- Ovda Airport
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Ovda Airport
נמל התעופה עובדה
IATA: VDA – ICAO: LLOV Location of airport in Israel
VDASummary Airport type Public/Military Operator IAA Serves Eilat, Israel Location north of Eilat, Israel Elevation AMSL 1,492 ft / 445 m Coordinates 29°56′25″N 34°56′9″E / 29.94028°N 34.93583°E Runways Direction Length Surface ft m 2R/20L 9,843 3,000 Asphalt 2L/20R 8,530 2,600 Asphalt Statistics (2010) Passengers 117,166 Source: Official Airport Website [1] Ovda Airport (Hebrew: נמל התעופה עובדה, Nemal HaTe'ufa Uvda, Arabic: اوفـدا مطار) (IATA: VDA, ICAO: LLOV), is a military and civilian airport in Israel, and the country's second international airport, located in the south of the country about 60 km (37 mi) north of the city of Eilat. Ovda was originally built as a military airport in 1980 following Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula as part of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty because the Israeli Air Force needed alternative airfields to its Sinai bases. Nowadays, the airport also serves as the destination for many commercial flights to Eilat, especially for large planes which cannot use the shorter runway at Eilat Airport, although it is still used by the air force.[1] The airport is expected to cease civilian flights once Eilat's new international airport in Timna opens.[2]
Contents
History
Early history
Ovda Airport started out as an airbase for the Israeli Air Force, constructed by the United States as a replacement for Etzion Air Force Base. It opened in 1981. The Israeli Airports Authority began operations from Ovda Air Force Base in 1982, after the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt.[3] Previously all charter flights from Europe had landed at Etzion, however this was one of three airports in the Sinai that were handed over to Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords.[3] A civilian terminal was built at the airport which handled direct charter flights from Europe.[3]
Recent history
In 1988 a decision was made that international flights bringing tourists to Eilat would land at Ovda, instead of at Eilat.[3] This allowed the operation of large, wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, which cannot operate from Eilat Airport.[3] Since then, most international flights land at Ovda instead of Eilat. The runway at Ovda also allows long range flights to take off for any European destination without the need to refuel.[3]
Today, the airport sees regular scheduled domestic services operated by Israir, Arkia Israel Airlines, and El Al Israel Airlines as well as regular charter services from across Europe. In 2005, the airport had 746 international aircraft movements and 82,479 international passenger movements.[4]
On January 1, 2009, the airport was closed to landing traffic during nighttime until further notice by the Ministry of Transport, due to the deteriorating condition of its runway. As such, there is currently no alternative landing strip in Israel during night time to the Ben Gurion International Airport for large aircraft, that will be forced to fly to Cyprus in case the Ben Gurion runways cannot accept the landing.[1]
Airlines and destinations
Ovda Airport is served by seven international carriers and three domestic airlines, serving few destinations in Europe and Israel. The airport is also used as a substitute for the inner Eilat airport in different situations.
Airlines Destinations Aeroflot Moscow-Sheremetyevo Arkefly Amsterdam Arkia Israel Airlines Haifa, Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv-Sde Dov
Seasonal Charter: Kiev-Boryspil, Paris-Charles de GaulleCorendon Dutch Airlines Seasonal Charter: Amsterdam El Al Seasonal: Paris-Charles de Gaulle Finnair Seasonal Charter: Helsinki Israir Haifa, Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv-Sde Dov Primera Air Seasonal Charter: Helsinki Rossiya Seasonal Charter: Saint Petersburg VIM Airlines Seasonal Charter: Moscow-Domodedovo See also
References
- ^ a b Egozi, Aryeh (January 2, 2009). "Emergency Landing". Yedioth Ahronoth. p. 11.
- ^ "Eilat's new International Airport On Its Way". IAA. http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Rashot/MessagesArchive/SpokesMan/Spokesman_En_200206.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "History of Eilat Airport". Israel Airports Authority. http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda/AbouttheAirport/History/. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "Facts and Figures". Israel Airports Authority. http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda/AbouttheAirport/Statistics/. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
External links
- Official homepage of Ovda airport
- Airport information for LLOV at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
- Eilat Ovda Airport
- Ovda at World Airports
Airports Border Terminals Egypt: Nitzana · Taba
Gaza Strip: Karni · Kerem Shalom
Jordan: Allenby Bridge · Arava · Jordan RiverDefunct/Former Properties 
Israeli airportsItalics indicate airports located in the Israeli-occupied territories. International Tel Aviv Ben Gurion · Eilat Ovda
Domestic Bar Yehuda · Be'er Sheva · Eilat · Ein Yahav · Fik · Haifa · Herzliya · Megiddo · Mitzpe Ramon · Rosh Pina Ben Ya'akov · Sde Dov · Yotvata
Military Former Categories:- Airports in Israel
- Israeli Air Force bases
- Eilat
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