Cluj-Napoca International Airport
Encyclopedia
Cluj-Napoca International Airport serves the city of Cluj-Napoca
, Romania
. It was initially known as Someşeni Airport as it is located 9 km (5.6 mi) east of the city centre in the Someşeni area, which is now within the Cluj-Napoca city limits. In terms of traffic, it is the fourth airport in Romania
, after Bucharest Henri Coandă
, Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu International Airport and Timişoara
. Its size and location (on the European route E576
and close to A3 Transylvania Motorway
) makes it the main airport in Transylvania
(north-western Romania).
. The first aircraft used was the Farman-Goliath aircraft, a twin-engine plane with space for ten passengers built by the Farman Aviation Works.
In 1933, Cluj Airport was declared an International Airport by the Romanian Government. The first international flight, a CSA Czech Airlines
Prague
-Cluj-Bucharest
flight, took place on 11 September 1933. The aircraft used on this route were eight-seat Avia
-Fokker
aircraft. In the following years several new routes were opened, such as the Aeroflot
Moscow
-Cluj-Prague flight, opened on 15 November 1935, which was operated with 14-seat McDonnell Douglas
DC-2 twin-engine aircraft, registered as USSR-M25 and USSR-M26. Internal flights were also operated in this period, such as Cluj-Satu-Mare and Cernăuţi
-Cluj-Arad
using Lockheed Model 10 Electra
ten-passenger aircraft and de Havilland Dragon Rapide
aircraft. In the late 1930s the airport recorded a steady growth and the employees number rose from 6 in 1934 to 16 in 1939. The passenger terminal was also built in this period, being inaugurated in 1939.
During World War II
, the airport became a military airport, being considered the most important in Transylvania
. In 1940, as a result of the Second Vienna Award
, Northern Transylvania
(including Cluj) was ceded to Hungary
and thus the airport was used by the Hungarian Air Force
and German Luftwaffe
. In October 1944, the Hungarian forces in the city were defeated by the Romanian and Soviet
armies. By the time of the re-conquest of the airport by the Romanian No. 4 Fighting Squadron Focşani, in late September 1944, the airport was completely destroyed.
After the war, the airport's operations were resumed with Tarom
internal flights connecting Cluj to other major Romanian cities. The aircraft used were the Lisunov Li-2 / Douglas DC-3
and Ilyushin Il-14
aircraft.
In the 1960s an extensive modernization of the airport begun. In 1969 the new passenger terminal was opened and by 1970 the airport was fully equipped with all the safety facilities.
The airport remained a domestic airport until September 1996, when it was once again opened to both international passenger and cargo traffic. The extension of the terminal building was also started in 1996 and since August 1997 it is run by the Cluj County
Council. By 2001 the extension of the airport building was finished, the runway lighting system was modernized and the 1st category Instrument Landing System was implemented.
The construction of a new terminal, capable of handling 2 million passengers annually, started on 26 June 2007. The 10812 m² (12,931 sq yd) arrivals hall was inaugurated on May 22, 2008, followed by the new departures hall, with a total area of 16000 m² (19,135.8 sq yd), inaugurated in May 2009. Total project cost was an estimated €40 million.
In February 2009, the instrument landing system
Category 2 was implemented and authorized for the existing 2100 m (6,890 ft) runway.
On 20 December 2010, Cluj airport hit the record of 1,000,000 passengers handled in 2010.
. The drive from the city centre takes about 20 minutes. Passengers driving to the airport can use the car park located in the immediate vicinity of the terminal building. The prices are 2 lei
(0,5 euro
) for a stay between 1 and 30 min, 4 lei (1 euro
) for 30 min-1 hour, 12 lei for 1-2 hours, 16 lei for 2-5 hours, 25 lei for 5-18 hours, 35 lei for 18-24 hours, 100 lei for 1-7 days, 170 lei for 7-14 days, and 340 lei for 14-30 days.
The airport bus stop is approximately 100 m (328.1 ft) from the terminal building. After exiting the terminal building, walk 50 m (164 ft) through the car park to the main road, turn right, then walk another 50 m (164 ft) west along the main road.
