Serbia: Kraljevo Morava Airport on track
Serbia’s newest civilian airport, Morava, located near the town of Kraljevo in Central Serbia is on track to be opened by the end of the year. Morava Airport is located on the grounds of the Ladjevci military airport base, heavily damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing. Now, the Serbian Government, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, local authorities and USAID are investing millions into the construction of a new control tower, passenger terminal and the extension of the existing runway. The daily “Politika” reports that work is currently under way on the construction of power grids, sewerage and water systems for the new airport. This is expected to be completed by April. According to the CEO of Belgrade Airport, Velja Radosavljević, the construction of a terminal building, access roads, aprons and platforms should begin this spring. Some 22 million Euros will be spent on the project and Radosaljvević believes that the first promotional flights to Kraljevo will operate by the end of the year.
Several other municipalities and companies have also thrown in their support for the airport project.
The automobile maker Fiat, which runs a car making factory in nearby Kragujevac, has requested for the airport’s development. Furthermore, it is believed that residents of the Raška District would use Kraljevo for flights to Turkey while tourists could use the airport as a transit point to the mountain of Kopaonik and the Vrnjačka Banja spa resort. Additionally, fruit growers from nearby towns and villages believe an air link to foreign markets would make their produce more competitive with others
The Ladjevci air base was built in 1965 and used until its destruction in 1999. Like most townships in Southern Serbia, Kraljevo has been struggling economically and some members of the local parliament have expressed their concern on spending so much money on such a project. In late 2010, Kraljevo was devastated by a powerful earthquake, brining it more hardship.
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