Banja Luka International Airport
Encyclopedia
Banja Luka International Airport (Serbian
Cyrillic: Међународни аеродром Бања Лука, Serbian Latin, Bosnian
, Croatian
: Međunarodni aerodrom Banja Luka), also known as Mahovljani Airport, after the nearby village of the same name, is an airport located 18 km (11.2 mi) north northeast of the railway station in the city of Banja Luka
, the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the capital of Republika Srpska
entity. in 2010, Banja Luka airport handeled 4,798 passengers. In the period between January and October 2011, passenger numbers reached 7,245, already surpassing the 2010 full-year figure. The airport is currently served by B&H Airlines
' flights to Zurich
and Copenhagen
.
.
After the political and territorial upheaval within the former Yugoslavia
, Republika Srpska
was established
with Banja Luka as the de facto capital. That gave Banja Luka Airport new importance and a completely different role. Banja Luka International Airport was opened for civilian air traffic on 18 November 1997.
From 1999 to 2003, the airport served as the main hub of Air Srpska
, which was the official flag carrier of Republika Srpska. The company was founded by Jat Airways
and Government of Republika Srpska
. Unfortunately, the company ceased all operations in 2003 after increasing debt, and the withdrawal of Jat Airways from the partnership. There are plans for Sky Srpska
, a state-ownerd airline founded in 2007, to start flights in summer 2012 form Banja Luka to Vienna
and Zurich.
The airport's facilities were greatly improved in 2002 and 2003, ahead of the visit by Pope John Paul II
to Banja Luka in June 2003.
Banja Luka airport is managed by the government-owned company "Aerodromi Republike Srpske".
and Gradiška municipalities, in a wide valley of the Vrbas River
expanding into the well-known Lijevče
polje. It is connected to the main Banja Luka – Gradiška road and will also be connected to the new Banja Luka – Gradiška highway, which is due to be completed in the next few years.
will resume four weekly flights to Ljubljana
in March.
Over the years, the airport has had flights connecting Banja Luka to Athens
(Greece
), Belgrade
(Serbia
), Frankfurt
(Germany
), Ljubljana (Slovenia
), Salzburg
(Austria
), Tivat
(Montenegro
) and Vienna (Austria), partly thanks to Air Srpska which was an airline based at the airport.
Since Air Srpska stopped operations, the Government of Republika Srpska has tried to attract new airlines to fly to Banja Luka through various subsidies. Subsidised flights included:
Austrian Airlines
and Montenegro Airlines
served Banja Luka during the late 1990s and early 2000s from their respective bases in Vienna and Tivat.
On 15 December 2010, to celebrate the abolition of visa
requirements for Bosnian citizens traveling to the Schengen Area
countries, a symbolic charter flight was organised from Banja Luka to Brussels
.
Passenger statistics
Serbian
Serbian may refer to:* Serbian cuisine* Serbians, citizens of Serbia* Serbs, members of the Serb ethnic group* Serbian diaspora, emigrants of Serbia and their descendants, and Serbs living abroad* Serbian language, the official language of Serbia...
Cyrillic: Међународни аеродром Бања Лука, Serbian Latin, Bosnian
Bosnian
Bosnian may refer to:*Anything related to Bosnia or its inhabitants*Anything related to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina or its inhabitants* Bosnian language, a South Slavic language spoken mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Croatian
Croatian
Croatian may refer to:*Croatia*Croats, people from Croatia, or of Croatian descent*Croatian language* Croatian cuisine...
: Međunarodni aerodrom Banja Luka), also known as Mahovljani Airport, after the nearby village of the same name, is an airport located 18 km (11.2 mi) north northeast of the railway station in the city of Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
, the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and the capital of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
entity. in 2010, Banja Luka airport handeled 4,798 passengers. In the period between January and October 2011, passenger numbers reached 7,245, already surpassing the 2010 full-year figure. The airport is currently served by B&H Airlines
B&H Airlines
B&H Airlines is an airline with its head office in the Energoinvest Building in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating scheduled services, charter passenger services and small cargo services...
' flights to Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
History
The construction of the Banja Luka International Airport began in 1976. In accordance with the development plans, capacities were built defining Banja Luka as an airport of secondary importance, restricted to domestic air traffic on the territory of Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
.
After the political and territorial upheaval within the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
was established
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
with Banja Luka as the de facto capital. That gave Banja Luka Airport new importance and a completely different role. Banja Luka International Airport was opened for civilian air traffic on 18 November 1997.
From 1999 to 2003, the airport served as the main hub of Air Srpska
Air Srpska
Air Srpska was an airline of Srpska, an entity of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was operational between 1999 and 2003....
, which was the official flag carrier of Republika Srpska. The company was founded by Jat Airways
Jat Airways
Jat Airways is the national airline of Serbia and the former national airline of Yugoslavia, and has its head office in the Jat Airways Business Center in Belgrade. It was established in 1927 as Aeroput, making it currently one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation...
and Government of Republika Srpska
Government of Republika Srpska
The Government of Republika Srpska is the main element of the executive branch of government in Republika Srpska, one of the two entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Current cabinet:...
