Skopje International Airport
Skopje International Airport Меѓународен аеродром Скопје Megjunaroden aerodrom Skopje | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Public/Military | ||||||||||
Operator | TAV Airports | ||||||||||
Serves | Skopje, Republic of Macedonia | ||||||||||
Location | Petrovec | ||||||||||
Hub for | Wizz Air | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 238 m / 781 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 41°57′40″N 021°37′37″E / 41.96111°N 21.62694°E | ||||||||||
Website | skp.airports.com.mk | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (2017) | |||||||||||
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Skopje Airport[3] (IATA: SKP, ICAO: LWSK) (Macedonian: Аеродром Скопје, Aerodrom Skopje) or Skopje International Airport[4][5][6] (Macedonian: Меѓународен аеродром Скопје, Megjunaroden aerodrom Skopje), is the larger and busier of the two international airports in the Republic of Macedonia, with the other being the St. Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid. It is located 17 km (11 mi) southeast[2] of the national capital Skopje in the Municipality of Petrovec.
History
Early years
The first commercial flights in Skopje were introduced in 1929 when the Yugoslav carrier Aeroput introduced a route linking the city with the capital, Belgrade.[7] A year later the route was extended to Thessaloniki in Greece, and further extended to Greek capital Athens in 1933.[7]
In 1935 Aeroput linked Skopje with Bitola and Niš, and also operated a longer international route linking Vienna and Thessaloniki through Zagreb, Belgrade and Skopje.[7]
After the Second World War, Aeroput was replaced by JAT Yugoslav Airlines, which linked Skopje to a number of domestic and international destinations until the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
Development since the 2000s
In December 2006, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE-led government of the Republic of Macedonia renamed the airport after Alexander the Great, sparking further controversy in the ongoing diplomatic feud with Greece. Both countries consider Alexander the Great as part of their respective heritages, demonstrated by the fact that the regional airport of Kavala in Greek Macedonia is also named after Alexander. However, the airport in Kavala was the first to be named as such.[8][9]
In 2008 the Macedonian Government signed a contract with the Turkish company Tepe Akfen Ventures (TAV) for a twenty-year-long concession during which this company would manage Macedonia's two existing airports - the Skopje Alexander the Great Airport and the St. Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid. In September 2011, the new terminal building, extension of the runway, new administrative building, cargo building and new access road with parking facilities were opened.[10] The goal of the project is to increase the capacity of Skopje Airport to four million passengers per year with plans to turn Skopje Airport into a major transit and cargo hub for Southeast Europe. [citation needed]
In February 2018 Alexander the Great was dropped from the airport's name in a move to improve relations with Greece.[11]
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Skopje:[12]
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Adria Airways | Ljubljana |
Aegean Airlines | Athens (begins 4 June 2018)[13] |
Air Serbia | Belgrade |
Austrian Airlines | Vienna |
Corendon Airlines | Seasonal charter: Antalya |
Croatia Airlines | Zagreb |
Czech Airlines | Seasonal: Prague |
Edelweiss Air | Zürich |
flydubai | Dubai–International |
Germania Flug | Charter: Zürich |
Helvetic Airways | Seasonal charter: Zürich |
LOT Polish Airlines | Warsaw-Chopin (begins 1 June 2018)[14] |
Pegasus Airlines | Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen Seasonal charter: Antalya |
Qatar Airways | Doha |
SunExpress | Seasonal charter: Antalya, Izmir |
Turkish Airlines | Istanbul–Atatürk |
Wizz Air | Barcelona, Basel/Mulhouse, Beauvais, Bergamo (ends 26 March 2018),[15] Berlin-Schönefeld, Bratislava, Budapest, Charleroi, Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Friedrichshafen, Gothenburg, Hahn, Hamburg, Hannover, London–Luton, Malmö, Malta, Memmingen, Milan-Malpensa (begins 26 March 2018),[15] Nuremberg, Rome-Ciampino, Oslo-Torp, Stockholm–Skavsta, Treviso, Växjö |
Statistics
Traffic development
The number of passengers has increased since 1990, from 312,492 passengers in that year, to 1,452,465 passengers in 2015. However, traffic was often dropped in twenty years. In 2000 the airport handled 1,005,852 passengers, but in 2001 the number of passengers dropped to 499,789.[16] This was influenced in part by a number of airlines replacing services to Skopje with services to nearby. In 2014 Skopje airport handled 1,208,359 passengers, surpassing one million for the first time since 2000.
