Ovda International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Ovda International Airport
nativename =
nativename-a = נמל התעופה עובדה
nativename-r =

---

image-width =
caption =
IATA = VDA
ICAO = LLOV
type = Public/Military
owner =
operator = IAA
city-served =
location = Eilat
elevation-f = 1492
elevation-m = 445
coordinates = Coord|29|56|25|N|34|56|9|E|type:airport|display=inline,title
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 2R/20L
r1-length-f = 9,843
r1-length-m = 3,000
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 2L/20R
r2-length-f = 8,530
r2-length-m = 2,600
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
stat2-header =
stat2-data =
footnotes =

Ovda International Airport ( _he. נמל התעופה עובדה, "Namal HaTe'ufa Ovda", also transliterated Uvda) Airport codes|VDA|LLOV, is Israel's second international airport, located in the south of the country about 60 km (40 miles) 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. The airport is expected to cease civilian operations by 2010 when Eilat's new international airport should become operational. [citeweb | url=http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Rashot/MessagesArchive/SpokesMan/Spokesman_En_200206.htm | title=Eilat's new International Airport On Its Way | accessdate=2007-05-01 | publisher=IAA]

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 Airbase. 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.Citeweb | url=http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda/AbouttheAirport/History/ | title=History of Eilat Airport | accessdate=2007-08-31 | publisher=Israel Airports Authority] 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. A civilian terminal was built at the airport which handled direct charter flights from Europe.

Recent history

In 1988 a decision was made that international flights bringing tourists to Eilat would land at Ovda, instead of at Eilat. This allowed the operation of large, wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, which cannot operate from Eilat Airport. 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.

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. [citeweb | url=http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda/AbouttheAirport/Statistics/ | title=Facts and Figures | publisher=Israel Airports Authority | accessdate=2007-08-31]

Airlines and destinations

Ovda Airport is served by many international and domestic carriers, serving many destinations in Europe and Israel.

cheduled services

* Arkia Israel Airlines (Haifa, Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv-Sde Dov)
* El Al (London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion)
* Israir (Haifa, Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv-Sde Dov)
* Thomsonfly (London-Luton)
* Germania.aero (Berlin TXL, Düsseldorf)

easonal charter services

* Arkefly (Amsterdam)
* Arkia Israel Airlines
* Flystar
* First Choice Airways (Manchester)
* Jetairfly
* Sun D'Or (Paris-CDG)
* Transavia (Amsterdam)

ee also

*Eilat
*Eilat Airport

References

External links

* [http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Ovda/ Official homepage of Ovda airport]
*
* [http://www.airports-worldwide.com/israel/ovda_israel.htm Eilat Ovda Airport]
* [http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/06airfields/icao.htm World Airports - basic data] (then go to the "ICAO Codes - LAAA to LZZZ " case)
* [http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/06airfields/ICAO-L.htm Ovda at World Airports]