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Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (IATA: BBU, ICAO: LRBS) (largely known as Băneasa Airport or Bucharest City Airport) is located in Băneasa district, Bucharest, Romania, 8.5 km (5.3 mi) north of the city center.[1] Named after Aurel Vlaicu, a Romanian engineer, inventor, aeroplane constructor, and early pilot, it was Bucharest's only airport until 1969, when the Otopeni Airport (today Henri Coandă International Airport) was opened to civilian use.

Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport Aeroportul Internaţional București Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu
IATA: BBU ICAO: LRBS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Compania Naţională Aeroporturi București S.A.
Serves	Bucharest, Romania
Elevation AMSL	299 ft / 91 m
Coordinates	44°30′13″N 026°06′13″E
Website	bucharestairports.ro
Map
BBU Location within Romania
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 3,100 10,465 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 12,925 Aircraft movements 11,348
Sources: Romanian AIP at EUROCONTROL[1] Airport-Data.com,[2] Statistics: bucharestairports.ro[3]

Until March 2012, when it was converted into a business airport, Aurel Vlaicu International was the second airport in Romania in terms of air traffic, and Bucharest's low-cost airline hub.

History

The first flights in the Băneasa area took place in 1909 and they were carried out by the French pilot and aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, who flew on 18 October at the Băneasa Hippodrome [ro].[4] In 1912, one of first flight schools in Romania was opened on the Băneasa airfield by George Valentin Bibescu. This makes Băneasa airport the oldest continuously operating airport in Eastern Europe, and among the five oldest airports in the world.[5]

In 1922, the airport headquartered the first aviation company in Romania, and one of the earliest in the world, CFRNA (The French–Romanian Company for Air Navigation), the precursor of the Romanian national airline, TAROM.[6] In 1923, CFRNA built the industrial facilities for aircraft maintenance in Băneasa. These facilities preceded the aerospace company Romaero.[7]

The current terminal building was designed in the late 1940s and opened in 1952. At that time it was considered one of the finest architectural features of Bucharest. The building consists of a central dome with three distinct wings which represents an airplane propeller with three blades.[7]

During the communist period (1947–1989), Băneasa Airport was TAROM's domestic hub, while Otopeni Airport was used as an international hub. In the early 2000s (decade), TAROM moved all of its activities to Otopeni (renamed Henri Coandă International Airport).

The 2007 low cost "invasion"

The first low cost airline established at BBU was Blue Air in 2004. From January 2007, the low-fare airlines Wizz Air, EasyJet, and Germanwings started European routes from Băneasa.

Renovation works

In 2007, the airport was closed from 10 May to 19 August for renovation works. All flights during this period were moved to Henri Coandă International Airport. Renovations included commercial areas, restaurants, a VIP lounge and a 300-space car park. The runway and lighting systems were also completely overhauled. The estimated cost was €20m.[8]

Conversion into a business airport

In March 2012, Băneasa was dedicated to business air traffic. The low-cost traffic was transferred to Henri Coandă International Airport.[9]

Possible re-opening

In 2017 and 2018, public talks organized by the managing company took place, suggesting that the airport may be re-opened for regular flights, following renovation works, that may be completed in two years from start.[10][11]

In June 2019, it was announced that the airport will reopen for commercial flights in early 2020.[12]

Re-opening

On 1 August 2022, the airport was re-opened after 10 years of renovation work and 110 years since it was founded.[13]

Terminals

The building is a late 1940s design, and was not built to cope with more than 600,000 passengers per year and departures every 25 minutes. As such in the few years before 2012 when the airport was closed to commercial scheduled flights, the facilities were extremely undersized and became very crowded. The building cannot be expanded, because of its status as a city landmark, and because of the sheer lack of space in the airport area.

Airlines and destinations

As of 25 March 2012, all commercial flight operations have been moved to Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni. As of now, Aurel Vlaicu International Airport handles only charter flights and private jets.

