Forty years ago, a new airport opened in Niš. Although it was the youngest in a series of airport developments across EX YU that began in 1962, Niš had already appeared on the international aviation map 90 years earlier, at a time when relatively few cities worldwide, and even fewer in EX YU, had air connections.

Preparations for civilian air traffic began as early as 1934 when Medoševac Airport was modified to serve civilian passenger flights. On May 1, 1935, the first scheduled civil passenger route was launched, linking Belgrade - Niš - Skopje - Bitola - Thessaloniki and operated by Aeroput. While this route primarily connected Niš with the capital, its importance extended beyond domestic travel, marking Niš's first international flight. Between 1936 and 1939, flights from Niš to Belgrade and Skopje ran from May to October under flight number 2002. Initially, services used Potez 29 aircraft, later switching to Spartan Cruiser II planes, with the Belgrade flight lasting just over an hour.

The number of passengers and cargo transported from Niš's grass runway increased steadily, especially after the airport's expansion and modernisation in 1937 and 1938. By 1939, flights operated daily except Sundays. Departures from Belgrade at 16:10 arrived in Niš at 17:15, with a brief stopover before continuing to Skopje, landing at 18:20. The return flights took place early the next morning.

The Second World War ended all flights from Niš. After liberation, the airport was taken over by the Yugoslav Air Force and remained unused for civilian flights. In 1952, it got its first concrete runway at the current location. The early 1970s marked a turning point, with civilian flights returning after more than 30 years.

On June 1, 1971, JAT operated its first post-war flight, a tourist charter from Niš to Tivat. JAT also added flights to the Adriatic coastal destinations of Split and Dubrovnik, mostly once weekly during the summer, using 50-seat Convair CV-440 aircraft. The success of the summer charter flights led to the formation of the Niš Airport Air Transport Company by the Niš Municipal Assembly in 1972. That year, the runway, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas were reconstructed and extended, allowing larger planes to operate. A prefabricated passenger terminal was built, replacing the previous military facilities.

In 1973, the airport served 3.698 passengers on 100 flights. The idea of direct Niš - Belgrade flights was considered, given over 3.000 weekly business trips between the cities, but these flights weren’t introduced until 1975.

After Convairs were withdrawn from JAT’s fleet, the airline partnered with Zagreb-based Pan Adria. This arrangement, similar to a modern-day wet lease, saw Pan Adria operate flights on routes such as Belgrade - Mostar - Niš - Tivat, Split - Niš, Skopje - Niš - Zagreb, and Skopje - Niš - Belgrade. The increase in flight frequency led to more passengers, and in 1975, the airport served 5.274 travellers. Niš also became a transfer point for the first time, handling 1.639 connecting passengers that year.

After this brief revival of civil air traffic post-World War II, scheduled passenger flights at Niš Airport ceased again in the late 1970s and did not resume until 1986. On October 12, 1986, at 9:32, a Boeing 737-300 (YU-ANI) operating JAT flight JU8382 from Belgrade landed at Niš Airport, officially inaugurating the new, modern airport. The aircraft was flown by two pilots with the surname Milutinović, Captain Milisav Milutinović and First Officer Slobodan Milutinović. The cabin crew comprised Ljiljana Kovačević, Jasna Jovanović, Ljubinka Prelević, Iva Manojlović, and Aleksandar Ivović. The inaugural flight from Belgrade carried officials, crew and passengers, including Tina Dimitrijević, a native of Niš who lived and worked in Amsterdam. She was the first passenger from Belgrade to board the flight, with ticket number 11502083733402. The outbound flight lasted 26 minutes, while the return journey from Niš took just 18 minutes. A panoramic flight was also organised for guests and lucky winners aboard the ten-month-old, state-of-the-art aircraft, one of the most modern in Europe at the time.

