Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
| Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport Аеродром Никола Тесла Београд Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | International | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Serbia | ||||||||||
| Operator | Aerodrom Nikola Tesla a.d.[1] | ||||||||||
| Serves | Belgrade | ||||||||||
| Location | Belgrade, Serbia | ||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 336 ft / 102 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 44°49′10″N 20°18′25″E / 44.81944°N 20.30694°ECoordinates: 44°49′10″N 20°18′25″E / 44.81944°N 20.30694°E | ||||||||||
| Website | beg.aero | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  BEG Location within Serbia | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2016) | |||||||||||
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Native name | Аеродром Никола Тесла а.д. |
|---|---|
| Public limited company | |
| Traded as | BELEX: AERO |
| Industry | Airport operations |
| Founded | 13 March 1992 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade, Serbia |
Key people | Saša Vlaisavljević(CEO) |
| Revenue |
 €57.92 million (2013)[4] |
 €0.14 million (2013)[4] | |
| Total assets |
€210.91 million (2013)[4] |
| Total equity |
€192.94 million (2013)[4] |
| Owner |
Government of Serbia (83.15%) |
Number of employees | 1,068 [4][5] |
| Website |
www |
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (Serbian: Аеродром Никола Тесла Београд / Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd) (IATA: BEG, ICAO: LYBE), is an international airport serving Belgrade, Serbia. Previously known as Belgrade Airport (Serbian: Аеродром Београд / Aerodrom Beograd) or Surčin Airport (Serbian: Аеродром Сурчин / Aerodrom Surčin), it was renamed in 2006 in honor of scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla. It is the largest and busiest airport in Serbia, situated 18 km (11 mi) west of downtown Belgrade near the suburb of Surčin, surrounded by Syrmia's fertile lowlands.
The flag carrier and largest airline of Serbia, Air Serbia, uses Belgrade Nikola Tesla as their hub. It is also one of the operating bases for low cost airline Wizz Air. The air taxi services Air Pink and Prince Aviation also call the airport their home. The airport is operated by the state-owned company "Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd".
History
First airfields
The first airfield in Belgrade was inaugurated in 1910 in the neighbourhood of Banjica and was initially used by aviation pioneers such as Simon, Maslenikov, Vidmar and Čermak. Two years later a wooden hangar was built for the Serbian Air Force, which was at the time engaged in the First Balkan War against Turkey. In 1914, the Banjica airfield was the base for the Serbian Air Force squadron and the Balloon Company. After the end of the First World War, the Banjica airfield was used for airmail traffic and included the routes Novi Sad–Belgrade–Niš–Skoplje and Belgrade–Sarajevo–Mostar.[6]
In 1911 another airfield was inaugurated in Belgrade, in the lower city of the Kalemegdan fortress on the location of today's Belgrade Planetarium.[6]
Airport in Pančevo
An airport in the outskirts of Pančevo, a town located northeast of Belgrade, began its operations in 1923 when CFRNA inaugurated the international route Paris–Istanbul which was flown via Belgrade. The same year airmail service began operating from the airport. The Pančevo airport was also used by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force academy. After the World War II the airport was used by the Yugoslav Air Force before it became the airfield of the Utva Aviation Industry after its relocation from Zemun to Pančevo.[6]
Airport in Dojno Polje (New Belgrade)
Because of the distance from Pančevo to downtown Belgrade, which at that time required crossing the Danube, a decision was made to build a new airport which would be closer. The airport was planned to be built just across the river Sava, in a neighborhood today known as Novi Beograd. It was opened on 25 March 1927 under the official name of Belgrade International Airport (also known as Dojno polje Airport). From February 1928, the aircraft owned by the first local airline Aeroput started taking off from the new airport. The airport had four 1,100–2,900 metres (3,610–9,510 ft) long grass runways. The design for a reinforced concrete hangar that was built at the airfield was made by the Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković, better known for his theory of climate change. A modern terminal building was built in 1931, while the landing equipment for conditions of poor visibility was installed in 1936.[6]