Year | Passengers | Change | Cargo (t) | Change | Aircraft movements | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 397,660 | 27,3% | 1,088 | 41,9% | 7,158 | 106,5% |
1992 | 390,025 | 1,9% | 1,023 | 6,0% | 7,079 | 1,1% |
1993 | 577,425 | 48,0% | 4,338 | 324,0% | 10,681 | 50,9% |
1994 | 603,447 | 4,5% | 6,936 | 59,9% | 10,803 | 1,1% |
1995 | 583,053 | 3,4% | 10,205 | 47,1% | 11,692 | 8,2% |
1996 | 422,598 | 27,5% | 3,209 | 68,6% | 8,618 | 26,3% |
1997 | 440,988 | 4,4% | 4,881 | 52,1% | 8,995 | 4,4% |
1998 | 511,784 | 16,1% | 5,239 | 7,3% | 10,321 | 14,7% |
1999 | 840,985 | 64,3% | 11,682 | 123,0% | 23,912 | 131,7% |
2000 | 1,005,852 | 19,6% | 4,335 | 62,9% | 24,234 | 1,3% |
2001 | 499,789 | 50,3% | 3,262 | 28,8% | 16,673 | 31,2% |
2002 | 520,497 | 4,1% | 3,271 | 0,3% | 13,725 | 17,7% |
2003 | 500,012 | 3,9% | 2,083 | 36,3% | 12,428 | 9,4% |
2004 | 497,105 | 0,6% | 2,004 | 3,8% | 10,940 | 12,0% |
2005 | 525,965 | 5,8% | 1,815 | 9,4% | 12,101 | 10,6% |
2006 | 547,198 | 4,0% | 1,903 | 4,8% | 12,637 | 4,4% |
2007 | 626,144 | 14,4% | 2,194 | 15,3% | 13,085 | 3,5% |
2008 | 658,367 | 5,1% | 2,771 | 26,3% | 10,666 | 18,5% |
2009 | 602,298 | 8,5% | 2,125 | 23,3% | 9,871 | 7,5% |
2010 | 716,000 | 18,9% | - | - | - | - |
2011 | 759,918 | 6,1% | - | - | - | - |
2012 | 828,831 | 9,1% | - | - | - | - |
2013 | 984,407 | 18,8% | - | - | - | - |
2014 | 1,208,359 | 22,7% | - | - | - | - |
2015 | 1,452,465 | 20,2% | - | - | - | - |
2016 | 1,649,374 | 13,6% | 3,090 | 10,9% | - | - |
2017 | 1,868,272 | 13,3% | - | - | - | - |
2018(01.01-31.01) | 145,592 | 18,8% | - | - | - | - |
Most frequent routes
City | Airport(s) | Airline(s) | Market Share (2017) |
---|---|---|---|
Istanbul | Atatürk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport | Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines | 12,3% |
Zürich | Zürich Airport | Germania Flug, Edelweiss Air, Helvetic Airways | 8,6% |
Vienna | Vienna Airport | Austrian Airlines | 6,5% |
Basel Switzerland, Mulhouse France, Freiburg Germany | Basel/Mulhouse Airport | Wizz Air | 5,3% |
Malmö | Malmö Airport | Wizz Air | 4,6% |
London | London Luton | Wizz Air | 3,7% |
Top Carriers
Rank | Carrier | Market share (2017) |
---|---|---|
1 | Wizz Air | 59% |
2 | Turkish Airlines | 8,5% |
3 | Pegasus Airlines | 7,7% |
4 | Austrian Airlines | 6,8 % |
5 | Germania Flug | 5,1% |
6 | Flydubai | 2,8% |
7 | Others | 11,1% |
Ground transportation
Taxis to Skopje are available. There is also a bus service linking the airport and the city with stops at Capitol Mall, International Bus/Railway Station and Hotel Holiday Inn/City Centre.
