The story of Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" Airport starts as far as in 1910
when flying field in Banjica was the first Belgrade airport. Since then
until now, it kept changing location, growing and developing. It is only
the name that remained unchanged — Belgrade Airport, until 2006 when he
was given new name - Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" Airport and as of midst of
June 2010 it was given a new status - public limited company.
Banjica (1910)
The first flying field in Belgrade appeared by the end of 1910 at
military drill field in the suburb called Banjica. Here is where flying
was demonstrated by aviation pioneers: Simon, Maslenikov, Vidmar and
Chermak.
At the beginning of 1912 the first wooden hangar was built at Banjica
for aircraft intended for the war with Turkey. Two years later Serbian
Aeroplane Squadron and Balloon Company were stationed there.
Banjica airport was used also after the World War I for requirements of
mail traffic on route Skopje-Nis-Belgrade-Novi Sad and
Belgrade-Sarajevo-Mostar.
Near to the place this airport was located today stands Military Medical Academy (VMA).Kalemegdan - Lower City (1911)
This airport was located in direction from Turkish hamam (Planetarium
today) towards river mouth where Sava meets Danube. From this place the
first aircraft took off in January 1911.
Recently this area has been used for parachute jumping and sky-paragliders.
Today there are regular aero-meetings at this place of sports and ultralight aviation. Pancevo (1923)
Airport near Pancevo started to operate in 1923, when airline
"Franko-Rumen" introduced international line Paris - Constantinopolis.
The same year, mail traffic started also from this airport.
Airport was also used for training of cadets of Air Force Academy of the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After liberation, Pancevo airport was used as
“aviation-military training air field”".
At the location of the old Pancevo airport there are plants of UTVA
aircraft industry today, as well as grass runway used for test, sports
and simulation flights.International Belgrade Airport (1927)
International Belgrade Airport is built on a meadow called "Dojno polje"
between Bezanijska kosa and the left bank of Sava River, about two
kilometers south from Zemun. The airport opened for traffic in March
1927.
Starting with February 1928, aircraft of the first domestic airline "Aeroput" take off from this airport.
The airport disposed of four grass runways. In 1931 a modern terminal
building was built on it, with equipment for landing at low visibility.
During the World War II it was used by Germans. They destructed it in 1944 when withdrawing from Belgrade.Belgrade Surcin (1962)
Area near Surcin, 18 kilometers westward from Belgrade is selected for the location of the new international airport.
The airport was opened for traffic in 1962 with one runway 3000 m
long, taxiway 3350 m long, passenger terminal building, control tower,
large apron for handling of aircraft and other contemporary equipment.
Later on a new passenger terminal has been built, apron extended, runway
prolonged and in 1997 equipment for CAT II built in, enabling use of
airport at low visibility conditions.
In July 2005 six
contemporary telescopic passenger boarding bridges were put into
operation, in May 2006 reconstructed international Terminal 2 put into
operation and since November 2008 Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" Airport can be
used in full capacity in conditions of extremely low visibility due to
ILS CAT IIIb equipment and procedures which was for the first time in
history of Belgrade Airport used on January 4, 2009.
Belgrade
"Nikola Tesla" Airport accommodates technical maintenance company Jat
Technics Ltd and technical maintenance of Aviogenex, operational
departments of Air Traffic Control and Customs Authority, Air Museum,
Jat Airways and SMATSA Training Centers, Helicopter Unit of the Ministry
of Interior, etc.
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