Before World War II, Belgrade was also used as a stopover for some major air races, such as The Schlesinger African Air Race.[8]
Besides Aeroput, Air France, Deutsche Luft Hansa, KLM, Imperial Airways and airlines from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Poland also used the airport until the outbreak of the Second World War. Starting from April 1941, German occupation forces used the airport. During 1944 it was bombed by the Allies, and in October of same year the German army destroyed the remaining facilities while withdrawing from the country.[6]
The airport was rebuilt by October 1944 and until the end of the war was used by the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia as part of the Allied war effort.[6]
Civil transport by Yugoslav Air Force cargo planes from this airport was reinstated at the end of 1945. At the beginning of 1947 JAT Yugoslav Airlines and JUSTA took over domestic and international traffic, and from 1948 Western European airlines resumed flights to Belgrade.[6]
A constant increase in traffic and the beginning of the passenger jet era called for a significant expansion of the airport. In the meantime, a plan to build a residential and business district called Novi Beograd on the location of the airport was introduced. The officials decided therefore that a new international airport should be built near the village of Surčin to the west. The last flight to depart from the old airport was early in 1964.[9]
Airport in Surčin
The new location for the airport was on the Surčin plateau, 15 km (9 mi) from Belgrade's city center.[9] Thanks to the original planners' vision, two conditions for the airport's development were fulfilled: a location was chosen which met the navigational, meteorological, construction, technical, and traffic requirements; and the special needs for the airport's long-term development were established.
Building of the new airport started in April 1958 and lasted until 28 April 1962, when it was officially opened by President Josip Broz Tito.[9] During that period a 3,000-metre-long (1.9 mi) runway was built, with the parallel taxiway and concrete aprons for sixteen airplanes. The passenger terminal building occupied an area of 8,000 m2 (86,000 sq ft). Cargo storage spaces were also built, as well as a technical block with the air-traffic control tower and other accompanying facilities. Modern navigational equipment was installed, earning the airport the highest international classification according to the International Civil Aviation Organization.[10]
The airport stagnated during the 1990s after the outbreak of the Yugoslav wars and the United Nations sanctions imposed on the Serbia and Montenegro. The sanctions also included a ban on air travel. The airport had minimal passenger movement, and many facilities were in need of reparation.
With a change in government and international sentiment, normal air traffic resumed in 2001. A few years later the airport's terminal 2 underwent a major reconstruction. The runway was upgraded to CAT IIIb in 2005, as part of a large renovation project. CAT IIIb is the latest runway system, giving aircraft the security of landing during fog and storms. In 2006, the airport was renamed to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and scientist, generally considered one of the world's most famous inventors.[11] The construction of the new air traffic control center was completed in 2010. In 2011 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport shares (AERO) began trading on the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX).
Current developments
In 2012 construction work on the modernization and expansion of the airport began. Work was carried out on the expansion and reconstruction of the A-gate and C-gate departure and transit areas. As a result, an extra 2,750 square metres (29,600 sq ft) were added. Jetways at the A and C gates were also replaced. The construction of a new control tower is planned to be completed by 2018. The current air control tower was built back in 1962.[12] Future expansion of current terminals should see additional 17,000 sqm added, with terminal 2 getting additional 4 jetways.[13]
Terminals
Airport two terminals have a combined area of 33,000 sqm, with Terminal 2 being larger of the two, adjacent to one another terminals are connected through a hallway.[14] The airport has 66 check-in counters and 27 gates (of which 16 are equipped with jetways).
