BELGRADE NIKOLA TESLA AIRPORT

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'Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport' (Serbian: Аеродром Београд - Никола Тесла or ''Aerodrom Beograd - Nikola Tesla'') is Serbia's busiest airport, also known as 'Surčin' (Сурчин), after a nearby Belgrade suburb.
Named for Nikola Tesla, the airport is situated 12 km (7 mi) west of central Belgrade, in the Municipality of Surčin, surrounded by Vojvodina's fertile lowlands. Passengers on the right hand side of the planes descending from the east have a spectacular view of downtown Belgrade, especially the districts of Čukarica and Novi Beograd. Weather seldom diverts aircraft, however, when landing in Belgrade is unsafe, the planes are diverted to Niš Constantine the Great International Airport, which is 230 km (143 mi) southward.
National flag carrier Jat Airways uses Belgrade Nikola Tesla as their hub airport. VIP airlines Air Pink, Jat Airways AVIO taxi and Prince Aviation also call the airport their home.

History

Belgrade's first international airport (also known as Dojno Polje Airport) was opened in March 1927 on the territory of today's Novi Beograd. From February 1928 planes owned by the first local airline ''Aeroput'' (Jat Airways) started taking off from the new airport. The airport's landing strip consisted of four grass runways between 1,100 and 2,900 m (3,609 and 9,514 ft) long. A modern terminal building was built in 1931, and in 1936 equipment to enable aircraft to land in poor visibility landing was installed.^[2]
Besides Aeroput, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways and airlines from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Poland also used the airport until the Second World War. Starting from April 1941 German occupation forces used this airport. During 1944 the Allies bombed it, and in October of same year the German army destroyed the remaining facilities while withdrawing.

Belgrade Airport after WW2

Modernisation project of Belgrade Airport during the 1980's

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.
Civil transport by Air Force cargo planes via this airport was renewed at the end of 1945. At the beginning of 1947 Jat Airways and JUSTA took over domestic and international traffic, and from 1948 the first Western companies' planes started to land on this airport.
Constant traffic increase and the appearance of passenger jet planes demanded a significant airport enlargement. In the meantime there was a plan to build Novi Beograd on this location, and so it was decided that a new international airport should be constructed near the village of Surčin. The last flight from the old airport was at the beginning of 1964.^[3]

Construction of a new airport

During the first years of the development of postwar Belgrade, construction of the modern airport became a social and economic priority. Basic studies and engineering research started in 1947, and became part of the 1950 General City Plan. This document of undeniable historic importance for Belgrade clearly defined the future or air traffic and the role of Belgrade's Airport within the Yugoslav and the international air network.
The new location for the airport was on the Surčin plateau 12 km (7 mi) from Belgrade's city centre. Thanks to the original planners' vision, two important preconditions for the airport development were fulfilled: a suitable location was chosen, which met all the navigational, meteorological, construction, technical, and traffic requirements; and the special needs for the airport's long-term development were established.
The Serbia City Planning Bureau experts, with the architect Nikola Dobrović at the helm, made the preliminary plans for the new airport. The development and realisation of the idea was taken over from 1953 onwards by the Civil Aviation Department (later Federal Department for Civil Aviation) whose experts, with engineer Miloš Lukić as a team leader, finished the general airport plan for one runway, appropriate taxiways, and a terminal complex in 1957. Building of the new airport started in April 1958 and lasted till April 28, 1962, when it was officially opened by President Josip Broz Tito.
During that period a 3,000 m (9,843 ft) long runway was built with the parallel taxiway and appropriate concrete aprons for sixteen planes. The passenger terminal building occupied an area of 8,000 m² (2 acres). Cargo storage was 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.^[4]