Under newspaper headlines such as “Niš has entered Europe today” and “Taking to the skies, from the Nišava to the Sava,” the opening ceremony, complemented by a spectacular air show, attracted thousands from Niš and nearby areas. This event drew a record number of visitors, making it the most attended airport opening in the history of EX-YU civil aviation. Locals joked that since Niš’s licence plates are “NI”, JAT used a 737 whose registration ended in the same two letters, suggesting even the plane had a Niš licence plate. Little did they know then that 35 years later, that same aircraft would become the world’s oldest operational Boeing 737-300, and its role in the Niš Airport inauguration would become a significant part of the airport’s history and the wider history of civil aviation.

While it would be appropriate for YU-ANI to be displayed today in front of Niš Airport, we are grateful that the aircraft is preserved, unlike YU-AND, “India” is now on display at Changzhou Aviation Vocational College in China.

The runway was extended to 2.200 metres and modernised with new navigational and operational equipment. A new taxiway was added, and the aircraft apron was equipped with four parking positions. All manoeuvring areas were equipped with aeronautical ground lighting systems, enabling, for the first time, flight operations to be conducted at night. In addition, landing aids were installed to facilitate aircraft operations in reduced visibility. The reconstruction of the runway enabled the airport to accommodate larger aircraft, including the DC-9, as well as Boeing 727 and 737-200 and -300 aircraft, subject to certain operational restrictions. A modern terminal capable of handling 100.000 passengers annually was built, and a new road linked the airport to the city centre, along with three new bus lines connecting Ćele Kula, Medijana, and Donja Vrežina. At the same time, Niš Airport maintained its dual military-civilian role and, for the first time, received international airport status with the airport codes INI and LYNI.

With the start of the winter timetable on October 26, JAT added four weekly flights between Belgrade and Niš, using DC-9 aircraft with early-morning departures from Niš. From December 20, the airline also launched a weekly service between Niš and Ljubljana. Notably, although scheduled for October 27, the first Niš - Belgrade flight and the following service were cancelled because the installation of meteorological equipment at the airport had not been completed. Passengers were transported by bus instead. However, on October 31 at 6:05, the first DC-9 took off on flight JU 839 to Belgrade. Among the first passengers was Niš native Života Janković, an honorary JAT passenger who had flown from Niš Airport as early as 1935. For breakfast on this inaugural flight, passengers enjoyed Niš-style burek.

The next year saw further growth for Niš Airport, which exceeded 15.000 passengers. Besides JAT, Inex Adria-Aviopromet - later Adria Airways - began operations, connecting Niš with Ljubljana twice weekly and offering weekly summer flights to Dubrovnik (JP146/147) and Split (JP582/583) using DC-9/MD-80 aircraft. JAT also introduced a new route between Niš and Zagreb, operating four flights weekly during the winter 1987/88 timetable.

In 1989, the airport achieved its best results, with roughly 22.000 passengers passing through. That year saw the launch of seasonal summer flights to Adriatic destinations like Split and Dubrovnik, along with new direct routes to London and Moscow, expanding its international reach. Of all passengers that year, about 6.000 arrived via charter flights from England for winter holidays at Kopaonik, operated by JAT and Aviogenex. The reconstruction of Sofia Airport marked another milestone for Niš Airport, as it hosted its first foreign airline services, with Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines using Niš as an alternative during reconstruction work at Sofia Airport. Belgrade was connected with Niš twice per week, with Boeing 737s operating those flights.

The early 1990s brought a series of challenges that had a direct impact on air traffic at Niš Airport. During this period, JAT cancelled all routes from Niš, replacing them with a luxury minibus service to Belgrade departing the Ambassador Hotel at 05:15, integrated into JAT's reservation system (JU 648/649). Passengers could enjoy newspapers, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts during the three-hour motorway drive. This transfer was mainly for international travellers booking JAT flights, with domestic passengers paying extra. The return trip to Niš left Belgrade at 20:00 daily, and passengers were dropped off at their homes or the Ambassador Hotel.

Despite JAT suspending regular air services from Niš Airport, passenger flights still operated during the summer of 1990. A new seasonal route to Burgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast was introduced. These flights were organised by the private agency “Godis-Turizam”, which partnered with Bulgarian airline Balkan. Up to five flights every ten days were scheduled between INI and BOJ, mainly using An-24 aircraft, although Tupolev Tu-134 twin-engine jets were also occasionally deployed. The airport’s favourable weather conditions also made Niš a useful alternative when aircraft were unable to land at Belgrade or Priština during the winter.

