repairs were carried out to the movement surfaces (runway, apron and taxiway) and the lighting system. The domestic terminal was modernized in 2002, and the transit terminal was inaugurated on 19 May 2003, the airport becoming an air hub, connecting important cities in Romania with cities in Italy and Germany. In November 2003, however, TAROM ceased its route from Bucharest to New York via Timișoara. The international terminal was expanded and modernized in 2004. Between 2005–2009, a third runway was built, and the apron was expanded by about 30%. Between 2007–2008, works were carried out to extend the terminal for domestic and international flights, the airport area increasing by 30%. A new terminal for external arrivals was built between 2019–2021, replacing the old arrivals terminal. In 2017, Timișoara International Airport became the first Romanian airport to be certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Future developments The airport administration plans to build, in the extension of the external arrivals terminal inaugurated in 2021, an external departures terminal with an area of 12,000 m2; the terminal is scheduled to be completed by 2023, when Timișoara will hold the title of European Capital of Culture. The capacity of the terminal will increase by 150% as 10 new boarding gates, 20 check-ins and 10 document checkpoints will be built. Alongside there will be six new security checkpoints, shopping and catering facilities. The general objective of the project is the development of the transport infrastructure of Timișoara International Airport, to support a flow of about three million passengers per year. The county road 609D that connects the ring road to the airport will be widened to four lanes to make traffic free-flowing. An 8-kilometer road connecting the Timișoara Airport and A1 will also be built to shorten the distance between the airport and the motorway and reduce heavy traffic in Ghiroda and Remetea Mare. In 2021, Timiș County Council took over an area of about 46 ha of land for the construction of an intermodal freight center at Timișoara Airport and its subsequent connection to the regional intermodal freight center in Remetea Mare. There are plans for an Airport City, a complex and innovative concept for Romania, through which will be built, in addition to air transport facilities, connecting road and rail transport infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, shops, conference centers and exhibition halls, with both public and private funds. Military use Giarmata Airport was home