RATUC, the local public transport company, operates its Route No. 8 that connects the airport with the Mihai Viteazul Square in the city centre. The No. 8 bus runs every 30 minutes, from 5:30 to 22:30 on Monday-Friday and from 5:30 to 22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The travel time between the airport and the city centre is approximately 30 minutes. The price of a 2 fare ticket is 3.5 lei (0,8 euros).
(roughly 0.5 Euro
) per kilometre. A trip from the airport to the city centre is approximately 20 lei
(around 5 Euro
).
, Europcar
, Hertz
, Sixt
, Dollar-Thrifty
, Rodna Trans, Jettour, Romana Impex, Tim Rent A Car Cluj.
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It was initially known as Someşeni Airport as it is located 9 km (5.6 mi) east of the city centre in the Someşeni area, which is now within the Cluj-Napoca city limits. In terms of traffic, it is the fourth airport in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, after Bucharest Henri Coandă
Henri Coanda International Airport
Henri Coandă International Airport is Romania's busiest international airport, located northwest of the city of Bucharest, within Otopeni city limits. One of two airports serving the Romanian capital, the other being Băneasa, it is named after Romanian flight pioneer Henri Coandă, builder of...
, Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu International Airport and Timişoara
Traian Vuia International Airport
Timişoara "Traian Vuia" International is Romania's third largest airport in terms of air traffic, after Bucharest Henri Coandă and Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu Airport and the main air transportation hub for the western part of Romania. It is located in Timişoara, in the region of Banat, near the...
. Its size and location (on the European route E576
European route E576
European route E 576 is a secondary E-road found in northwestern Romania.* Alignment: Dej - Cluj-Napoca.* Length: about .* Condition: currently a two lane road, modernized and widened in 2005 - 2009....
and close to A3 Transylvania Motorway
A3 (Romania)
A3 Transylvania Motorway or Autostrada Transilvania is a motorway currently being constructed in Romania. It will be a four-lane, 588-kilometer motorway, stretching northwest from Bucharest to Oradea. The motorway will connect the cities of Bucharest, Ploieşti, Braşov, Făgăraş, Sighişoara, Târgu...
) makes it the main airport in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
(north-western Romania).
History
Cluj-Napoca Airport was founded on 1 April 1932 by the Romanian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Until the civil airport was built, the first operations used the Someşeni Military Aerodrome that was founded by the Romanian National Service of Air Navigation in 1928. The SNNA was set up by the Romanian Ministry of War for opening an air transportation line between Cluj and BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. The first aircraft used was the Farman-Goliath aircraft, a twin-engine plane with space for ten passengers built by the Farman Aviation Works.
Czech Airlines
Czech Airlines j.s.c. , trading as Czech Airlines , is the national airline of the Czech Republic and temporary in Slovakia with its head office on the grounds of Ruzyně Airport in Ruzyně, Prague...
Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
-Cluj-Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
flight, took place on 11 September 1933. The aircraft used on this route were eight-seat Avia
Avia
Avia is a Czech aircraft and automotive company notable for producing biplane fighter aircraft, especially the B-534, and trucks.- History :...
-Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
aircraft. In the following years several new routes were opened, such as the Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
-Cluj-Prague flight, opened on 15 November 1935, which was operated with 14-seat McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
DC-2 twin-engine aircraft, registered as USSR-M25 and USSR-M26. Internal flights were also operated in this period, such as Cluj-Satu-Mare and Cernăuţi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
-Cluj-Arad
Arad, Romania
Arad is the capital city of Arad County, in western Romania, in the Crişana region, on the river Mureş.An important industrial center and transportation hub, Arad is also the seat of a Romanian Orthodox archbishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training...
using Lockheed Model 10 Electra
Lockheed Model 10 Electra
The Lockheed Model 10 Electra was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane airliner developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2...
ten-passenger aircraft and de Havilland Dragon Rapide
De Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s.-Design and development:Designed by the de Havilland company in late 1933 as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the...
aircraft. In the late 1930s the airport recorded a steady growth and the employees number rose from 6 in 1934 to 16 in 1939. The passenger terminal was also built in this period, being inaugurated in 1939.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport became a military airport, being considered the most important in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. In 1940, as a result of the Second Vienna Award
Second Vienna Award
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards arbitrated by the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Rendered on August 30, 1940, it re-assigned the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.-Prelude and historical background :After the World War I, the multi-ethnic...