Traffic statistics

From as low as 20 to 30 passengers per month in 2001–2002, BBU handled 119,000 passengers in 2004, and 2,398,911 passengers in 2011.[14]

Year	Passengers[15][16][17]	Compared to Previous Year
2005	380,474	222%
2006	672,923	76.8%
2007	968,084	43.8%
2008	1,724,633	78.1%
2009	1,974,337	14.4%
2010	1,881,509	4.7%
2011	2,398,911	27.5%
2012	424,016	82.3%
2013	6,036	98.5%
2014	4,960	17.8%
2015	12,925	160.5%
2016	7,226	44.1%
2017	17,623	143.9%
2018	5,690[18]	67.7%
2019	25,518	348.5%
2020	12,329	50.2%

Bucharest International Air Show

The airport has been the set where the Bucharest International Air Show, the largest of its kind in Romania, has been taking place. In 2018, this event had its tenth edition, with 150 aircraft on the ground and on display in the air and 100 pilots and paratroopers, from 13 countries.[19]

Ground transportation

The airport is situated 8 km (5 miles) north of Bucharest city centre and is accessible by STB buses and Airport Express, and taxi.

An extension of the Bucharest Metro system to Aurel Vlaicu International, as Metro Line M6, which will link it to the Main Train Station and the larger Henri Coandă International Airport, was approved in June 2006 and is currently in its planning stage.[20]

See also

• Aviation in Romania
• Transport in Romania

References

External links

Media related to Aurel Vlaicu International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Google Map – Aerial View

На других языках

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[de] Flughafen Bukarest-Băneasa

Der Flughafen Bukarest-Băneasa – Aurel Vlaicu (IATA: BBU, ICAO: LRBS; rum. Aeroportul Internațional București Băneasa – Aurel Vlaicu) ist nach Bukarest Henri Coandă der zweite, kleinere Flughafen der rumänischen Hauptstadt Bukarest und dient ausschließlich dem Geschäftsreiseverkehr.

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- [en] Aurel Vlaicu International Airport

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[es] Aeropuerto de Bucarest-Băneasa

El Aeropuerto de Bucarest/Baneasa "Aurel Vlaicu" (IATA: BBU, OACI: LRBS) (también conocido como Aeropuerto Băneasa o Aeropuerto de la ciudad de Bucarest) se encuentra en el distrito de Băneasa, Bucarest, Rumanía. Fue el único aeropuerto de Bucarest hasta 1968, cuando el Aeropuerto de Otopeni (hoy aeropuerto internacional Henri Coandă) fue construido. La decisión de construir un nuevo aeropuerto fue tomada a raíz de la proximidad del aeropuerto de Băneasa al centro de la ciudad y su consiguiente creación de polución y ruido. Es el segundo aeropuerto en Rumanía en términos de tráfico aéreo.

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[fr] Aéroport international Aurel-Vlaicu

L'aéroport international Aurel-Vlaicu (en roumain : Aeroportul Internațional Aurel Vlaicu) (code IATA : BBU • code OACI : LRBS), aussi appelé par son ancienne dénomination aéroport de Băneasa (Aeroportul Băneasa) est un aéroport militaire et civil de Bucarest. Il était desservi notamment par des compagnies aériennes à bas prix avant d’être consacré aux jets privés et vols charters à partir de 2012.

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[it] Aeroporto di Bucarest-Băneasa - Aurel Vlaicu

L'Aeroporto di Bucarest-Băneasa - Aurel Vlaicu[2] (IATA: BBU, ICAO: LRBS), anche conosciuto come Aeroporto di Bucarest-Băneasa, è il più vecchio aeroporto della città di Bucarest, capitale della Romania. La struttura è intitolata ad Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913), pioniere dell'aviazione rumena.[3]

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[ru] Международный аэропорт Бухарест Бэняса имени Ауреля Влайку

Международный аэропорт Бухарест Бэняса имени Аурела Влайку рум. Aeroportul Internaţional Bucureşti Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu (ИАТА: BBU, ИКАО: LRBS) (ранее был известен как Аэропорт Бэняса или Городской аэропорт Бухареста) расположен в районе Бэняса в 8,5 км к северу[2] от Бухареста, Румыния. Был единственным аэропортом Бухареста до 1968 года, когда был построен Аэропорт Отопени (сегодня Международный аэропорт имени Анри Коанды). На сегодняшний день это второй аэропорт Румынии по загруженности и база бухарестских бюджетных авиаперевозчиков, географически находясь ближе к центру города, чем крупнейший аэропорт Бухареста.

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