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Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport

Coordinates: 43°09′05″N 25°42′46″E / 43.15139°N 25.71278°E / 43.15139; 25.71278
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Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport

Летище Горна Оряховица
The main entrance of the airport in 2023
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerState-owned
OperatorGorna Oryahovitsa Airport EAD
ServesGorna Oryahovitsa
LocationGorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria
Opened1925 (1925)
Elevation AMSL85 m / 280 ft
Coordinates43°09′05″N 25°42′46″E / 43.15139°N 25.71278°E / 43.15139; 25.71278
WebsiteOfficial website
Map
GOZ is located in Bulgaria
GOZ
GOZ
Location of airport in Bulgaria
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 2,450 8,038 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers196
Passenger change 22-23Increase44.1%
Aircraft movements1,524
Movements change 22-23Decrease38.4%
Cargo (t)0
Cargo change 22-23Increase0.0%
Source: Ministry of Transport and Communications - Directorate General „Civial Aviation Administration“ [1]

Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport (IATA: GOZ, ICAO: LBGO) is an international airport near Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. It is used predominantly for cargo,[1] as the last regular passenger flights to Sofia were abolished in the end of the last decade.[2] The airport is believed to have a very good prospective, because of its location in the centre of the country, the lack of big airports nearby, and the huge number of tourists in the area coming from abroad. Currently, it is the least developed of the five international airports in Bulgaria in terms of infrastructure and services.

History

The airport is established in 1925 and was originally used primarily by Bulgarian Air Force. In 1948 is opened a regular civil air route to Sofia, the third such in the country. The current track was completed in 1973 and has concrete construction, asphalt in 1982. In 1978, completed a new terminal and administration building, and in 1994, a new building for air traffic management. During the 1970s and 1980s, Balkan Airlines operated regular flights to Sofia and Varna. In 1995, the airport gained an international airport status and by opening its borders, customs and cargo divisions.[3]
In 2002, the government decided to start a concession for the airport. By November 2011, there were three concession procedures ran by the government and were unable to find an operator for the airport.[4]

In 2016, the airport was concessioned for 35 years after a decision by the Bulgarian government. The airport was sold to "Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport", in which two Bulgarian companies hold the shares.[5]

Overview

The airport has been equipped with a high intensity light system – First Category, for landing and taking off in conditions of poor visibility. There is a 5 stand apron that can accommodate large airplanes: Boeing 737, An-12, IL-76 and A 320.

Although there are no scheduled flights to and from the airport, there is a small number of charters and business jets using it.[6]
Until 2002, the airport was used by the Bulgarian division of Ideal Standard as cargo hub for its Bulgarian production, but ceased operations due to changes in logistics.[7]

As of December 2023, the current airport concessionaire "Gorna Oryahovitsa Civil Airport 2016" JSC announced an overall, general rehabilition and refurbishment plans including: runway extension, customisation security systems installations, approach lighting system and the construction of a perimeter road of the airport. The runway is expected to be 3km long, making it the third longest in Bulgaria after Sofia (3,6km), Burgas (3,2km) and longer than Varna (2,5km) respectively. The concessionaire had previously invested BGN 5,960,000. The new investment for the airport development in 2024 is anticipated to be BGN 13,300,000. A perimeter fence and video surveillance system are currently under construction and aimed to be finalised by the end of 2023.[8]
Being located in the heart of Bulgaria, 12km away from the former capital of Veliko Tarnovo,[9] would contribute to the local economy by serving the largest British community in the country, home to more than 20% of the expatriates. The community is dispersed within the Gabrovo and Veliko Tarnovo Province vicinities.[10]

Statistics

Traffic

Annual passenger traffic at GOZ airport. See Wikidata query.
Traffic at Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport
Year Passengers Change Cargo (tonnes) Change Aircraft movements Change
1998 98 Steady 14 Steady 212 Steady
1999 177 Increase80.6% 1,013 Increase7135.7% 1,381 Increase551.4%
2000 0 Decrease100.0% 4,825 Increase376.3% 4,434 Increase221.1%
2001 336 Increase33600.0% 2,399 Decrease50.3% 2,570 Decrease42.0%
2002 249 Decrease25.9% 660 Decrease72.5% 3,620 Increase40.8%
2003 318 Increase27.7% 133 Decrease79.8% 87 Decrease97.6%
2004 314 Decrease1.3% 302 Increase127.1% 3,759 Increase4220.7%
2005 331 Increase5.4% 600 Increase98.7% 4,031 Increase7.2%
2006 515 Increase55.6% 412 Decrease31.3% 5,999 Increase48.8%
2007 301 Decrease41.5% 59 Decrease85.6% 8,266 Increase37.8%
2008 452 Increase50.2% 195 Increase230.5% 4,067 Decrease50.8%
2009 234 Decrease48.2% 352 Increase80.5% 3,553 Decrease12.6%
2010 1,177 Increase377.3% 69 Decrease80.4% 1,010 Decrease71.6%
2011 562 Decrease52.2% 19 Decrease72.5% 1,351 Increase33.7%
2012 389 Decrease30.8% 22 Increase15.8% 1,759 Increase30.2%[11]
2013 18 Decrease95.4% 0 Decrease100.0% 48 Decrease97.3%
2014 18 Steady 52 Increase5200.0% 108 Increase4.0%
2015 8 Increase7.2% 189 Increase5.6% 28 Decrease74.1%
2016 22 Increase175.0% 0 Decrease100.0% 26 Decrease7.1%
2017 25 Increase13.6% 0 Steady 34 Increase30.7%
2018 388 Increase1452.0% 216 Increase21630.0% 1,073 Increase3055.9%
2019 235 Decrease39.4% 130 Decrease39.8% 1,386 Increase29.2%
2020 95 Decrease59.6% 0 Decrease100.0% 749 Decrease45.9%
2021 0 Decrease100.0% 0 Steady 126 Decrease83.2%
2022 136 Increase13600.0% 0 Steady 2,472 Increase1861.9%
2023 196 Increase44.1% 0 Steady 1,524 Decrease38.4%
Source: Directorate General "Civil Aviation Administration"[12]

Airlines and destinations

As of 2023, there are no scheduled services to and from Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport.

References

  1. ^ "Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport SKYbrary Aviation Safety". skybrary.aero.
  2. ^ "История за времето, в което България не беше "демократична" и имаше 7 вътрешни полети". rns.bg.
  3. ^ "Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport". gornaoryahovitsa-airport.bg.
  4. ^ "Няма кандидати и за концесията на летище Горна Оряховица". gradat.bg. 21 June 2011.
  5. ^ "In the period from 2016 to date, the team of STRAPLAN Ltd. actively supports and consults Gorna Oryahovitsa Civil Airport AD in the management of the concession of Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport". starplan.eu.
  6. ^ "Министерството на транспорта попари швейцарци за летището в Горна Оряховица". borbabg.com. 17 January 2022.
  7. ^ ""Идеал Стандарт" се отказа от горнооряховското летище". dnevnik.bg. 9 January 2002.
  8. ^ "Moдepнизиpaт лeтищeтo в Гopнa Opяxoвицa c инвecтиция зa нaд 13 милиoнa лeвa". 4 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport".
  10. ^ "Move to Veliko Tarnovo - Top reasons to move to Beautiful Bulgaria".
  11. ^ "Годишен анализ на състоянието на безопасността на полетите в гражданската авиация на Република България през 2012г" (PDF). caa.bg.
  12. ^ "Статистическа информация за международните летища в Република България" (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
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