue miles on codeshare flights, and reciprocal premium lounge access at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and Istanbul Ataturk Airport for eligible travellers.

Construction of Surcin-Obrenovac highway to begin – Value of works EUR 208 million

The construction of the Surcin-Obrenovac section starts next week, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic stated on Sunday, February 26, and added that the works cost EUR 208 million.
– Everything is ready for it. The works on the Surcin-Obrenovac, on the so-called Corridor 11, connecting Serbia to Montenegro, are to begin next week – Minister Mihajlovic said for Serbia’s TV Pink.