, Northern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania is a region of Transylvania, situated within the territory of Romania. The population is largely composed of both ethnic Romanians and Hungarians, and the region has been part of Romania since 1918 . During World War II, as a consequence of the territorial agreement known as...
(including Cluj) was ceded to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and thus the airport was used by the Hungarian Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.- 1918 to Pre–World War II :Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools...
and German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. In October 1944, the Hungarian forces in the city were defeated by the Romanian and Soviet
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
armies. By the time of the re-conquest of the airport by the Romanian No. 4 Fighting Squadron Focşani, in late September 1944, the airport was completely destroyed.
Tarom
S.C. Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române TAROM S.A., doing business as TAROM Romanian Air Transport, is the flag carrier and oldest currently operating airline of Romania. The brand name is an acronym for...
internal flights connecting Cluj to other major Romanian cities. The aircraft used were the Lisunov Li-2 / Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and Ilyushin Il-14
Ilyushin Il-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...
aircraft.
In the 1960s an extensive modernization of the airport begun. In 1969 the new passenger terminal was opened and by 1970 the airport was fully equipped with all the safety facilities.
The airport remained a domestic airport until September 1996, when it was once again opened to both international passenger and cargo traffic. The extension of the terminal building was also started in 1996 and since August 1997 it is run by the Cluj County
Cluj County
Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:...
Council. By 2001 the extension of the airport building was finished, the runway lighting system was modernized and the 1st category Instrument Landing System was implemented.
The construction of a new terminal, capable of handling 2 million passengers annually, started on 26 June 2007. The 10812 m² (12,931 sq yd) arrivals hall was inaugurated on May 22, 2008, followed by the new departures hall, with a total area of 16000 m² (19,135.8 sq yd), inaugurated in May 2009. Total project cost was an estimated €40 million.
In February 2009, the instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
Category 2 was implemented and authorized for the existing 2100 m (6,890 ft) runway.
Development
- A new 3500 m (11,482.9 ft) long runway and a cargo terminal (including a NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
cargo terminal) are planned to be built. According to Nokia, the company wants to operate at least 2 daily cargo flights from Cluj-Napoca Airport. On 8th of Sepetember 2011, the construction works for building a new runway at Cluj-Napoca International Airport have begun. The works for building the first 2,100 meters of the runway represent the first phase of the investment that aims at a take-off/landing runway of 3,500 meters. - Local authorities confirmed on 21 September 2007 that they received a visit from a group of officials from Vienna International AirportVienna International AirportVienna International Airport , located in Schwechat and southeast of central Vienna, is the busiest and biggest airport in Austria. It is often referred to as Schwechat, the name of the county it is in. The airport is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340...
who showed their interest in buying Cluj Napoca International Airport. - A new regional airport is planned to be built in the south-eastern part of the county.
Statistics
In 2007 and 2008, the Cluj airport had the most spectacular evolution in recent years, with a year-over-year growth of 60% and 93% respectively, reaching over 750,000 passengers in 2008.On 20 December 2010, Cluj airport hit the record of 1,000,000 passengers handled in 2010.
| Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | Change | |
| 2010 | 1,028,907 | 23% |
| 2009 | 834,400 | 11% |
| 2008 | 752,181 | 93% |
| 2007 | 390,521 | 60% |
| 2006 | 244,366 | 21% |
| 2005 | 202,556 | 25% |
Car
The airport is located 8 km (5 mi) east of the city centre on the European route E576European route E576
European route E 576 is a secondary E-road found in northwestern Romania.* Alignment: Dej - Cluj-Napoca.* Length: about .* Condition: currently a two lane road, modernized and widened in 2005 - 2009....
. The drive from the city centre takes about 20 minutes. Passengers driving to the airport can use the car park located in the immediate vicinity of the terminal building. The prices are 2 lei
Romanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
(0,5 euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
) for a stay between 1 and 30 min, 4 lei (1 euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
) for 30 min-1 hour, 12 lei for 1-2 hours, 16 lei for 2-5 hours, 25 lei for 5-18 hours, 35 lei for 18-24 hours, 100 lei for 1-7 days, 170 lei for 7-14 days, and 340 lei for 14-30 days.