When sanctions were introduced and international flights halted, Niš remained connected only to Tivat in the mid-1990s. These flights used DC-9 and ATR 72 aircraft, carrying around 5.000 passengers annually.

After sanctions were lifted, Niš Airport's main international connections over the following years were with Tivat, primarily through a summer seasonal line operated by the national airline from June to September. Additionally, Aviogenex conducted charter flights to the same destination. International flights mainly consisted of charter operations during the New Year and Easter holidays, often to destinations such as Vienna, Frankfurt, Zurich and cities in Scandinavia. For example, in 1997, a flight also departed from Niš to Tunisia under the airlift programme. In 1998, passenger traffic increased mainly due to more frequent fog at Priština Airport, which led to Niš Airport being used as an alternative. Early 1999 saw JAT launching a twice-weekly cargo service from Niš, using trucks to transport goods from the airport’s freight terminal for onward shipment on JAT’s scheduled flights across Europe. At that time, the airport had a total of 42 employees.

Sadly, 1999 was the most challenging year in Niš Airport’s history. During NATO's bombing campaign, the airport was heavily bombed, with hundreds of tonnes of bombs, including prohibited cluster munitions, dropped on it. The infrastructure was severely damaged: the runway, taxiways, utility systems, and other facilities were destroyed, and the terminal suffered extensive damage.

With financial aid from the Serbian government and the Kingdom of Norway, the airport underwent extensive reconstruction, including the construction of a new air traffic control tower, rehabilitating the runway and manoeuvring areas, and restoring and modernizing equipment. The terminal and key facilities were also renovated.

Following the completion of reconstruction, Niš Airport officially reopened on October 12, 2003, with a Boeing 737-300 arriving from Belgrade. During the ceremony, it was renamed Niš Constantine the Great Airport to honour the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who was born in Naissus, the ancient Roman settlement on the site of present-day Niš. The reopening marked another chapter in the airport’s history of repeated interruptions to, and restorations of, air traffic. The first commercial flights resumed in 2004, when Jat Airways restarted operations at the airport, offering routes to Tivat, Zurich, Paris, and seasonal tourist flights to the Turkish coastal resorts of Antalya and Bodrum. That year, Montenegro Airlines also launched scheduled flights from Niš to Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland.

The resumption of air traffic led to a consistent rise in passenger numbers, increasing year by year. In 2004, the airport welcomed 19.040 passengers, a figure that rose to 26,787 in 2005. This upward trend reached a milestone in 2006, when Niš Airport served 35.518 travellers. Notably, during the winter seasons of 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, British tour operators, collaborating with Thomsonfly, organised flights from London to Niš, mainly targeting British tourists heading to the Kopaonik ski resort. In addition to those charter flights, Jat Airways introduced two weekly flights from November to Zurich, Vienna and Stuttgart, operating a total of 118 flights in 2006, while Montenegro Airlines had 111, and Thomsonfly had 14 flights from Niš. Cargo traffic also started to grow during this period. Improvements to the runway significantly enhanced the airport’s capacity, enabling larger aircraft with higher maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to operate.

Following Montenegro’s independence, which made Montenegro Airlines a foreign carrier, air traffic and passenger numbers at Niš Airport declined in 2007 and continued through 2008 and 2009. In 2007, Jat Airways flew to Zurich twice weekly with a very high passenger load factor of over 90%, and also operated a seasonal charter to Crete, with eight flights during summer. Additionally, Turkish airline Atlasjet established regular connections between Niš and Istanbul, and Montenegro Airlines offered charter flights to Tivat, alongside the British tour operator flights. In addition to Zurich, JAT connected Niš with Tivat with three weekly flights during summer 2008.

