The construction of a test runway at the proposed new commercial airport in Bihać, in north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina, is set to begin soon after the Federal government approved fresh funds for the project. The Sarajevo-based engineering company Euro-Asfalt has been selected to carry out the work valued at 1.1 million euros. They will build a 300 metre section of the planned 2.2 kilometre runway. “At this point, one of our priorities is to make a test section of the runway so that we can select the final version which will be built. Currently, we have two versions, one is expensive, while the other is more affordable. We have to choose between them", the General Manager of Bihać Airport, Elvedin Sedić, said.
The Federal Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina allocated 1.8 million euros for Bihać Airport earlier this month. In addition to the development of the test runway, the airport will also use part of the funds to finance the expropriation of land needed for the project. According to Mr Sedić, some 260.000 square metres of land has been expropriated over the past two years. Furthermore, an access road to the future airport complex has been built, while a perimeter fence has also been erected. "The Federation government is interested in this project and could take it over completely. The financing should come partly from commercial banks and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development", Mr Sedić said.
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| Planned runway at Bihać Airport |
The entire Bihać Airport project involves the construction of a terminal building, runway and control tower. It is estimated to be worth some 25 million euros. “I think that it is realistic to expect support for this project because it is extremely important for our canton", the General Manager noted. Bosnia and Herzegovina currently boasts four international commercial airports - Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka and Mostar. They handled a combined total of 1.695.867 passengers in 2018. Bihać is located near the Croatian border and is the country's eighth largest city.
What a colossal waste of money.
ReplyDeleteElections in BiH??
DeleteTest runway? Seriously???
ReplyDeleteOnly in the Balkans
Delete:D
DeleteI really don't see the point of this project.
ReplyDeleteLots of federation and local employees and politicians will receive serious money under the table.
DeleteIs there a better point for spending public money in our region?
They've already spent millions of EUR for this stupid no-use airport.
DeleteThey ate really pushing ahead with this. Can't believe it.
ReplyDelete**are
DeleteI have never heard of an airport building a TEST runway to decide on what??? The type of asphalt it's going to use.
ReplyDeleteMe neither
DeleteSomeone is filling their pockets. That's for sure.
DeleteThere is no need for an airport at this location!
ReplyDeleteWhy? What's the problem with the location?
DeleteInvest this money in existing airports.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI'm surprised this project has seen the light of day. I thought it would just end as pre election stunt.
ReplyDeleteThis airport is not as silly as some people think. It could serve the diaspora and tourists as well as a part of Croatia.
ReplyDeleteNot really ideal location to service part of Croatia. Few big mountains in the way and that area of Croatia is scarcely populated.
DeleteWhy does a small country like BiH need 5 airports?
ReplyDeleteIts better to invest this money in TZL, SJJ, OMO and BNX. In TZL and SJJ they can build bigger aprons. In OMO and BNX they can invest the money for Terminal.
ReplyDeleteAgree. They should have invested this money in Tuzla Airport and build this building there.
DeleteWhy the hell they need this airport?
ReplyDeleteI've searched "test airport runway construction" on google and this is literally a world first.
ReplyDeleteLeaders not only of the Balkans but of the Universe too!
DeleteSMFH!
U can understand runaway cca 800m as test, because you can land with something on it (C208, PA34, or similar), but 300m I cannot understand (for PA18 you do not need more than you can find on nature field...
ReplyDeleteInteligentan i opravdan potez na nivou Morave, Ponikava, Trebinja, Niksica, Varazdina ...
ReplyDeleteBoth Uzice and Morava have VIP-Biz charters. They do have some traffic that is not recorded. The medical traffic is there as well.
DeleteI suggest a joint venture with Ponikve, Morava, Trebinje, Niksic, Varazdin airports.
DeleteI don't understand us Balkan people. I mean, what's the use of all these new airports being built when your existing airports are barely functional with no scheduled service? Wouldn't it be better to upgrade Tuzla for example rather than build a new worthless airport?!
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteThe problem I see with this project is from which area would the y land and take off. The airport is close to the Croatian border and they would have to use Croatian airspace. I just look back that it took many years before Osijek was able to receive traffic, because many planes landing into Osijek start approach over Serbia. Just a thought
ReplyDeleteIs this project on the site of the Zeljava airbase?
ReplyDeleteNo. This is on another side of the city. Completely new airport from scratch.
DeleteSimply unbelievable!
DeleteZeljava has like runways!
