Ventspils International Airport
Encyclopedia
Ventspils International Airport is an airport
located 2.7 NM southwest of Ventspils
, Latvia
. It is the newest airport and along with Liepāja International Airport
and Riga International Airport
is one of the three notable airports in the country.
Ventspils Airport was founded in 1975. One asphalt-concrete runway (1298 metre) and an apron (100 metre) were built. At that time there was an air control dispatchers point at the aerodrome and 40 - 45 employees worked in the airport. The aerodrome was used by aircraft AN-24
, AN-2
, YAK-40
, MI-2
. The flight range was small and there were only two scheduled flights Ventspils
- Riga
and Ventspils
- Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
In addition to commercial traffic, different state departments utilized the airport for various reasons. There were state border control flights, flights for oil pipeline control, forest patrols, traffic control, fishing inspection flights and others. Airport operation ceased in 1983 due to political decisions by the government.
The possibility re-opening the airport was first discussed in the mid-nineties by which time Ventspils had become an important transport hub. The efficiency and importance of the re-opening of the Ventspils Airport was evaluated.
The main conclusions of this research were that the rehabilitation of the airport would enhance the efficiency of the existing transport corridors and foster economic activity in the region. The region possessed all the social and economic preconditions that indicate potential demand for air traffic. An operational Ventspils Airport would promote competitiveness of the Ventspils transport hub in the European and global markets.
At the time the re-opening of the airport was being considered, people in the Ventspils region and corporate clients who wished to travel by air used the airport at Riga that was 202 km (125.5 mi) away from Ventspils. This necessitated an additional 6 - 8 hours of extra time to travel to the airport in Riga and back by road. These opportunities did not satisfy the demand for air transport traffic.
Work on the project "The rehabilitation of the Airport Ventspils" began in 1997. Actual implementation of the project began in 1999. The project was developed within the National Transport Development Programme of the Republic of Latvia (1996-2010).
At the start of 2001 all documentation for the airport exploitation was prepared and an airport security program was developed. The plan of safety improvements for security standards was current in that moment which was followed by the equipping of the temporary passenger service building and establishing an electric security system.
The most important result of all undertaken activities was the start of operation in the year 2000 upon receiving the certificate. Certificate confirmed that the aerodrome was suitable for exploitation and the first programs of flights were for conclusion that the first cycle of Ventspils Airport development was completed.
On 11 April 2008 Latvian national airline airBaltic
began the first regular service from the airport to Riga
but ceased after few months due to low patronage.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located 2.7 NM southwest of Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. It is the newest airport and along with Liepāja International Airport
Liepaja International Airport
Liepāja International Airport is a regional airport in western Latvia which is certified for international air traffic. Together with Riga International Airport and Ventspils Airport this airport is one of the three notable airports in Latvia....
and Riga International Airport
Riga International Airport
-Cargo airlines:*DHL Express*Inversija*RAF-Avia*Sprintair*TNT NV*Transavibaltika*UPS-Traffic statistics:Riga International Airport is one of three notable airports in Latvia. The other two are Liepāja International Airport and Ventspils Airport. Riga International Airport's biggest air carrier is...
is one of the three notable airports in the country.
Ventspils Airport was founded in 1975. One asphalt-concrete runway (1298 metre) and an apron (100 metre) were built. At that time there was an air control dispatchers point at the aerodrome and 40 - 45 employees worked in the airport. The aerodrome was used by aircraft AN-24
Antonov An-24
The 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:...
, AN-2
Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
, YAK-40
Yakovlev Yak-40
The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
, MI-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
. The flight range was small and there were only two scheduled flights Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
- Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
- Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
In addition to commercial traffic, different state departments utilized the airport for various reasons. There were state border control flights, flights for oil pipeline control, forest patrols, traffic control, fishing inspection flights and others. Airport operation ceased in 1983 due to political decisions by the government.
The possibility re-opening the airport was first discussed in the mid-nineties by which time Ventspils had become an important transport hub. The efficiency and importance of the re-opening of the Ventspils Airport was evaluated.
The main conclusions of this research were that the rehabilitation of the airport would enhance the efficiency of the existing transport corridors and foster economic activity in the region. The region possessed all the social and economic preconditions that indicate potential demand for air traffic. An operational Ventspils Airport would promote competitiveness of the Ventspils transport hub in the European and global markets.
At the time the re-opening of the airport was being considered, people in the Ventspils region and corporate clients who wished to travel by air used the airport at Riga that was 202 km (125.5 mi) away from Ventspils. This necessitated an additional 6 - 8 hours of extra time to travel to the airport in Riga and back by road. These opportunities did not satisfy the demand for air transport traffic.
Work on the project "The rehabilitation of the Airport Ventspils" began in 1997. Actual implementation of the project began in 1999. The project was developed within the National Transport Development Programme of the Republic of Latvia (1996-2010).
At the start of 2001 all documentation for the airport exploitation was prepared and an airport security program was developed. The plan of safety improvements for security standards was current in that moment which was followed by the equipping of the temporary passenger service building and establishing an electric security system.
The most important result of all undertaken activities was the start of operation in the year 2000 upon receiving the certificate. Certificate confirmed that the aerodrome was suitable for exploitation and the first programs of flights were for conclusion that the first cycle of Ventspils Airport development was completed.
On 11 April 2008 Latvian national airline airBaltic
AirBaltic
A/S Air Baltic Corporation, operating as AirBaltic and styled as airBaltic, is the Latvian flag carrier airline and a low-cost carrier, with its head office on the grounds of Riga International Airport in Mārupe municipality, near the capital, Riga...
began the first regular service from the airport to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
but ceased after few months due to low patronage.