2006 and 2007

Check in area at Terminal 2, 2007

The runway is now CAT IIIb, upgraded in October 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. Although this system was fully installed it is not fully operational since it was never licensed by responsible authorities.^[5]
A countrywide petition was signed to have the name of the airport changed to ''Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport''. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian inventor, generally thought as the world's most important electrical engineer.
The proposal was accepted by Aerodrom Beograd P.E., the state-owned airport authority, and received approval by the Ministry of Capital Investment, and finally the Serbian Government on February 2, 2006.^[6] On July 10, 2006 to mark 150 years since the birth of Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla, a monument was erected near Terminal 1. The monument is 3.10 m (10.17 ft) high and weighs 1,000 kg (2,204 lb).^[7]
The airport received its two millionth passenger on November 14, 2006^[8], and served a total of 2,222,445 passengers by the end of the year; a 9% increase since 2005.^[9]
Reintroduction of transatlantic flights occurred on June 19, 2007 with scheduled Skyservice flights to Toronto via Dublin with a Boeing 757-200. It was the first scheduled transatlantic flight since 2005.^[10]
In August 2007, the management of the airport announced that within the next 4 years Terminal 2 gates will be expanded as well as parking spaces for aircraft. Terminal 1 and 2 would be connceted as well. The management also announced that it plans to start construction of a second runway in 2011.^[11]
Many airlines have postponed planned new services to Belgrade, mainly due to visa restrictions and bureaucracy exerted on the Serbian citizens by the European Union. Eventual removal of traveling restrictions is expected to drastically impact on the number of carriers serving Belgrade.

Terminals

Belgrade Nikola tesla Airport has two terminals, with a reconstructed Terminal 2 open since May 14, 2006.^[12]

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 (T1), was the original terminal when the airport was opened. The terminal handled flights by domestic airline companies during the Communist Yugoslavia. Since the break up of the union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, the gates of the terminal have been used for international flights by international and domestic airlines. All passengers now check-in at Terminal 2 however after passing security and passport control they proceed to the gates located in Terminal 1 (which is connected to Terminal 2). Though in the summer season charter flights still check-in at Terminal 1 so large queues are avoided near Terminal 2 check-in. The terminal contains 8 gates. A1-A8. In T1 one can find restaurants "Aviator" and "Boeing", the "Business Club Lounge" and various shops.
The terminal went through a major renovation in the 1980’s when air bridges were added to connect passengers to their aircraft. Minor renovations were done in 2002. Even though Terminal 1 and 2 are located one next to the other and are connected via a hallway the airport management announced in 2007 that the departure hall in terminal 1 would be connected to the departure halls in terminal 2 will via a new system, however the system which should be completed by 2011 has not been specified yet.^[11]

Terminal 2

A new terminal, Terminal 2 (T2) was constructed during the 80's for the airport ever growing passenger numbers and the need for a larger capacity. After 2 years of high scale renovation, T2 opened in May 2006 and has 33 check in desks and the latest security technology.^[14] The airport has a capacity of 5 million passengers.^[15] The arrivals area of the terminal was also completely reconstructed. The terminal has 6 gates C1-2 to gate C5-6. The terminal contains airline offices, transfer desks and various shops.
Terminal 2 now serves as both the international and domestic terminal, (departures and arrivals) offering the latest in modern technology, and comfort.
In 2007 it was announced that within the next 4 years the C platforms (T2 gates) will be expanded and that it is the highest priority investment for the airport. The expansion will cater for the growing number of passengers passing through the airport.^[14] The airport has a capacity of 5 million passengers.^[11]

Airlines & destinations

Aeroflot at Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport

The following scheduled passenger airlines use Nikola Tesla Airport (as of August 2007):

★ Aeroflot (Moscow-Sheremetyevo)

★ Aerosvit Airlines (Kiev-Boryspil)

★ Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)

★ Alitalia (Milan-Malpensa)

★
★ Alitalia operated by Alitalia Express (Milan-Malpensa)

★ Austrian Airlines (Vienna)

★
★ Austrian Airlines operated by Austrian Arrows (Vienna)

★ British Airways (London-Heathrow)

★ Czech Airlines (Prague)

★ Gazpromavia (Adler/Sochi, Moscow-Vnukovo)

★ Germanwings (Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart)

★ Jat Airways (Amsterdam, Athens, Beirut, Berlin-Tegel, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gothenburg-Landvetter, Istanbul-Atatürk, Larnaca, Ljubljana, London-Heathrow, Malta, Monastir, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Munich, Ohrid, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Podgorica, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino, Sarajevo, Skopje, Stockholm-Arlanda, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Tirana, Tivat, Trieste, Tripoli, Tunis, Vienna, Zürich)

★ Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich)

★
★ Lufthansa Regional operated by Lufthansa CityLine (Düsseldorf, Munich)

★ Montenegro Airlines (Podgorica, Tivat)

★ Norwegian Air Shuttle (Oslo [ends March 08, 2008] , Moss [starts March 15, 2008])

★ Olympic Airlines (Athens)

★ Swiss International Air Lines (Zürich)

★ Skyservice Airlines (Dublin, Toronto-Pearson)

★ Tunisair (Monastir)

★ Turkish Airlines (Istanbul-Atatürk)

