Niš Constantine the Great Airport

Niš Constantine the Great International Airport Аеродром Ниш - Константин Велики Aerodrom Niš - Konstantin Veliki
IATA: INI – ICAO: LYNI INI Location of the airport in Serbia
Summary
Airport type		Military/Public
Operator		Public Enterprise for Airport Services Airport Niš
Serves		Niš, Serbia
Location		Medoševac, Niš
Elevation AMSL		650 ft / 198 m
Coordinates		43°20′14″N 021°51′13″E / 43.33722°N 21.85361°E / 43.33722; 21.85361Coordinates: 43°20′14″N 021°51′13″E / 43.33722°N 21.85361°E / 43.33722; 21.85361
Website		www.airportnis.rs
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
11/29	2,500	8,202	Asphalt
n/aA	1,700	5,577	Grass
Statistics (2010)
Passengers			23,627
Passenger Change 09-10			38%
Aircraft Movements			558
Movements Change 09-10			60%
Sources: Serbian AIP at EUROCONTROL[1] Official website[2] A:^ The AIP does not give a runway number but the headings given are 114 and 294[1]

Niš Constantine the Great Airport (Serbian: Аеродром Ниш - Константин Велики, Aerodrom Niš - Konstantin Veliki) (IATA: INI, ICAO: LYNI), is a Serbian airport that serves southern Serbia and the city of Niš. The airport, which is named for Constantine the Great, is located 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Niš city centre^[1] and is Serbia's second international airport.

History

The city of Niš had its airfield at the nearby village of Donje Međurovo since 1910. In the 1930s, Aeroput, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia used the airport for civil service. In post World War II years, the airport was used as a military base throughout the years. Among other units, it was a base for the 63rd Paratroop Brigade and 119th Aviation Brigade. One part of airport is still used by the Serbian Armed Forces.

In 1952, on the location of today's airport in Niš, the first concrete runway, measuring 1,500 m (4,921 ft), was built and served for military purposes. In order to maintain the pace with the development of military jet planes as well as civil planes, in 1972 the length of the runway was extended to 2,200 m (7,218 ft) which made it possible for the contemporary jet planes such as the Caravelle and later the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, to take off.

In the 1970s, the airport was used for occasional service to the Adriatic coast. By the 1980s this occasional service lead to the local leadership recognizing the needs of the citizens living in Niš as well as in this part of the country and took into account the industrial development of the city. The association of economic and political entities prepared detailed terms and in 1986 made a decision on establishing the business organization "Airport Niš".

Construction of a new airport

In 1986, the terminal was built as well as the ancillary support facilities. This project, also, included the asphalt coated runway and built-in system of lights that provided visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway at night.

A gala opening ceremony was held on 12th October 1986 accompanied by the airfare and the landing of the first Boeing 737. Since then, the airport in Niš has been considered as another airport in Yugoslavia. From that moment on, the competition in traffic had begun and still lasts with greater or lesser intensity. Regular service by Jat Airways to Belgrade while charter flights to England began. The interesting fact is that the development of air traffic in Niš was not initiated by Jat Airways only, but also by Slovenian company Inex-Adria Airways now known just as Adria Airways.

During the 1990s

Changes on the political scene in Yugoslavia and deteriorated relations among the republics in 1990, brought to the sharp decrease in traveling to the Adriatic Sea, Ljubljana and Zagreb, once the most attractive flights from Niš. At the end of this initial period, with a drastic decrease in traffic due to the crisis in the country, the business organization "Airport Niš", according to the decision of its founders, the Municipality of Niš, was transformed into an independent social enterprise and gave in to the market.

During the 1990s after the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars the United Nations sanctions imposed on the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The sanctions also included a ban on air travel. Under these circumstances the volume of traffic reached its lowest point with the only form of traffic were flights to Tivat Airport during the summer period. During the 90s, the company significantly improved its personnel structure. It also initiated the positioning of Airport Niš in the field of air traffic in Yugoslavia at that moment. In the period of decreased volume of traffic, thanks to good weather conditions, the airport came into more frequent use as an alternative solution. In 1998, the traffic volume increased owing to the heavy air traffic from Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari which was out of use because of numerous foggy days during which the traffic was successfully carried out from Niš.

However, the following year, 1999, was marked by NATO bombing of Yugoslavia which left heavy damages to the airport. The almost hopeless situation after reaching a truce enabled only the lowest level of business operation.

