Binghatti Aerocity as a strategic infrastructure project for Romania

The Binghatti Aerocity project will create a new international air traffic hub in the southern metropolitan area of Bucharest, which is intended to address the structural capacity bottlenecks in Romanian aviation in the long term. The project is considered one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country and is expressly supported by the Romanian government and local authorities. The aim is to relieve the Henri Coandă (Otopeni) International Airport, which has been congested for years, while strengthening international connections and economic development in Romania and Eastern Europe.

The project is being implemented as part of a joint venture between Jetstream and Property Sud Invest. The expansion will take place in three phases. The first phase alone is expected to have a capacity of around 12 to 15 million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of air freight per year. In the long term, Binghatti Aerocity should be able to handle more than 40 million passengers and up to 500,000 tonnes of freight annually. Over 2,000 hectares of land have been secured for the project, supplemented by additional land for port and logistics connections. According to the project managers, no significant objections have been raised by the landowners to date.

The planning basis for the project was developed by internationally active engineering and architectural firms. The master plan was created in collaboration between Surbana Jurong and the British architectural firm Scott Brownrigg. Both companies bring extensive experience from major international projects in the field of transport and airport infrastructure. According to the project management, this constellation underlines the ambition to develop Binghatti Aerocity in line with international standards and position it competitively in the long term.

The project also has broad political support. It is part of Romania’s national strategic development plan and is supported by the Bucharest city administration, the Giurgiu district council and the administration of Bucharest’s 4th sector. Proximity to existing transport axes plays a central role in this. A direct connection to the southern ring road of Bucharest is planned. In addition, a new monorail is to provide a fast connection to the city centre. At the same time, the modernisation of an adjacent main railway line is planned, including the expansion of a nearby station.

Another focus of the project is on sustainability and energy efficiency. In the context of international developments in the airport sector, concepts for the integration of renewable energies, local storage solutions and the electrification of land-side and air-side operating processes are being examined. These include electric ground handling equipment and infrastructural preparation for future technologies such as hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels. The aim is to gear the new airport towards lower-carbon operations from the outset.

Financially, Binghatti Aerocity is on a new scale for the Romanian aviation sector. According to project information, investments to date have already exceeded €150 million, while the total investment volume is estimated at around €2.5 billion. At the same time, the market is showing early interest. Several international airlines, including Wizz Air, Ryanair and Turkish Airlines, as well as other international carriers, have expressed their interest in using the new airport in the future.

International investors are also involved in the project. Partners include Wall Street Capital Partners, who see the project as a long-term contribution to Romania’s economic development. From the investors’ point of view, Binghatti Aerocity goes beyond classic airport operations and is intended to function as a multimodal infrastructure and economic cluster that combines logistics, mobility and international connections.

Against the backdrop of growing passenger numbers, increasing freight volumes and increasing demands for safety, resilience and sustainability, the project exemplifies how new airport infrastructure is being designed in Europe. Binghatti Aerocity thus represents not only an expansion of capacity, but also a structural modernisation step in Romanian air transport. If the project is realised as planned, it could position Romania as a relevant hub in the European aviation and logistics network in the long term.