Cargo

Cargo airlines servicing Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport (as of August 2007):

★ Adria Cargo (Ljubljana)

★ Air Tomisko (charters)

★ DHL (Bergamo)

★ MiniLiner (Bergamo)

★ United International Airlines (charters)

Former users

★ Air China (CAAC) (Ürümqi, Zurich) [terminated flights due to 1992 UN sanction imposed on Yugoslavia, flights not reinstated since]

★ Air Afrique (Abidjan) [terminated flights due to 1992 UN sanction imposed on Yugoslavia, later the airline went into liquidation]

★ Air Srpska (Banja Luka) [terminated due to liquidation]

★ Iraqi Airways (Baghdad) [terminated flights due to UN sanction against Iraq]

★ KLM (Amsterdam) [terminated flights due to poor loads]

★ Libyan Airways (Tripoli) [terminated flights due to 1992 UN sanction imposed on Yugoslavia, flights not reinstated since]

★ Pan American World Airways (Frankfurt Main) [terminated due to bankruptcy and liquidation]

★ Qantas (Athens, Karachi) [terminated because of poor loads due to increased competition from JAT Yugoslav Airlines]

★ Royal Jordanian (Amman, London-Heathrow) [terminated flights due to 1992 UN sanction imposed on Yugoslavia, flights not reinstated since]

★ Sabena (Brussels) [terminated flights due to poor loads]

★ SAS Snowflake (Copenhagen) [terminated due to liquidation]

★ Scandinavian Airlines System (Copenhagen) [terminated flights due to poor loads]

★ Syrian Arab Airlines (Damascus) [terminated flights due to 1992 UN sanction imposed on Yugoslavia, flights not reinstated since]

★ Uzbekistan Airways (New York-JFK, Tashkent) [ceased flights after expiration of code-share agreement between them and Jat Airways]

Services

Security

Security screening at Belgrade Airport, terminal 2

Security at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has made significant advances during the 21st century. In 2007 the airport followed the example of the EU and introduced new security measures which limit the amount of liquids allowed to be carried onboard aircrafts. In April, 2007 the airport introduced the latest technology for explosive and narcotic detection. These units are in application at the airport at customs and border checkpoints and other facilities and locations of security interest.^[18]
Each international passenger must pass security and passport control before entering the departure lounge. Passengers are again screened and carry on luggage is scanned at the gate. Another passport check applies for flights leaving for Toronto-Pearson Airport at the gate (however passports are not checked for a second time on other destinations).
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport also has a rescue and fire service, which in 2007 received internationally recognised certificates. All members of the fire service unit underwent new training at the U.K. International Fire Training Center "Serco". This has led to praise by the IATA and ICAO organisations.^[19]
Since 2003 airport security has been visibly increased. The airport relies on the Serbian Police and Serbian anti-terrorist squad for patrolling the airport and can call in the Serbian Army in case it is needed. In August 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. All parked cars in restricted zones will be towed away and the owners will receive a fine.^[20] In late 2007 the airport will receive technology from Israel which will be able to monitor the 20km radius around the airport.

Shopping

In a 2007 survey of passengers passing through the airport they expressed their dissatisfaction of the small amount of shopping areas at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.^[21] However a new duty free shop has been opened in late 2006, in terminal 2, replacing the old one. The new duty free shop now sells duty free items such as cigarettes, perfumes and alcohol. The airport also introduced new newspaper stalls and a music shop. All duty free areas since 2006 have been owned by company “Durfy” and they are progressively introducing new shopping areas within the airport. Recently the shop “Fashion corner” opened at the airport.^[22] There are also independent stores near the departure gates which sell a verity of items including Serbian souvenirs.
In 2007 the “Serbian Tourist Organisation” in international arrivals area in terminal 2 opened an info desk. This feature has been introduced to promote Serbian tourism to foreigners entering the country.^[23]
The airport has a total of 2 restaurants, 2 lounges, 5 bars/cafes, a total of 13 stores, 4 bank offices and a post office.

Lounges

Unlike other airports in the world Belgrade Nikola Tesla can be said to be distinct by the fact that it does not have dedicated airline lounges. The reason for this goes back in the 90’s when it was agreed that the airport would have one lounge for all airlines and this decision has not been overturned since. All passengers flying business class on a flight from Belgrade may use the airport lounge named “Business club” located in the transit area near gate A5.^[24] The capacity of the lounge is 45 people at one time. Free drinks, food and appetisers are offered. The meals are prepared by restaurant “Boeing” located next to the lounge. Passengers receive an invitation to the lounge at check in.
There is an exclusively VIP lounge at the airport. It was built during the 2004-2006 terminal 2 reconstruction. The lounge is used for important persons like famous sports stars, singers, politicians and actors upon departure and arrival. At this VIP lounge passengers can check in at this very lounge. 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 500m².

