From South Bohemian Airport, flights to the world could start from spring 2020

České Budějovice - Planes could start flying from South Bohemia Airport České Budějovice to the world as early as spring 2020. CTK reported today, during the launch of the final phase of modernization, said airport director Ladislav Ondřich. The airport has been undergoing modernization for several years. In a year and a half, it will have a new terminal for passengers, lighting navigation, and radionavigation, as well as larger parking spaces for aircraft. The costs of the completion amount to 408 million crowns, said airport spokesperson Martina Vodičková. The investor is the South Bohemian Region.

Next year, the region will allocate 260 million for the completion, making it one of the largest investments in the region in 2018. Next year, the region will purchase part of the land in the lower barracks at the entrance to the area from the army for 145 million, where facilities for services related to the operation of the airport will be established. "The goal is the completion of the airport, which will operate internationally, allowing planes like Boeing or Airbus to land here, and the construction of a terminal. Radionavigation is crucial," said regional governor Ivana Stráská (ČSSD) to journalists today. The construction contractor is Hochtief CZ, which employs 360 people in the region.

According to the airport spokesperson, certification of the airport as a public international facility will be challenging after the construction is completed. Local experts are already preparing the process and consulting with the Civil Aviation Authority. There are five public international airports with regular operations in the Czech Republic - in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pardubice, and Karlovy Vary.

South Bohemia Airport operates without light navigation and radionavigation, only under visibility during the day; the number of takeoffs and landings is more or less constant. This year, it will total around 7000 movements. "The increasing number of international flights is a positive sign. This year, more than 700," Vodičková said.

The modernization that began today follows the first phase from 2010, into which the region invested 110 million. CTK reported today that Radek Šíma from the governor's office said. Seven years ago, for instance, the control tower and the administrative building were reconstructed.

Last year, South Bohemia Airport utilized over 14 million CZK in investment and operational subsidies from each of its shareholders, namely the South Bohemian Region and the city of České Budějovice. Revenues last year covered nearly 34 percent of operational costs. The net turnover was 42.7 million CZK last year, nearly nine percent higher year-on-year. The airport's profit after tax nearly doubled last year to 1.66 million CZK.

The airport area covers over 300 hectares; the area will expand next year after acquiring land from the army. There are 120 buildings here. South Bohemia Airport has about 40 permanent employees and another 20 freelancers.

Aerial operations here began in April 2006. By the end of 2016, the airport handled nearly 80,000 takeoffs and landings, including over 4,000 international ones. The airport currently holds a license for non-public international operations, allowing it to accept and handle medium-sized aircraft with a wingspan of up to 36 meters. Due to the lack of equipment, it is currently not possible to accept flights in adverse weather conditions.

The airport in Planá near České Budějovice was an important base for Czechoslovak and later Czech aviation after World War II. However, fighter pilots abandoned the aerodrome, which was certified for civil operations in its original form on December 13, 1937, at the end of 1994.