. Unfortunately, the company ceased all operations in 2003 after increasing debt, and the withdrawal of Jat Airways from the partnership. There are plans for Sky Srpska
Sky Srpska
Sky Srpska is an airline in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in February 2007. The airline is a public enterprise owned by the entity government and has its hub at the Banja Luka International Airport...
, a state-ownerd airline founded in 2007, to start flights in summer 2012 form Banja Luka to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Zurich.
The airport's facilities were greatly improved in 2002 and 2003, ahead of the visit by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
to Banja Luka in June 2003.
Banja Luka airport is managed by the government-owned company "Aerodromi Republike Srpske".
Accessibility
The airport was built in the area of LaktašiLaktaši
Laktaši is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Republika Srpska entity near the city of Banja Luka.-Geography:...
and Gradiška municipalities, in a wide valley of the Vrbas River
Vrbas River
The Vrbas is a major river in western Bosnia and Herzegovina.It is a right tributary of the river Sava. The city of Banja Luka is located on the river banks...
expanding into the well-known Lijevče
Lijevce
Lijevče is a plain in northern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated between the rivers Sava and Vrbas, and Mount Kozara. These boundaries give the plain a roughly triangular outline. The land is fertile, and is extensively farmed...
polje. It is connected to the main Banja Luka – Gradiška road and will also be connected to the new Banja Luka – Gradiška highway, which is due to be completed in the next few years.
Flights
The airport is currently a focus city for B&H Airlines, which operates four-times weekly flights to Zürich and twice-weekly flights to Copenhagen. In addition, Adria AirwaysAdria Airways
Adria Airways d.d. is the Slovenian national airline. Today, the majority of Adria Airways business is in scheduled flights. Adria operates to 16 cities throughout Europe this winter and offers excellent connections to South East Europe. It is a Star Alliance member since 2004 and a Lufthansa...
will resume four weekly flights to Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
in March.
Over the years, the airport has had flights connecting Banja Luka to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
(Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
(Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
), Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), Ljubljana (Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
), Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
), Tivat
Tivat
Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor...
(Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
) and Vienna (Austria), partly thanks to Air Srpska which was an airline based at the airport.
Since Air Srpska stopped operations, the Government of Republika Srpska has tried to attract new airlines to fly to Banja Luka through various subsidies. Subsidised flights included:
- Jat Airways flights to Belgrade between November 2007 and December 2009, operated with ATR 72ATR 72The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. ATR and Airbus are both built in Toulouse, and share resources and technology...
- AustrojetAustrojetAustrojet is an Austrian charter airline operated by BFS . The airline originally commenced scheduled services to boost the economy between western Austria and Bosnia, but appears to only operate charter services currently.- Destinations :Since April 2008, Austrojet operated the Salzburg – Banja...
flights to Salzburg and Tivat between July and December 2008, operated three time per week with Dash 8-100 - Adria Airways flights to Ljubljana between July 2010 and November 2011, operated four time per week with CRJ 200
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates...
and Montenegro Airlines
Montenegro Airlines
Montenegro Airlines d.o.o., operating as Montenegro Airlines, is the national carrier airline of the country of Montenegro, and flag carrier of the Montenegro, headquartered in Podgorica. It operates scheduled services in Europe, as well as charter flights throughout Europe during the summer...
served Banja Luka during the late 1990s and early 2000s from their respective bases in Vienna and Tivat.
On 15 December 2010, to celebrate the abolition of visa
Visa
Visa or VISA may refer to:* Visa , a document issued by a country's government allowing the holder to enter or to leave that country...
requirements for Bosnian citizens traveling to the Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
countries, a symbolic charter flight was organised from Banja Luka to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Airlines and destinations
Statistics
Statistical data for Bosnian airports:Banja Luka Int. AirportPassenger statistics
| Year/Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 560 | 422 | 640 | 719 | 680 | 536 | 1,209 | 942 | 707 | 830 | - | - | 7,245 |
| 2010 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 497 | 432 | 602 | - | 4,798 |
See also
- List of airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Adria AirwaysAdria AirwaysAdria Airways d.d. is the Slovenian national airline. Today, the majority of Adria Airways business is in scheduled flights. Adria operates to 16 cities throughout Europe this winter and offers excellent connections to South East Europe. It is a Star Alliance member since 2004 and a Lufthansa...
- Ljubljana Airport
- B&H AirlinesB&H AirlinesB&H Airlines is an airline with its head office in the Energoinvest Building in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating scheduled services, charter passenger services and small cargo services...
- Copenhagen AirportCopenhagen AirportCopenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
- Zurich Airport
- Banja LukaBanja Luka-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
- Republika SrpskaRepublika SrpskaRepublika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...