Accessibility

By car

Belgrade Airport is connected to the Belgrade - Zagreb highway (E-70) via nearby interchange. For southwestern parts of Belgrade, such as Železnik, Sremčica or Obrenovac, or if final destination is western Serbia, travelers should take the Zagreb exit, and then, just 2 km (1 mi) from the airport another turn to Obrenovac which will lead over the newly built bridge crossing the Sava River. For all other destinations the traveler should head towards Belgrade - just before entering the city, travelers to Vojvodina should take Novi Sad exit to motorway E-75. Drive from the airport to central Belgrade shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. The speed limit on this section of motorway is 80 km/h (50 mph).
There are numerous car rental agencies on duty at Arrivals Hall at the airport. Prices are just above European average. Most cars have manual transmissions.

By bus

Service	Destination (departing from the airport)	Operator
Shuttle	Fontana Square - Belgrade Central Railway Station - Slavija Square	Jat Airways Buses
Line 72	Zeleni Venac	GSP Belgrade Public Transport
Line E7 (minibus)	Vukov Spomenik	GSP Belgrade Public Transport

★ Jat Airways coaches depart every hour on the hour, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Slavija Square in downtown Belgrade (in front of the Slavija hotels, via Belgrade Central Railway Station, Fontana Square and finally arrive at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, and vice versa. The fare is RSD160 (~ €2).^[25] Busses depart every 60 minutes.

★ GSP Belgrade Public Transport Co, maintains a scheduled service to the airport with its line no. The line will take you to the Zeleni Venac station located in downtown Belgrade. The first bus to the airport from Zeleni Venac departs at 4.45 a.m. while the last bus from Zeleni Venac departs at 11.40 p.m. on all days. The first bus from the airport to Zeleni Venac departs at 5.15 a.m. and the last bus to depart from the airport on its way to Zeleni Venac is at 12 a.m. on all days. It will take approximately 32 minutes from the first to the last stop and cost RSD40 (~ €0.5). For more information about the bus stops on this route visit the official website of GSP Belgrade Public Transport.

★ A mini-bus line, number E7, is also available from the airport to Vukov spomenik. Mini buses are equipped with air conditioning and they are new, clean and reliable. Your ticket is bought from the driver. Mini busses are generally very quick compared to other public transport. You may ask the bus driver to stop at a certain place even if there is no bus stop (as long as it is on the line to the final destination), most drivers will be happy to do so. The ticket price of this service is only 60 dinars (~ €0.8).

★ Charter minivan transfers: Beo Di Rent (+381 11 3238 884), Inter City Express (+381 11 3241 282)

By taxi

Licensed taxi service fare from the airport to the city has a flat rate of RSD700 (€9). Travel time to the city centre is approximately 20 minutes.^[26]
Using taxi services for destinations outside metropolitan Belgrade is unwise, as prices are unreasonably high. All licensed taxi drivers have a badge, an oval blue license plate with a serial number, and the Belgrade Coat of Arms displayed on the roof.
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has a problem with the so-called "Taxi Mafia": unlicensed cabbies who hang around the International Arrivals exits to solicit the business of uninformed tourists going into the city centre. They typically charge about RSD2000 (€25). This will change by October 2007. All city taxi organizations will sign contracts with Airport Nikola Tesla on September 5, 2007 and these contracts will make them obey the new rules of the airport, that is, the new system of control of taxi vehicles, reception and offloading of passengers, and the entire system will be financed by the airport.
Access ways to airport terminals will be surrounded by ramps, and it will be possible to pass these ramps only with a magnetic card, which will be given to taxi drivers. In addition, another innovation is the categorization of vehicles, so that access to passengers will be allowed only to those vehicles whose looks and quality meet the airport's standards.
Incoming taxis will have constant radio communication with airport authorities. This will ensure passengers a better alternative.
In the meantime until October, 2007 licensed taxis can be avoided by walking over to Terminal 1 Departures hall and hailing one of the many taxis dropping people off, or by asking the staff of the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade in the Arrivals Hall to call a taxi for you.

References

External links

★ Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport

★

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