Niš Airport during the 2000s » At the apron: Aviogenex Boeing 727, Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100, Kosmas Air Ilyushin IL-76TD YU-AMI

At the end of 2009, the national flag carrier Jat Airways discontinued its flights from Niš due to poor profitability. However, with a 1.1 million euro subsidy from the City of Niš covering 50 seats per flight, the Italian low-cost airline WindJet launched a scheduled route between Niš and Forlì, Italy, by the end of the year. The first flight took place on December 26, 2009. During winter, the route operated once a week, increasing to twice weekly in summer 2010. WindJet became the first low-cost carrier to run scheduled services from Niš Airport. However, with each flight carrying an average of 40 to 80 passengers on an Airbus A319, the service was unprofitable and ended in late 2010.

In 2010, Niš Constantine the Great Airport served 23.627 passengers, a 37.6% rise from 2009, mainly due to Montenegro Airlines and new flights. In February 2010, Montenegro Airlines launched a scheduled Niš - Podgorica route with six weekly flights to connect passengers to Montenegro and Europe via Podgorica. The route was supported by the City of Niš, which bought 40 economy seats per flight at 199 euros each, covered some additional costs, and subsidised 7.5 euros per passenger. During the first year, the average load factor was about 40%.

In 2011, Niš Constantine the Great Airport improved its performance compared to 2010, handling 25,124 passengers, a 6.3% increase, and Montenegro Airlines was the only airline offering scheduled flights from the third-largest city in Serbia. Unlike previous years, there were no summer charters in 2011. In late 2012, Swiss regional carrier Darwin Airline joined Montenegro Airlines in providing scheduled services to Zurich and Geneva. However, high ticket prices led to low passenger numbers, and the routes were discontinued in early 2013. In 2013, Italian regional carrier Mistral Air launched flights from Niš to Trieste as part of an EU-funded project to enhance air connectivity around the Adriatic region. The twice-weekly service with Boeing 737-400 aircraft, introduced in April 2013, faced low demand and was soon terminated despite initial high expectations.

At the end of the summer season, Montenegro Airlines ceased its flights to Niš after the City of Niš decided to discontinue financial support for the route.

Niš Airport started 2014 without any scheduled passenger flights, leading to a sharp decline in passenger numbers - just 1.335 for the year, compared with 21.700 in 2013. The year 2015, however, proved that changes in aviation can happen quickly. After lengthy negotiations, Wizz Air launched flights connecting Niš, a southeastern Serbian city, with Malmö and Basel twice weekly. These flights allowed Niš Constantine the Great Airport to serve 36.258 passengers, making 2015 its busiest year ever. About 30% of passengers in 2015 were first-time users of the airport.

The airport continued to set records in 2016, with Wizz Air adding routes to Dortmund, Eindhoven, and Memmingen. A major milestone for Niš Airport came with the arrival of Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline. In 2016, Ryanair inaugurated scheduled services from Serbia, linking Niš to Berlin, Milan Bergamo, Bratislava, and Düsseldorf Weeze. The first flight from Berlin to Niš was operated by Serbian captain Vladimir Milićević.

The introduction of these flights marked a significant milestone for Niš Constantine the Great Airport, which was served by two major European budget airlines. This led to a passenger surge, with passenger traffic reaching 124.917 in 2016. Although airport management announced plans for a low-cost airline to base an aircraft in Niš, this has yet to materialise. Another significant change was the introduction of scheduled cargo services by Turkish Cargo between Niš and Istanbul in October 2016.

In 2017, the airport upgraded its passenger terminal by enlarging check-in and boarding areas and adding two new check-in desks; repairs were also made to the roof and façade. Passenger traffic continued to grow rapidly, reaching 331,582 in 2017 - more than 2.5 times the 2016 figure - making Niš one of Europe's fastest-growing airports that year. Additionally, cargo traffic hit a new record with approximately 2.543 tonnes handled.

The notable rise in passenger numbers was partly due to the reintroduction of air routes between Niš and Switzerland after an eight-year break. In 2017, Swiss International Air Lines began scheduled flights between Niš and Zurich. Although initially planned as a seasonal route, it was quickly extended to operate year-round with two weekly flights. Soon after, Germania Flug also started flights from Zurich to Niš. However, Germania Flug stopped the route at the start of the 2017/18 winter season, only four months after launching, due to intense competition.