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 (T1) was the original and only terminal when the airport was built. The terminal handled domestic flights during the time of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, and subsequently has come to being used for international flights, mostly by low-cost and charter airlines. The terminal went through a major renovation in 2016 and 2017 when interior is overhauled.[15]
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 (T2) was constructed in 1979 for the airport's growing passenger numbers. The terminal has a capacity of 5 million passengers.[16] The terminal contains airline offices, transfer desks and various retail shops. The terminal went through two major renovations: from 2004 through 2006, with the arrivals and departures areas of the terminal completely reconstructed, and another one in 2012 and 2013 when there were works on expansion and overhaul of the C platform. While not officially confirmed, it is believed that the overhauled T1 will be used by foreign carriers, while Air Serbia and Etihad Airways Partners would gain exclusive use of Terminal 2.[17]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights as of July 2017:[18]
Cargo
The following cargo airlines serve the airport on a regular basis as of October 2016:[24]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| ASL Airlines Switzerland | Cologne/Bonn, Sofia |
| Swiftair | Cologne/Bonn, Sofia |
Statistics
Traffic
| Year | Passengers | Change | Cargo (t) | Change | Aircraft movements | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,621,798 | 6,827 | 28,872 | |||
| 2003 | 1,849,148 | 14% |
6,532 | 4% |
32,484 | 13% |
| 2004 | 2,045,282 | 11% |
8,946 | 37% |
36,416 | 12% |
| 2005 | 2,032,357 | 1% |
7,728 | 14% |
37,614 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2,222,445 | 9% |
8,200 | 6% |
42,360 | 13% |
| 2007 | 2,512,890 | 13% |
7,926 | 3% |
43,448 | 3% |
| 2008 | 2,650,048 | 5% |
8,129 | 3% |
44,454 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2,384,077 | 10% |
6,690 | 18% |
40,664 | 8% |
| 2010 | 2,698,730 | 13% |
7,427 | 11% |
44,160 | 9% |
| 2011 | 3,124,633 | 16% |
8,025 | 8% |
44,923 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3,363,919 | 8% |
7,253 | 10% |
44,990 | 0% |
| 2013 | 3,543,194 | 5% |
7,679 | 6% |
46,828 | 4% |
| 2014 | 4,638,577 | 31% |
10,222 | 33% |
58,695 | 25% |
| 2015 | 4,776,110 | 3% |
13,091 | 28% |
58,506 | 0% |
| 2016 | 4,924,992 | 3% |
13,939 | 7% |
58,633 | 0% |
| 2017 (1.01-30.06) | 2,311,921 | 9% |
8,362 | 20% |
27,258 | 0% |
| Source: [25] | ||||||
Busiest routes
Busiest airlines
| Rank | Carrier | Passengers 2014 | % | Passenger % Change 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .svg.png){kind=small} Air Serbia | 2,647,923 | 50.6 | 68 |
| 2 |  Wizz Air | 415,590 | 9.0 | 10 |
| 3 |  Lufthansa | 283,867 | 6.1 | 6 |
| 4 |  Montenegro Airlines | 258,841 | 5.6 | 2 |
| 5 |  Swiss International Air Lines | 203,518 | 4.4 | 10 |
| 6 | Other | 1,128,754 | 24.3 | 20 |
| Source: [2] | ||||
Services
Security
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is built with only one airside hallway for both departing and arriving passengers. For that reason, security checks are located at gate entrances rather than on a central location. Passport controls are placed on two entrances and the single exit of the hallway. All passengers must pass the passport control, as there are no domestic flights. An additional security check used to exist on the hallway entrance, but it was removed in 2013 as it inconvenienced passengers and was not essential for security.[26] In 2007 the airport prohibited cars parking next to the airport terminal, instead they have to use the car park provided, as a result of the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack.[27]
Lounges
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport offers a single business class lounge, Business Club, for all airlines operating from the airport. "Business Club", opened in 2011, covers an area of 250 m2 (2,700 sq ft), and seats 30 guests.
Airport also has a VIP lounge, with separate check-in and passport control facilities - also used by general aviation customers. The lounge consists of three parts - the first part for leisure, second for television crew and press conferences and a third part is a presidential suite. The lounge has a total surface area of 500 m2 (5,400 sq ft). The lounge is also used as a press centre, upon the arrival of VIPs.
