Ohrid, 29 March 2026 (MIA) - An event Sunday officially marked the beginning of reconstruction on the “St. Paul the Apostle” Airport in Ohrid, which is expected to completely change the look of the airport providing 4.500 square meters of functional space, a more comfortable travel experience for passengers, and better working conditions for staff, police, and customs authorities.

At the event, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski assessed the reconstruction as a “historic moment” for Ohrid and the surrounding municipalities. 

“The reconstruction will boost the capacity and quality of the airport. I hope everything will be completed within the deadline. In the first two months of 2026, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of passengers at the Skopje Airport, and 20 percent at the Ohrid Airport. This year we expect to see double digit growth in passengers at both airports. We spoke to many tour operators that should bring tourists to Ohrid, and we are close to reaching an agreement with one tour operator that would bring around half a million overnight stays outside of the tourist season,” Mickoski said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski expressed hope that the reconstructed section of the airport will open in July. 

“A major reconstruction, upgrade, and expansion of the Ohrid Airport is beginning. This is the first time this is happening since the airport was originally built. The project will add 4.500 square meters of functional space, which is about 2.500 more than the current facilities. This expansion will allow for significantly more passengers, offering them a more pleasant experience when arriving and departing, while also boosting opportunities for tourism, business, and connectivity. The investment is being carried out in several phases: the one currently visible, along with additional supporting stages. I hope that in July we’ll be able to invite you here for an official opening and present a completely new story we can all be proud of,” Nikoloski said.

TAV Macedonia’s General Manager Nejat Kurt noted that the airport will continue to function as normal during the reconstruction. 

“Ohrid is the heart of Macedonian tourism. I believe that it can shine even brighter, welcoming more guests. TAV is investing EUR 2.7 million in several key improvements to the airport: expanding the operational capacity of the passenger terminal and the check-in counters for baggage and passengers, expanding the security control area, the administrative building, adding a new restaurant, new offices for the Border Police and the Customs Administration, as well as a parking area for staff,” Kurt said.

Photo: Screenshot