Niš improves in 2011

Passenger increase for Niš Airport

Niš Constantine the Great Airport has seen improved figures in 2011 compared to 2010 by handling 25.124 passengers. The figure represents an increase 6.3% compared to 2010 with August being the airport’s busiest month. The number is still down on 35.518 passengers handled in 2006, the airport’s record since it reopened its doors in 2004. During last year, Niš Airport was only served by daily Montenegro Airlines flights from Podgorica. Unlike previous years, there were no summer charters in 2011. Furthermore, in 2010 the airport was served by the low cost Italian airline Wind Jet.

Niš will hope to attract new airlines in 2012. At a meeting late last year the airport’s management announced that it was working on bringing seasonal summer flights between the city and Rijeka, to commence in 2012. Furthermore, Sky Work Airlines from Switzerland has shown interest in launching flights from Bern. The airport should see a spike in traffic this January as the city co-hosts the European Handball Championships. However, in a few months a new commercial airport in Kraljevo, only some 140 kilometres away, is set to open.

Niš Airport was opened for commercial use in 1986, with Adria Airways being the first to launch charter flights. Soon after, JAT Yugoslav Airlines commenced scheduled services to Belgrade. The airport was deserted after the breakup of Yugoslavia and bombed in 1999. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2004.