Kraljevo welcomes first flight

Jat lands in Kraljevo

Morava Airport in Kraljevo handled its first passengers on Wednesday as Jat Airways operated a promotional flight from Belgrade. The first passengers to set foot at Serbia’s newest international airport were President Boris Tadić and Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac along with other officials. The President toured the airport site and inspected construction work on the 5.000 square meter terminal building. He also visited the newly built air traffic control tower. “This entire region of Serbia has now received a new airport which will be at the disposal of its citizens but will also fuel further investment into the region”, President Tadić said.

Regular flights from Morava should begin next March as the airport’s runway will be lengthened to handle larger aircraft in time for the 2012 summer season. A total of 32 million Euros has been invested into the project. A Jat Airways ATR72 (registered YU-ALN) was used to ferry the President and other officials from Belgrade to Kraljevo and back. Thanks to the VIP passengers, the aircraft was completely refurbished with new leather seats although the airline claims that its entire ATR fleet will receive a new look with the next aircraft, registered YU-ALP, to feature the new interior as well. The flight from Belgrade to Kraljevo took thirty minutes.

First passengers at Morava Airport

Part of Morava Airport, known as Ladjevci, will continue to be used for military purposes. Some have criticised the project as a political stunt ahead of the first anniversary of the Kraljevo earthquake and next year’s parliamentary elections. They argue the airport won’t be viable. On the other hand, the government says the airport will see flights to Turkey and Germany next summer. The Government of Turkey invested 10 million Euros into the project.