Incidents and accidents
- On 24 July 1992, an Antonov 12BK of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, crashed on a mountain Lisec village, on approach at Skopje Airport, after the crew strayed off course while trying to circumnavigate a thunderstorm because the DME at Skopje Airport was inoperative. All 8 occupants died and the plane was written off.[17]
- On 5 March 1993, Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301, a Fokker 100 bound for Zurich, crashed seconds after takeoff from runway 34. Investigation into the accident determined the cause of the accident to be the failure of the flight crew to have the aircraft deiced before departure. Of the 97 people on board, 83 died.[18]
- On 12 January 2008, a Mil Mi-17 of the Macedonian Air Force, from Mostar en route to Skopje Airport, crashed on a hill near Katlanovsko Blato in dense fog and burned out. All 11 occupants died and the helicopter was written off.[19]
- On 13 February 2009, Austrian Airlines Flight OS780, Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 scheduled flight from Skopje to Vienna failed to retract landing gear after take-off and performed an emergency landing on Skopje Airport.[20][21][22]
- On 13 February 2009, MALÉV Flight 440 a scheduled MALÉV flight Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 from Budapest to Skopje made an emergency landing at Skopje Airport. At 16:05 CET the pilot reported right engine failure on its final approach to Skopje LWSK. The pilot safely landed the airplane and there were no injuries reported among the 64 passengers in the aircraft.[22][23][24]
- On 14 November 2011, a private flight Socata TBM700N (TBM850), from Maastricht Achen Airport to Skopje, hit several treetops and approach light while landing and missed the extended asphalt of the runway and touched down on grass. All five occupants escaped unharmed. The plane received substantial damage and was sent to Daher-Socata at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport for repairs.[25]
- On 11 February 2012, Czech Airlines Flight 848, Boeing 737-55S a scheduled flight from Prague to Skopje made an emergency landing at Skopje, because of reported smoke that came out of the aircraft. Airport firefighters and ambulance were alarmed. The plane had a minor damage and all passengers escaped uninjured.[26]
- On 6 September 2016, a private Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II crashed near Vetersko, Veles while landing in Skopje, killing all 6 on board. The aircraft was written off.[27]
References
- ^ Ex-YU Aviation. TAV Airports. 2012. p. 86. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ^ a b "EAD Basic - Error Page". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Template:WAD
- ^ "Macedonia says ready to change its name and end row with Greece". www.euronews.com. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Од 53-тата седница на Владата на РМ: Автопатот „Александар Македонски" преименуван во „Пријателство"; новото име на аеродромот „Александар Велики" е „Аеродром Скопје"..." Влада на Република Македонија. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Премиерот Заев: Македонија направи значителен напредок на својот европски пат, ова е заеднички успех на сите граѓани". Влада на Република Македонија. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Drustvo za Vazdusni Saobracaj A D – Aeroput (1927-1948) at europeanairlines.no
- ^ "Skopje's airport to be named "Alexander the Great"". Kathimerini. 2006-12-29. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
- ^ "Makfax". Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Денис Звиздиќ номиниран за претседател на новиот Совет на министри на БиХ". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Macedonia says ready to change its name and end row with Greece". Reuters. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ skp.airports.com.mk - Timetable retrieved 28 October 2016
- ^ Press-room. "Aegean: 18 νέα δρομολόγια το 2018 - Airnews". www.airnews.gr. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "LOT poleci w tym roku łącznie do 12 miast na Bałkanach". Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Wizz Air to shift Skopje - Milan flights". EX-YU Aviation News. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "AirportsBase :: Skopje Airport". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 12BK CCCP-11342 Skopje Airport (SKP)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Fokker 100 PH-KXL Skopje Airport (SKP)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Cessna 172N Skyhawk 100 II Z3-DCV, 28 Aug 2008". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "My Info Agent". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "2 Dash 8 emergency landings in Skopje, Macedonia - PPRuNe Forums". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ a b "AUA-Maschine musste nach Start in Skopje umkehren". derStandard.at. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Dva prinudna sletanja u Skoplju". B92.net. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Page Redirection". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Incident Socata TBM700N (TBM850) F-HBGE, 14 Nov 2011". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Incident Boeing 737-55S OK-XGC, 11 Feb 2012". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II D-GLLW, 06 Sep 2016". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
External links
Media related to Skopje Airport at Wikimedia Commons