The FINANCIAL -- Turkish company TAV said on February 25 is would overtake the management of the Skopje and Ohrid Airport s as of March 1, in line with the 20-year-long concession agreement with the Macedonian Government, Macedonian News Agency reported.
According to TAV Holding Operations Director Murat Ornekol, there are ongoing talks with several banks on securing the required EUR 200 million investment.
"Talks will last for a couple of weeks, but this does not mean we will not begin to work. On the contrary, construction will start with funds from own sources and in cooperation with several banks", said Ornekol at a press conference.
Airports "Alexander the Great" in Skopje and "St. Apostle Paul" in Ohrid would be reconstructed and modernized, whereas the construction of a cargo Airport in Stip would start in ten years, in order to take into consideration the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which foresee a 10-year meteorological study to determine if the location meets conditions for Airport construction.
The official takeover will be observed with parallel ceremonies in Skopje and Ohrid, whereas the cornerstone laying ceremony would be held in mid-March, in the attendance of Macedonian and Turkish Prime Ministers.
Besides the existing employees, who have already been transferred to the recently established company "TAV Macedonia", TAV staff would also be engaged, whereas the Airport s' reconstruction and modernization would be carried out by domestic companies.
"The goal is to beat competition in the region, attracting companies we work with throughout the globe, i.e. the 300 airlines we cooperate with. However, you should not forget that companies decide on the prices. If you do not have a flag carrier, then you lose the chance to get flights from other countries. We are trying to attract companies to come here are register as flag carriers. Otherwise, airline traffic will be blocked", stressed Ornekol.
TAV operates with Airport s in seven countries, annually serving 42 million passengers. Projections in Macedonia foresee annual coverage of five million passengers at the Skopje Airport and 0,2 million at the one in Ohrid.
TAV and the Government concluded a concession agreement in September 2008, but the investment was delayed due to failure of the Turkish company to secure funds as a result of the global economic crisis.
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