Air Serbia Premium Lounge is the first dedicated airline owned and operated lounge at the airport. It is open 24 hours a day for Air Serbia/ Etihad Airways business class passengers, as well as members of the Air Serbia/Etihad Guest frequent flyer program.
Transport links
Car
The airport is connected to the A3 motorway via a nearby interchange. The toll station on A3 is located to the west of the interchange, and the sections to the Belgrade downtown and the Belgrade bypass are toll-free.
Bus
| Service | Destination (departing from the airport) | Operator | Frequency | Trip duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line A1 | Slavija Square | "Association of private carriers" | 20 minutes | 30 minutes[28] |
| Line 72 | Zeleni Venac | GSP Belgrade | 24 minutes | 30–40 minutes[28] |
| Line 607 | New Belgrade/Surčin | GSP Belgrade | 105 minutes | 25–30 minutes[28] |
Taxi
Licensed taxis from the airport to the city are available.
See also
- List of airports in Serbia
- List of the busiest airports in the Balkans
- List of airlines of Serbia
- Museum of Aviation, Belgrade
References
- 1 2 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport – Basic Company Data www.beg.aero (in English) (in Serbian)
- 1 2 "Official website" (in Serbian). Retrieved 11 April 2007.
- ↑ EAD Basic
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Основни подаци из годишњег финансијског извештаја за обвезника ревизије за 2013. годину". Agencija za privredne registre Srbije. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ↑ http://tangosix.rs/2017/24/02/direktor-nikole-tesle-vlada-dala-odobrenje-za-zaposljavanje-preostalih-400-radnika/
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. "History: International Belgrade Airport (1927)". Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
- ↑ "Milanković's hangar today". Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ↑ England to Africa at The Mercury, 21 September 1936
- 1 2 3 Nikolić, Jovan (8 May 2007). "Svi Beogradski aerodromi" (in Serbian). Glas javnosti. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
- ↑ Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. "History: Belgrade Surcin (1962)". Retrieved 4 April 2007.
- ↑ B92 (2 February 2006). "Aerodrom menja ime u "Nikola Tesla"" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
- ↑ "Rovčanin: Novi kontrolni tornjevi u Beogradu i Tivtu" (in Serbian). Tanjug. 1 October 2014.
- ↑ http://tangosix.rs/2015/04/08/prve-fotografije-novi-izgled-c-hodnika-aerodroma-nikola-tesla/
- ↑ Mondo WEB Portal (14 May 2006). "Otvoren "Terminal 2" na aerodromu u Beogradu" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
- ↑ http://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/05/photos-belgrade-airport-overhaul.html
- ↑ I.R. (15 May 2006). "Vrata za pet miliona putnika godišnje" (in Serbian). Danas. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
- ↑ Belgrade Airport completes terminal overhaul
- 1 2 Airport Nikola Tesla Seasonal Timetable
- ↑ https://en.aegeanair.com/
- ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/272671/air-serbia-discontinues-abu-dhabi-flights-in-late-oct-2017/
- 1 2 http://www.aviatica.rs/ellinair-uvodi-redovnu-liniju-za-heraklion-carter-let-za-solun/
- ↑ "Hainan Airlines schedules Belgrade Sep 2017 launch". routesonline. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ↑ http://www.beg.aero/en/strana/7731/timetable?kompanija=398&odDan=27&odMesec=6&odGodina=2017&destinacija=&doDan=28&doMesec=10&doGodina=2017&type=ID&flightSearch=true
- ↑ Airport Nikola Tesla Cargo Timetable
- ↑ "Traffic Figures Archive". Nikola Tesla Airport Official Website. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ↑ "Samo jedna kontrola na aerodromu" [Only one control on the Airport]. RTS. 20 May 2013.
- ↑ Mondo WEB Portal (14 August 2007). "Zabranjen saobraćaj ispred zgrade aerodroma" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
- 1 2 3 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. "Official website". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
External links
Media related to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport at Wikimedia Commons