By early 2018, Niš Constantine the Great Airport offered 10 international routes operated by three airlines - Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Swiss - year-round. Passenger numbers kept rising, reaching 351.581, with Wizz Air adding a new route to Vienna. About half of the passengers were from the diaspora (Visiting Friends and Relatives), while the other half were split between business travellers and tourists. Interestingly, Niš also attracted travellers from nearby areas who previously used Skopje or Pristina Airport for their trips to Europe.

In 2019, Niš Constantine the Great Airport continued its modernisation by installing a new instrument landing system (ILS) that assists aircraft in approaching and landing during poor weather conditions like fog, rain, or snow. The installation of the ILS led to Niš being classified as a Category I airport under International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

A major development that year was the arrival of Air Serbia, which launched 12 Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes to various European destinations. These routes received a subsidy of 5 million euros annually, with the agreement lasting until 2024. Air Serbia's operations at Niš began with its inaugural flight, JU1356, to Nuremberg, Germany, on July 15, operated by an Airbus A319. The airline also operated flights using A319 and ATR72 aircraft to Frankfurt (Hahn), Hanover, Friedrichshafen, Karlsruhe, Salzburg, Rome, Bologna, Budapest, Gothenburg, Ljubljana, and Tivat, with at least two weekly flights to each destination. However, services to Budapest were discontinued three months after the launch.

Ryanair expanded its network from Niš by launching a new route to Malta, which operates twice weekly starting in November. The airline also planned a new route to Frankfurt Hahn, but the Civil Aviation Directorate did not approve it because the route was already covered by a Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme and had been awarded to Air Serbia. By the end of 2019, Swiss International Air Lines had completely ceased flights between Zurich and Niš, citing competition and the route’s demand and development potential.

The rise in destinations and flights led to a new historic record, with Niš Airport handling 422.255 passengers in 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Niš Airport, like the global aviation industry, faced severe challenges. In 2020, passenger numbers dropped by over 60% compared to 2019, and for more than two months, air traffic was nearly halted. The airport reopened for commercial flights in May 2020, with Wizz Air resuming operations. The budget airline reinstated flights between Dortmund and the southeastern Serbian city. In 2021, Niš Airport started recovering from the pandemic’s impact. Ryanair expanded its routes, adding flights to Corfu, which marked Niš’s first Greek destination. Nonetheless, travel restrictions and evolving entry rules continued to hinder full recovery throughout the year, resulting in approximately 146,000 passengers by year’s end. Wizz Air and Ryanair re-established most routes, some seasonal. Air Serbia operated twice-weekly flights to Frankfurt and summer services to Tivat.

Niš Airport expanded its network with several new destinations under a new Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, which was again awarded to Air Serbia. Starting in January 2022, Air Serbia introduced scheduled flights to Belgrade, Istanbul, Cologne, Frankfurt Hahn, and Ljubljana. During the summer, seasonal flights operated to Athens and Tivat. The total value of the four-year contracts awarded to Air Serbia, including flights from Kraljevo, is just under 34 million euros.

For the first time in over 20 years, Niš and Belgrade were connected by air again, marking the first domestic route since the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. On January 6, 2022, the Airbus A319, flight JU1101, took off from Niš Constantine the Great Airport, creating a new milestone in EX-YU aviation history. The route operates four times weekly, with flights departing Belgrade on Thursdays and Saturdays, and from Niš on Fridays and Sundays. Partly due to an unfavourable schedule, the Niš - Belgrade route has had an average load factor of around 25% annually since its launch.

Throughout the year, Ryanair (serving Vienna, Milan Bergamo, Malta, Corfu, and Stockholm Arlanda, with Corfu operating seasonally) and Wizz Air (covering Basel/Mulhouse, Dortmund, Memmingen, Malmö, and Vienna) continued to grow and expand their low-cost networks. Zurich was temporarily reintroduced at year's end as part of the JU network from Serbia's third-largest city. This contributed to a strong recovery in passenger traffic, which reached 389.022 passengers, up 166% compared to 2021. Concurrently, the airport began building and expanding its terminal, investing approximately €11 million.