Bus
RATUC, the local public transport company, operates its Route No. 8 that connects the airport with the Mihai Viteazul Square in the city centre. The No. 8 bus runs every 30 minutes, from 5:30 to 22:30 on Monday-Friday and from 5:30 to 22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The travel time between the airport and the city centre is approximately 30 minutes. The price of a 2 fare ticket is 3.5 lei (0,8 euros).
Taxi
There are usually a wide range of taxis waiting in the airport car park, just off the terminal building. Some of them have significantly higher tariffs than the others, therefore it is advisable to only use the ones clearly displaying the fee, usually about 1.9 leiRomanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
(roughly 0.5 Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
) per kilometre. A trip from the airport to the city centre is approximately 20 lei
Romanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
(around 5 Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
).
Rent a car
Car rental services are available in the terminal building from CarClass, Autorent, AvisAvis Rent A Car System
Avis Rent a Car System, LLC is a car rental company headquartered in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey, United States. Avis, Budget Rent a Car and Budget Truck Rental are all units of Avis Budget Group....
, Europcar
Europcar
Europcar is a Paris based car rental company owned by the French investment company Eurazeo, after its sale by the Volkswagen group. The company was founded in Paris in 1949...
, Hertz
The Hertz Corporation
Hertz Global Holdings Inc is an American car rental company with international locations in 145 countries worldwide.-Early years:The company was founded by Walter L. Jacobs in 1918, who started a car rental operation in Chicago with a dozen Model T Ford cars. In 1923, Jacobs sold it to John D...
, Sixt
Sixt
Sixt is a European car rental company. It has around 3,500 service stations in over 80 countries. Sixt was founded in 1912 by Martin Sixt in Munich.-Company facts:*Revenue : €1.44 billion*EBIT: €153.3 million*EBT: €121.647 million*Employees: 2,015...
, Dollar-Thrifty
Dollar-Thrifty Automotive Group
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group is a holding company for Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car, formed in 1990 by Chrysler and spun off in 1997....
, Rodna Trans, Jettour, Romana Impex, Tim Rent A Car Cluj.
Airlines and destinations
Accidents and incidents
- On 5 September 1986, at about 17:00, a fully loaded Antonov An-24Antonov An-24The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
RV aircraft departed Bucharest Otopeni AirportHenri Coanda International AirportHenri Coandă International Airport is Romania's busiest international airport, located northwest of the city of Bucharest, within Otopeni city limits. One of two airports serving the Romanian capital, the other being Băneasa, it is named after Romanian flight pioneer Henri Coandă, builder of...
, bound for Cluj-Napoca. When the landingLandingthumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
procedure began, one of the flight attendantFlight attendantFlight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
s, Aurelia Grigore, realized that the aircraft was landing at higher than normal speed. When the main landing gear touched ground, it bounced repeatedly until the aircraft stopped. The front of the aircraft was on fire. Grigore realized they had an emergency situation. With her flight attendant colleague, she decided to start deplaning passengers. She opened the emergency exit and she let the stairs down, but the stairs weren't touching the ground because the front gear was broken. She was helped by Emil Hosu, a famous actor. "He was one of the few people that didn't panic and helped us evacuate the aircraft in safety", said Grigore. After evacuating the passengers they returned to help the pilots who were trapped in the cockpit. "The cockpit was on fire and we lost any faith that we could save them". The next moments were horrible for all passengers and flight crew. The aircraft was destroyed by flames and with the pilots still on board. After 10 minutes, they saw one of the copilots trying to escape through a window. "He told us his foot was stuck and that he couldn't get it out. We tried to help him, but we couldn't. Finally he managed to get out of the aircraft on fire. He was completely burned, you couldn't even look at him. It was terrible. The other 2 pilots burned alive as we watched them, helpless". The copilot died also. He was transported to the ER but died the next day because of the burns. The authorities said that the accident was due to an equipment malfunction. The 3 pilots were the only casualties.