Niš Constantine the Great Airport

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Niš Constantine the Great International Airport
Ниш Константин Велики
Niš Konstantin Veliki
IATA: INI - ICAO: LYNI
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Public Enterprise for Airport Services Airport Niš
Serves Niš
Elevation AMSL 646 ft (197 m)
Coordinates 43°20′14″N, 021°51′13″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 8,209 2,502 Asphalt
11/29 5,577 1,700 Grass
Statistics (2006)
Number of Passengers 2005 27,000
Number of Passengers 2006 35,000 - 40,000

Niš Constantine the Great Airport (Serbian Ниш Константин Велики, Latinic Niš Konstantin Veliki) (IATA: INI, ICAO: LYNI), serves southern Serbia and the city of Niš. 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 nearby Međurovo village since 1910.

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 while charter flights to England began.

In post WW2 years, airport was used as a military base throughout the years. Among other units, it was a base for the "63rd Paratroops Brigade" and military transport aviation.

During economic hardship and the destabilization 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. The military of Serbia announced that it would sell part of the airport belonging to them.

Niš Constantine the Great Airport has had many disputes with national airline of Serbia Jat Airways accusing it of not wanting to set up a secondary hub in Niš while the airline says it is not profitable. The Airport management has also accused the airline of keeping closed skies over the airport and not allowing other airlines to start flights to Niš[1]. A start-up airline called Master Airways that would like to make Niš it's hub has been rejected by the Serbian aviation authorities for a license which has further angered the airports management.

Thomsonfly has successfully completed their mission for winter season of 2005-2006 and winter of 2006-2007, having 13 flights and more than 3,500 tourists, which were transported from London Gatwick, over Niš Airport to the Serbian ski centre Kopaonik.

35,000 to 40,000 passengers is the estimate of how many have passed through the airport in 2006 thanks to Montenegro Airlines (for the first nine months), Jat Airways and Thomsonfly

[edit] Airlines and destinations

Niš Constantine the Great Airport terminal building
Niš Constantine the Great Airport terminal building

* the airlines and destinations shown above are based on the airport's official page.

[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 was 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.

[edit] Future low cost airport hub of the Balkans

Further increase of traffic at this airport is expected when the open skies agreement takes place, since it will give airlines the opportunity to land without the prolonged agreements as experienced today. This agreement was signed by Serbian Government and is to come to effect as soon as it is approved by the parliament.

[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] Transportation to and from the airport

The airport is very close to the downtown (about 3.5 km, 2 mi). There is a dedicated "Airport Niš" bus line that connects airport to the most of the Niš suburbs (line 34). Taxis service is available at any time for any city destination and more. If calling from a cellular phone, it is useful to know that the dial code for Serbia is 381, and for Niš 18. When calling from a pay-phone 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ "Jat" uporno izbegava Niš

[edit] External links

International airports in Serbia
Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport | Niš Constantine the Great International Airport | Priština International Airport | Vršac International Airport
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