Pardubice want a new airport terminal from private investors

Pardubice - The Pardubice Region and the city of Pardubice want to prepare the groundwork for the construction of a new airport terminal at the international airport in Pardubice. However, it is to be built by a private investor, who has not yet been found. Both the city and the region now want to prepare documentation for the zoning decision. This was stated by the Governor of the Pardubice Region, Radko Martínek (CSSD).
    "We will soon negotiate with the city and create a joint strategy on how to assist the airport. We are ready to procure documentation for the zoning decision regarding the construction of the terminal. This is a matter of up to two million crowns, and we are convinced that this is sufficient for us to negotiate with investors," said Martínek.
    The region does not want to pay for the terminal construction from its own resources under any circumstances. It should cost about 350 million crowns. It also considers it important that transportation accessibility to the airport is improved. Currently, the road from the airport to the center of Pardubice is often congested.
    According to the governor, the completion of the terminal should be considered at the moment when the airport in Vodochody near Prague is expanded. The regional councilors want to discuss the next steps together with the city leadership at a joint meeting in the first half of December.
    Pardubice airport has begun extensive modernization of ground infrastructure and technical background this year. However, the regional council that distributes subsidies has suspended financing due to suspicions of fraud during the tender process, reported Mf Dnes. "We are trying to prevent problems that could arise. In less than two months, an independent expert will assess whether the price is usual for the place and time. If everything is in order, we will resume financing after the New Year," said Eva Jouklová, spokesperson for the North-East Regional Council, to the newspaper.
    The entire modernization project costs approximately 300 million crowns, of which 214 million crowns were obtained by East Bohemian Airport (EBA), which operates the airport, from European subsidies. Pardubice holds two-thirds of EBA's shares, while the Pardubice Region holds one-third.
    Pardubice International Airport transported six percent more passengers year-on-year in the first half of this year. From January to the end of June 2010, there were 27,558 passengers, and this year there are 29,245. Last year, the airport handled 62,302 passengers; this year's results could, according to airport director Vít Málek, be slightly higher, reaching up to 70,000 passengers. The terminal would increase the capacity of the airport to up to 250,000 passengers per year.
    The EBA company recorded losses last year and in 2009. Last year, the loss exceeded five million crowns, while the year before it was nearly 24 million crowns. The operational financial results were also very similar.