Skopje Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Skopje "Alexander the Great" Airport
nativename = Аеродром "Александар Велики" Скопје
nativename-a = Aerodrom Skopje
nativename-r = Skopje Airport


image-width = 300px
caption =
IATA = SKP
ICAO = LWSK
type = Military/Public
owner-oper = PEAS Macedonia
city-served = Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
location = Petrovec
elevation-f = 781
elevation-m = 238
coordinates = Coord|41|57|42|N|21|37|17|E|type:airport
website = [http://skp.airports.com.mk/ skp.airports.com.mk/]
metric-elev =
metric-rwy = Yes
r1-number = 16/34
r1-length-f = 8,038
r1-length-m = 2,450
r1-surface = Asphalt

Skopje Airport [WAD|LWSK] Airport codes|SKP|LWSK ( _mk. Аеродром Скопје, "Aerodrom Skopje"), or Skopje "Alexander the Great" Airport [ [http://skp.airports.com.mk Name as used at the official site] ] (Macedonian: Аеродром Скопје "Aлександар Вeлики", "Aerodrom Skopje, "Aleksandar Veliki"), formerly known as "Petrovec Airport" (named after the village of Petrovec), is the largest and busiest international airport in the Republic of Macedonia. Serving the national capital Skopje, it is also the hub of MAT Macedonian Airlines.

In December 2006 the government of the Republic of Macedonia announced plans to rename the airport after Alexander the Great, sparking a renewed diplomatic spat with Greece, where both countries consider Alexander the Great as part of their own heritage (see "Macedonia naming dispute"). [cite news |http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_29/12/2006_78322|title=Skopje's airport to be named "Alexander the Great" |publisher=Kathmerini |date=2006-12-29 |accessdate=2006-12-26 |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_29/12/2006_78322] [ [http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=48999&NrIssue=229&NrSection=10 Makfax] ] The new name is argued to create confusion with the already existing Kavala International Airport, "Megas Alexandros",Alexander the Great which lies in the neighboring Greek region of Macedonia. [ [http://www.hcaa-eleng.gr/kavala.htm Kavala International Airport "Megas Alexandros" or in English: "Alexander the Great".] Official site.]

kopje Airport development

A Turkish company has baught the airport for a 20 year contract and will upgrade Skopje, Ohrid and Make a new cargo Airport in Stip.Alexander The Great Airport in Skopje, the national gateway to the Republic of Macedonia, is undertaking an airport development programme that will triple the airport’s annual passenger capacity from around 650,000 at present, to 1.5 million passengers.

Moreover Alexander The Great Airport is refurbishing its current facilities, And construction of a new terminal including improved electrical systems, x-ray equipment, development of the self-service check-in equipment and construction of an administrative area within the terminal.

The Public Enterprise for Airport Services in the Republic of Macedonia says the improved terminal is due to open in late 2009. It plans to outsource catering and duty-free activities at Skopje Airport as well as at Macedonia’s second airport St. Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid.

Concession

Macedonia intends to privatise its two commercial airports in a bid to modernise and expand their facilities. Advertisements both in local and international newspapers will be published in order to attract investors. Macedonia will offer a twenty year concession for the airports and the successful company will be expected to modernise the infrastructure at both airports and expand the runway at Skopje. The Macedonian Transport Ministry says this has the potential to radically increase the frequency of passengers at the terminals. In addition to the concession for the two existing airports, the chosen company will also have to participate in the construction of a third airport intended for cargo transport near the eastern Macedonian town of Stip. [ [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8269/ BalkanInsight.com - Macedonia Seeks To Modernise Airports ] ]

Passenger numbers

The airport is expecting up to 1,500,000 passengers in 2008 after the new terminal facility is built.

In 2007 the airport handled a total of 626,144 passengers.

Transport

Taxi's between the airport and the city center are about 6 Euros and about 350 denars. Taxi's go to and from the airport frequently.

Accident history

On 5 March 1993 a Palair Macedonian Airlines Fokker F-100 PH-KXL bound for Zürich 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.

Airlines and Destinations

The following airlines serve Skopje Airport (as of September, 2008):

* Adria Airways (Ljubljana)
* Austrian Airlines (Vienna)
* B&H Airlines (Sarajevo)
* Bulgaria Air (Sofia, Tirana)
* Croatia Airlines (Split, Zagreb)
* Czech Airlines (Prague)
* Germanwings (Cologne/Bonn)
* Helvetic Airways (Zurich) [ends 22 October] [http://www.helvetic.com/en/dynamic_content/PressArticle_85.htm]
* Jat Airways (Belgrade)
* MAT Macedonian Airlines
**Domestic: (Ohrid)
**International: (Amsterdam, Antalya, Berlin, Catania, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hurghada, Istanbul, Palma De Mallorca, Rome, Sharm Elsheik, Vienna, Zurich)
* Malev (Budapest)
* Turkish Airlines (Istanbul-Atatürk)

References

External links

* [http://www.airports.com.mk Macedonian Airports Homepage]