Priština International Airport
Encyclopedia
Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari ' onMouseout='HidePop("31203")' href="/topics/Serbian_language">Serbian
: Међународни аеродром Приштина, Međunarodni aerodrom Priština) is an international airport
located 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Pristina
, Kosovo
. It is an international airport that handles over a million passengers per year, co-located with Slatina Air Base
. It is under the authority of the Government of Kosovo
and is the only port of entry for air travellers to Kosovo. Pristina International Airport is a secondary hub for Belle Air
of Albania
and Adria Airways
of Slovenia
. The airport is named after Adem Jashari
, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army
.
.
During the 1990s the airport started operating international flights, mainly to and from Switzerland
and Germany
.
Following the Kosovo War
, from 12 to 26 June 1999 there was a brief but tense standoff
between NATO and the Russia
n Kosovo Force in which Russian troops occupied the airport.
Gen. Wesley Clark
had ordered the NATO troops to seize control of the airport but it is claimed Gen. Sir Mike Jackson
backed the decision of Capt. James Blount (now better known as singer James Blunt
) to disobey this order for fear of "starting World War III".
After securing an agreement by which Russian forces would be integrated into peacekeeping
duties, independent of NATO, Pristina Airport was reactivated by 53 Field Squadron (Air Support) Royal Engineers as a military airport on 15 October 1999 and then started to operate international air transport to several European cities. During that period of time the Russian KFOR along with other NATO forces were in charge for security of the airport. Airport Pristina initially began its operations with 45 employees.
The apron
and the passenger terminal
were renovated and expanded in 2002 and again in 2009.
The airport's official website promotes itself as Prishtina International Airport, which reflects the name of its operator, Prishtina International Airport J.S.C.
(ACI). Winning airports were selected for excellence and achievement across a range of disciplines including airport development, operations, facilities, security and safety, and customer service.
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Међународни аеродром Приштина, Međunarodni aerodrom Priština) is an international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
located 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. It is an international airport that handles over a million passengers per year, co-located with Slatina Air Base
Slatina Air Base
Slatina Air Base , located at Pristina International Airport, contained the second largest military underground hangar complex in former Yugoslavia. The largest one was at Željava Airport near Bihać...
. It is under the authority of the Government of Kosovo
Government of Kosovo
The Cabinet of Kosovo is the collection of Kosovo institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and also includes the deputy prime ministers as well as various ministers.The Prime Minister is elected by the Assembly of the Republic...
and is the only port of entry for air travellers to Kosovo. Pristina International Airport is a secondary hub for Belle Air
Belle Air
Belle Air Sh.p.k. is a privately owned low-cost airline, founded in 2005, having its head office in Tirana, Albania,. Belle Air operates international flights on scheduled service to several cities in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Greece, Belgium and Kosovo out of Tirana International Airport...
of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and Adria Airways
Adria 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...
of 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...
. The airport is named after Adem Jashari
Adem Jashari
Adem Jashari was born in Prekaz, in the Drenica region of Kosovo, . He is considered to be one of the chief architects of the Kosovo Liberation Army, along with Zahir Pajaziti...
, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
.
History
Pristina Airport was officially opened in 1965. It was initially opened for domestic flights only - to and from BelgradeBelgrade
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...
.
During the 1990s the airport started operating international flights, mainly to and from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and 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...
.
Following the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
, from 12 to 26 June 1999 there was a brief but tense standoff
Incident at Pristina
The Incident at Pristina was a confrontation between the NATO forces and Russian forces over the Pristina International Airport in the aftermath of the Kosovo War...
between NATO and the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Kosovo Force in which Russian troops occupied the airport.
Gen. Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
had ordered the NATO troops to seize control of the airport but it is claimed Gen. Sir Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson
General Sir Michael David "Mike" Jackson, is a retired British Army officer and one of its most high-profile generals since the Second World War. Originally commissioned into the Intelligence Corps in 1963, he transferred to the Parachute Regiment, with whom he served two of his three tours of...
backed the decision of Capt. James Blount (now better known as singer James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
) to disobey this order for fear of "starting World War III".
After securing an agreement by which Russian forces would be integrated into peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
duties, independent of NATO, Pristina Airport was reactivated by 53 Field Squadron (Air Support) Royal Engineers as a military airport on 15 October 1999 and then started to operate international air transport to several European cities. During that period of time the Russian KFOR along with other NATO forces were in charge for security of the airport. Airport Pristina initially began its operations with 45 employees.
The apron
Airport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
and the passenger terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
were renovated and expanded in 2002 and again in 2009.
The airport's official website promotes itself as Prishtina International Airport, which reflects the name of its operator, Prishtina International Airport J.S.C.
Awards
In June 2006, Pristina International Airport was awarded the Best Airport 2006 Award, an honour presented by Airports Council InternationalAirports Council International
Airports Council International is the association of the world’s airports. It is a non profit organization, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
(ACI). Winning airports were selected for excellence and achievement across a range of disciplines including airport development, operations, facilities, security and safety, and customer service.
Growth
On 12 November 2008, Pristina International Airport received for the first time in its history the annual one-millionth passenger (excluding military). A special ceremony was held at the airport where the one-millionth passenger received a free return ticket to a destination of his choice served by the airport. The passenger was on board Germanwings flight 4U 2946 arriving from Stuttgart, Germany.Privatisation
The airport was privatised; in May 2010, Limak-Aeroport de Lyon was awarded a 20-year contract to operate the airport. Passenger volumes grew further; 1.3 million passengers are estimated to use the airport in 2010.The new terminal is expected to be built by the end of 2012.Airlines and destinations
Scheduled airlines
The following airlines operate scheduled flights at Pristina International Airport (as of November 2011).Charter airlines
The following airlines operate charter flights at Pristina International Airport (as of July 2011)Cargo airlines
External links
- Prishtina International Airport (official website)