DeleteBut I think the problem with Zeljava apart from being badly damaged is that more than half of it is in Croatia.
*5 runways
DeleteIf they find a private investor to build it then I don't mind but I'm not for wasting public money on such a project.
ReplyDeleteI agree but public money is already being spent through this public enterprise. Same way there was a JP Aerodrom Trebinje.
DeleteSpending money for nothing! It's very hard to understand what they are going to do with this airport. Just spilling money and pay offs.
ReplyDeleteAnother ghost airport.
I think 4 functioning commercial airports is enough.
ReplyDeleteNot again. I was hoping they gave up on this.
ReplyDeleteThe design actually looks good. I like it
ReplyDeleteIt's not the final project. They made a whole tender for the design but I read they have to finalise the project.
DeleteThe design actually looks good. I like it
DeleteThis airport could serve a part of Croatia too.
ReplyDeleteNow finally all those bears will have direct links.
DeleteThere are some reasons why it's necessary to have hard surface runway in that part of BiH, since Željava runways can't be used any more.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear that priority is to create airport perimeter and built hard runway, and to use it as GA airport for the start.
This is true. Bosnia's geography is such that western Bosnia does actually need an airport. The roads between Bihac to Sarajevo/Tuzla/BL are quite bad. Same as to reach the boarder to got Zagreb or the Croatian coast.
DeleteWhat a stupid decision! Unbelievable..
ReplyDeleteThis terminal would look much better at Banja Luka airport. Ryan Air's aircraft in front of it too.
ReplyDeleteBihac-Dortmund by Wizz Air :D
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much money was given to develop the airport design, to pay people working at the airport opetator...
ReplyDeleteI love how the javno preduzeće Aerodrom Bihać has already been set up.
DeleteI love those javno preduzeće.
DeleteSo most of the airports in the country are not self sustainable and are funded from the budget? Because we read that last week money was also handed out to Mostar and Tuzla. Sarajevo seems to be the only one not be getting money. And with all of that you want to build another airport? No sense at all.
ReplyDeleteAny elections in Bosnia around the corner?
ReplyDelete1. I never knew Bihac is right next to Plitvicka Jezera, and next to the famous Zeljava airbase. I would say that it could be used as a charter airport for the lakes. If Iguazu (not comparing them btw) has airports on both the Brazilian and the Argentinean side, why can't the lakes have their own airport? As an added bonus, they will be serving the Bihac area as well.
ReplyDelete2. I've managed to locate the spot shown on the rendering, and it turns out there is already a general aviation airport located there. Pretty close to the city! Bihac Golubic airport is already there, so that kind of makes sense. At least they know what the winds are like, it's not like they're going into the unknown.
3. That river is amazing. See, i never knew that either. Looks like a city worth visiting if I'm being honest.
Building a runway right next to a huge surface of water combined with bosnian weather means stable fog for long times. Perfect for aviation.
ReplyDeleteUna river, Strbacki Buk Martin Brod Kostela Ostrozac Rafting Plitvicka Jezera
ReplyDeleteNew airport is being built at the very same location of sporting airfield Golubic, established 50-60 years ago, with great support of JNA. Actually, Bihac area beside Željava airport had two more soft runways, Golubic and Ćoralići. Since it's not possible to use Željava any more, building new hard surfaced runway is a must.
ReplyDeleteMany doesn't now that BiH is well covered with runways, so the complete list includes Glamoč, Livno, Prijedor as well. Livno got 950 meter long asphalt runway two years ago, and now "Brda" airport is not only sporting but GA airport as well.
There are many reasons for that, starting from civil protection and emergency services to geopolitics, and Bihać GA airport fills empty place that was created when Željava was closed
We all know what Željava was used for, i hope that empty space would never have to be filled again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great news. It would be nice to have an airport in Bihac. I really dont understand such negative comments. Shall we return in middle ages. Airport can be used in many situations not only for commercial flights.
ReplyDeleteI think they are getting a little too excited with airports! They have enough airports. They clould use the 1.8 million eur to improve tourism (in other ways not just aviaton) likr restoring cities and structures that are damaged during the war. Or like participating at the Eurovision Song contest (gets Bosnia on the map) or ofcourse investing in already excisting airports. And i think plitvice lakes is not a good argument. The only income it will get with that is the flight because plitvice lakes is located in Croatia.
ReplyDeleteThat part of Bosnia needs that airport and they should have build it long time ago, all of uss that lives or work abroad welcome it 😊
ReplyDelete