The crisis postpones the construction of the airport terminal in Pardubice for 800 million CZK

Pardubice - The construction of a new terminal at Pardubice Airport, costing 800 million crowns, will be delayed by the global economic crisis, which will result in fewer passengers at the airport. The project, which is also hindered by obtaining the necessary permits, could be postponed by two to three years. Originally, the construction of the airport hall was set to begin at the end of this year. This was reported today by Mladá fronta Dnes in its supplement for the Pardubice region.
    The new terminal is expected to handle up to a quarter of a million passengers annually. Last year, however, the number of passengers at the airport fell by six percent to 87,000. "It seems that the economic crisis will have an even more significant impact on the decrease in passengers this year. Moreover, it will likely be much harder than in the past to secure loans from banks," said Jan Andrlík, director of East Bohemian Airport (EBA), which operates the airport.
    Through 2007, passenger numbers at Pardubice Airport had steadily grown to a record 93,000 two years ago. Last year marked a turning point. "About 75 percent of our clients come from Russia, and the economic crisis hit them before it hit us. Additionally, a lessened desire to travel among Russians was due to the unfavorable exchange rate between the dollar and the ruble," Andrlík explained regarding last year's decline.
    The decrease in the number of passengers is concerning for representatives of Pardubice City Hall and the Pardubice Region, as both institutions own the company. "We will demand an analysis of the reasons for the decline from the company's management," said Deputy Mayor Alexandr Krejčíř.
    The construction of the terminal is also delayed because EBA has still not received a positive assessment from the Ministry of the Environment regarding the new terminal's environmental impact. Without this, the company cannot obtain the necessary zoning and building permits. After protests from residents living near the runway, EBA will likely also have to redo the noise study for the new terminal.