Niš Airport set a new annual passenger record in 2023 by hosting 448,312 travellers, marking a 15.25% increase from 2022 and slightly surpassing the 2019 peak. Despite more passengers, the airport lost routes to Milan Bergamo and Malmö. Although the Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure mentioned ongoing talks with Air Serbia for new routes, no new flights were added in 2023, despite the record passenger numbers. Cargo traffic dropped sharply to 69.6 tonnes, down 24% from 2022 and 93% below 2019.

In 2024, a major milestone occurred with the opening of a new terminal, one of the most significant events since the airport opened in 1986. The 7,160-square-metre terminal can handle 1.5 million passengers annually and serve up to six aircraft at once. It includes ten check-in desks, self-check-in stations, eight passport control booths, four passenger gates, a business lounge, a VIP gate, and a luggage sorting system. A new car park for 580 vehicles was also added. The construction cost €11 million, with an extra €5 million spent on new equipment.

Soon after opening, the Serbian government signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group for the second phase of development. This plan involves demolishing the old terminal, constructing a new one to complement it, and upgrading the runway, apron, taxiways, and control tower, with all work scheduled for completion by 2027.

Niš Airport’s passenger numbers fell by approximately 20% in 2024 from the record 2023 total of 448.312 travellers. The decrease, to 357.313 passengers, was mainly due to fewer flights from Wizz Air - affected by engine inspection issues - and Ryanair. During summer, Ryanair was the leading airline in seat capacity at 37.4%, followed by Air Serbia at 35%, and Wizz Air at 27.6%. That year, travellers could choose from 10 scheduled routes and seasonal flights to Tivat, Corfu, and Athens, along with charter flights to Tunisia and Antalya.

In 2025, Niš Airport expanded its network and enhanced its operations. Notably, SWISS returned and reintroduced the Niš–Zurich route after four years. During the summer, Swiss offered 4,646 seats on its Niš flights, using aircraft ranging from the small Airbus A220-100 to the larger 219-seat A321. The airport also resumed seasonal flights to Stockholm and operated a total of 16 destinations in summer. Additionally, a new cargo route was launched, operated by Uzbekistan-based My Freighter with a Boeing 767-300F. The route included Urumqi, Navoiy (Uzbekistan), Niš, Leipzig, and Tashkent, transporting around fifty tons of goods from China through Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite predictions from government officials of reaching half a million passengers or more, Niš Constantine the Great Airport served 393.102 passengers in 2025, approximately a 10% increase compared to 2024.

Niš Airport’s anniversary year got off to a strong start, with passenger numbers rising by 57% in January 2026. In summer 2026, the airport connected to 17 European cities with both scheduled and charter flights. However, in August 2026, Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, announced it would suspend all flights to and from Niš from winter 2026/27 due to regulatory issues with fuel supply. This withdrawal is expected to significantly affect passenger traffic and connectivity.

Just a day after Ryanair’s announcement, Air Serbia revealed plans to launch new flights from Niš Constantine the Great Airport to Vienna and Malta for the upcoming winter season, starting October 25, with flights twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays. During the 2026/27 winter, Air Serbia will offer 16 weekly services from Niš, providing 6,912 seats, which exceeds the current schedule of Wizz Air, the only other scheduled winter operator, assuming no changes to existing schedules.

Air traffic at Niš Airport has been active for nearly a century, experiencing various changes and challenges along the way. Despite repeated interruptions and difficulties involving the authorities, the airport has persistently linked southern Serbia to Europe. New routes and airlines could provide further opportunities for expansion in the years ahead.

Sources

• JAT inflight magazine: JAT Review and JAT New Review, JAT News

• There was once a JAT, Simišić Jovo, 2022, 2025

• 100 Years of Serbian Aviation in Niš, 1912–2012, Milorad Petković and Dušan Senćanski

• Borba newspapers

• Narodne novine newspapers

• Politika newspapers and magazines

• Borba newspapers