"Ponikve" to become civil airport - City of Užice as new owner

The City Council of Užice has adopted the decision about transfer of rights to use of airport "Ponikve" from the Ministry of Defense to the city of Užice.

It has been suggested that that airport should be used for civilian purposes, but the Army will still be able to use it as well. If air traffic connects the region of Užice and Western Serbia with Europe, it is for sure that the state's incomes will be additionally affected through further development of tourist, economic and agricultural potentials, which are something that this region already has.

The Mayor of Užice, Jovan Marković, expects that the negotiations on transfer of rights to use of the airport from the Ministry of Defense to the city of Užice will be finished within the next two months.

- The economy of the city of Užice and Western Serbia, tourism and agriculture, they all need the help from the Government of Republic of Serbia in resolving the problems of traffic communication between this region and Belgrade, other parts of Serbia, and Europe. This land occupies the surface of 570 ha, and we are ready to put it at the disposal of the airport - says Marković.

Airport "Ponikve" has the longest runway in the Balkans. Unlike the other airports in Serbia, it has no problem with fog, and that is why it has 250 flying days per year.

The Study done by the Regional Chamber of Commerce Užice confirms that European Union is interested in this airport as well.

Saša Savić from the Regional Chamber of Commerce says that, thanks to RAIRD project, they got the right information and heard experiences of other European countries when it comes to regional airports.