Vrtovec believes the airport has major potential for business, including for an environment-friendly multimodal logistics centre.

The Infrastructure Ministry sees Maribor airport as one of its five most important projects which are of strategic importance to the state.

"We have to better use the airport's good strategic location. This is an extremely good opportunity for the Slovenian economy," he told the press.

Activities are under way to come up with the right concept for a logistics centre, which could also serve as an important inland warehouse for port operator Luka Koper.

Vrtovec believes this would be a major opportunity for the region's development and new jobs.

However, the planned rail ink between the airport and the Magna car company in the Hoče-Slivnica municipality would have to constructed first, he said.

The airport should grow together with the logistics centre, meaning the new centre would not exclude other lines of business such as passenger and cargo air transport, according to the minister.

He expects the first draft changes to the state spatial plan for the airport area in September.

The ministry is working hand in hand in conceiving a solution for the airport with DRI, the state-owned company which currently manages the airport.

In early June, it was reported that the airport could be offered to international airlines to park their grounded planes amid the coronavirus pandemic.