Niš Constantine the Great Airport
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| Niš Constantine the Great International Airport Ниш Константин Велики Niš Konstantin Veliki |
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|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: INI - ICAO: LYNI | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military/Public | ||
| Operator | Public Enterprise for Airport Services Airport Niš | ||
| Serves | Niš | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 646 ft (197 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 11/29 | 8,202 | 2,500 | Asphalt |
| 11/29 | 5,577 | 1,700 | Grass |
Niš Constantine the Great Airport (Serbian Ниш Константин Велики, Latinic Niš Konstantin Veliki) (IATA: INI, ICAO: LYNI), serves the city of Niš in Serbia. It is located four kilometers from the Niš city centre and is Serbia's second international airport.
Contents |
[edit] History
The city of Niš had its airfield at Medjurovo village since 1910.
The current airport was used as a military base throughout the years. Among other units, it was a base for the "63rd Parachute Brigade" and transport aviation.
In 1930s, Aeroput, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia used the airport for civil service.
In 1970s, the airport was used for occasional service to Adriatic airports (an example being Split). In the 1980s, the new terminal building was constructed and regular service by Jat Airways to Belgrade, Split and Zagreb, while charter flights to England began.
During economic hardship and the destabilisation of Serbia all services ceased in the 1990s.
In 2003 the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs invested into the airport for it to be totally reconstructed (after being damaged during the NATO 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia). The airport was opened on October 12, 2003 and named Niš Constantine the Great Airport.
On September 27, 2006 the military of Serbia announced that it would sell part of the airport belonging to them.
On November 18, 2006 the national air carrier of Serbia, Jat Airways, announced that it will be introducing services from Niš to Stuttgart, Vienna and Belgrade throughout November and December. The airline also increased its number of frequencies to Zurich from once to twice a week. The management of the airport expressed their pleasure at the winter timetable of 2006 / 2007 [1].
[edit] Airlines and destinations
- Jat Airways (Belgrade, Stuttgart, Vienna, Zürich)
- Thomsonfly (London-Gatwick)
[edit] Issues
- Thomsonfly has successfully completed their mission for winter season of 2005-2006, having 13 flights and more than 3,500 tourists, which were transported from London Gatwick, over Niš Airport to the Serbian ski centre Kopaonik. Thomsonfly also announced flights for winter season 2006-2007, starting from 10th December (as seen above).
- Airline Master Airways (formed by Montenegro Airlines) to start their services from Niš to Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich and Tivat was not given a license by State Transportation Authorities. According to the director of Niš Airport - Radisav Radojkovic, Master Airways was blocked from a lobby behind the State Transportation Authorities with an aim to keep the monopoly of state owned company located in Belgrade.[2].
[edit] Investments and development
With only a few flights a week from Niš Constantine the Great, the airport has had a successful second year of operation. It recorded around 27,000 passengers in 2005, approx 42% more than in 2004. The rate of growth is expected to be the same in 2006.
Niš Constantine the Great has successfully conducted TAM program (Turn Around Management) of the European bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD) whose goal is to improve the work of the management and strategy preparation for the development of the Niš airport. TAM program's expert, Micheal Kellaway estimated Niš Constantine the Great Airport as great potential and that with 28,000 passengers could in the next few years get to the level of 200,000 passenger a year. The director of Niš airport Radisav Radojkovic said that thanks to this program of management of Constantin the Great Airport it succeeded in identifying and focusing on the most important aspects of its business according to the market's principals.
Niš Airport had 27,000 passengers in the first nine months in 2006 which was the result of successful contract of Niš Constantine the Great Airport with Montenegro Airlines.
[edit] Future low cost airport hub of the Balkans
Further increase of traffic at this airport is expected if the open skies agreement steps into place, since it will give airlines the opportunity to land without the prolonged agreements as experienced today. This agreement shall takes effect on January 1, 2007.
[edit] Transportation to and from the airport
The airport is very close to the downtown (about 3.5 km, 2 mi). Radio-equipped taxis may be called to pick up passengers at any time and will drive to any part of the city. When calling from a cellphone, it is useful to know that the dial code for Serbia is 381, and for Nis 18. When calling from payphone in Nis, it is not necessary to use a dial code. From other places in Serbia, dial 018 prior to the phone number indicated above.
Cost of the cab transportation is relatively low. Average cost within the city is approximately 200 [dinara], e.g., about 3US$. The airport staff can request taxi drivers that are able to communicate in English in order to make the trip more convenient for tourists. Also there are many Rent-a-Car agencies at the airport baggage claim area. Airport Niš buses also operate to the city centre from the airport (line 34).
[edit] Airport Services
Airport operational hours: 24 hrs on request (carriers should send their Handling Request to iniport@airportnis.co.yu or fax: 00381 18 583 003 until 1530LT on Fridays for flights planned for Sat & Sun).
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- Official Site of Niš Constantine the Great International Airport
- Tourist Organization of Nis
- (Serbian) Niški aerodrom - slomljena krila
- Serbian Aeronautical Information Publication from European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation basic (free registration required)
- World Aero Data airport information for LYNI
| International airports in Serbia |  |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport | Niš Constantine the Great International Airport | Priština International Airport | |||||||||
