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The number of passengers at the Ljubljana airport was up by 10.2% to 1.32 million, which is 2.6% more than planned, the press release published on the website of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange says.

The majority of passengers (87%) travelled with scheduled flights. The share of passengers transported by budget carriers Easyjet and Wizz Air was up by 3.5 percentage points in 2013 to 12.6%.

A growth was also recorded in cargo transport. The total volume of cargo that went through the Ljubljana airport last year amounted to 17,777 tonnes, which is 4.4% more than in 2012 and 2.5% more than planned.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) stood at EUR 6.1m, which is 17.4% more than in 2012 and 6.4% above plans.

Investments in buildings and equipment last year amounted to EUR 8.96m.

The company has drafted a strategic business plan for 2014-2020, which expects a modest, though steady growth of traffic. By 2020 the Ljubljana airport is planned to record 1.8 million passengers annually.

The volume of cargo traffic is expected to post an annual growth rate of 2.9%, while operating revenues are projected to grow at a 3.1% clip. Revenues are expected to grow slower, at a 2.6% rate.

Total investments in buildings and equipment in the 2014-2020 period are expected to stand at EUR 39m, which will be spent on the most urgent maintenance and investment works.

Aerodrom Ljubljana, the operator of the largest airport in the country, is among the 15 companies slated for privatisation by the government.