2000 - 2011

The Norwegian government spotted the potential and importance of the area and due to their donation, the airport was reopened. From December 2002 until 12 October 2003, in cooperation with the Yugoslav Army, the disposal of remaining inactivated cluster bombs was carried out in the runway area; manoeuvering surfaces were coated with asphalt; the flight control tower was built; and part of airport equipment was renewed.

Airport Niš was reopened on 12 October 2003. During 2004, Jat Airways and Montenegro Airlines organised flights from Niš to Zurich, Paris, and Tivat. In the period from 2004 until 2007, the number of passengers who arrived and departed Airport Niš was constantly growing, which was in accordance with the rate of development defined by the Business Plan of Airport 2004-2008.

Due to the Montenegrin independence referendum as well as the general politics carried out by Serbian authority in the area of air traffic (during 2006 and 2007), the number of passengers decreased in 2007 and the annual rate was reduced by 14% compared to the previous year. This had a great impact on the total economic situation in the company. Preparing the set of measures which would unite the resources of the city of Niš and the rest of Serbia to enable normal development. During 2007 the following has been realized: the long term business plan (2007-2022) was made.

In 2010, Wind Jet connected the airport with Forlì, Italy while Montenegro Airlines linked it with Podgorica on a daily basis. The timetable with Montenegro Airlines is compliant to allow many passengers continue to travel from Podgorica to other European destinations such as: Frankfurt, London, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Zürich.

In 2009 Ivica Dačić, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Sergey Shoygu, Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, set up a joint emergency centre to serve the region, including neighbouring countries. In 2010 two Russian water bombers were at the airport and in 2011 a Mil Mi-26 helicopter and a Beriev Be-200 were stationed there and used Oblačinsko and Gruža Lakes.^[3]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Montenegro Airlines	Podgorica

Statistics

Traffic figures at Niš Constantine the Great Airport

Year	Passengers	Change	Aircraft movements	Change	Cargo (kg)	Change
2004	19,040	927%	284	13%	147,322
2005	26,787	41%	315	11%	452,874	207%
2006	35,518	33%	382	12%	112,117	75%
2007	30,453	14%	456	19%	448,619	300%
2008	22,870	24%	353	23%	163,510	64%
2009	17,159	25%	349	1%	390,645	139%
2010	23,627	38%	558	60%	1,554,864	298%
2011 (31.10.11)	20,804

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 resort Kopaonik.

35,518 passengers passed through the airport in 2006 thanks to 111 Montenegro Airlines flights, 118 Jat Airways flights and 14 Thomsonfly flights. Niš Constantine the Great Airport has had 30,461 passengers go through the airport during 2007. It is a decrease from the results in 2006 due to Montenegro Airlines not having permission to operate flights to Zürich that year.

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, approximately 42% more than in 2004. The rate of growth was the same in 2006, although 2007 saw a fall in passenger numbers.

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, Michael 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 Radojković said that thanks to this program of management of Constantine the Great Airport it succeeded in identifying and focusing on the most important aspects of its business according to the market's principals.

In October 2008, Austrian company Eyemaxx and Chayton Sava Property Fund LP, advised by London-based Chayton Capital LLP,^[4] announced the construction of a cargo and logistics centre. Over 100 million Euros will be invested in this project. The two investors expect that the final phases of this project will be completed in four years.^[5]

Airport services and accessibility

Airport bus

The airport is operational 24 hrs per day on request.^[2] The airport is very close to the downtown (about 4 km (2.5 mi)). There is a dedicated "Airport Niš" bus line that connects airport to most of the Niš suburbs (line 34). Taxi 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 Niš, it is not necessary to use a dial code. From other places in Serbia, dial 018 prior to the phone number indicated.^[6]

Cost of the cab transportation is relatively low. Average cost within the city is approximately 200 RSD (about 2€ or USD$2.5). The airport staff can request taxi drivers that are able to communicate in English in order to make the trip more convenient for tourists. There are also many 'rent-a-car' agencies at the airport baggage claim area.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} EAD Basic
2. ^ ^{a b} Niš Constantine the Great Airport. "Official website" (in Serbian). http://www.airportnis.rs. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
3. ^ B92 (2011-08-30). "Russian water bomber, helicopter land in airport in south" (in English). http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=08&dd=30&nav_id=76157. Retrieved 2011-08-30. 
4. ^ Chayton Capital LLP
5. ^ B92 (2008-10-11). ""Konstantin Veliki" našao izlaz" (in Serbian). http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=10&dd=11&nav_category=9&nav_id=323004. Retrieved 2008-10-11. 
6. ^ see: Telephone numbers in Serbia

External links

• Niš Constantine the Great International Airport