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Signing the contract on the sale of the Ljubljana airport operator on Friday, Schulte said that the Ljubljana airport does not open doors only to Slovenia, but to a considerably wider area, adding that sale procedure was highly transparent.

SSH chairman Matej Pirc agreed with Shulte, saying that the procedure was conducted transparently and under equal conditions for all potential investors and in accordance with international practice in this field.

Fraport values the 75.5% at EUR 177.1m or EUR 61.75 per share and has already announced it would be seeking an outright stake, as part of which it will pay the remaining shareholders around EUR 61.70 per share. This puts the value of Aerodrom Ljubljana at EUR 234.4m.

"We have achieved the highest price possible and exceeded the original expectations. It is a case of good practice and time will show that the selected buyer is capable of ensuring an optimal development of the airport," Pirc said.

Schulte stressed that Fraport is a long-term investor who is not looking for short-term benefits. The role of Fraport in other airports in its ownership around the world is similar, according to him.

The new owner intends to develop both passenger and cargo transport at the airport. Schulte expects that Aerodrom Ljubljana, which he believes is in a good shape, will continue to record growth in both segments.

The first task for Fraport will be providing an even better service to passengers and investing in modernisation of the passenger terminal. Shulte also expects growth both in terms of the number of employees and business results.

The company has no plans of acquiring some of the other airports in the region, and will focus only on Ljubljana. Projects for a new terminal and a new runway will meanwhile depend on the number of passengers.

Aerodrom Ljubljana chairman Zmago Skobir said that the sale is a large milestone in the development of the airport, adding that the new owner will bring a faster development than planned by the previous owners.

Skobir labelled Fraport as a serious investor which is expected to increase the number of lines and passengers at the Ljubljana airport.

In addition to the SSH, the sales contract was also signed by several minority shareholders: state-run Pension Fund Management (KAD), insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav and pension insurer Modra Zavarovalnica, as well the financial firms KD Skladi, Alpen Invest and Abanka Vipa.

As part of the sale, the company which manages one of Europe's biggest hubs, Frankfurt Airport, will be granted a 40-year lease on most of the land on which the infrastructure of Ljubljana airport is located.

Opened in late 1963, Ljubljana International Airport is currently serviced by 8 carriers operating scheduled flights and several operators with charter flights.