Košice International Airport Explained

Košice International Airport
Nativename:Medzinárodné letisko Košice
Image2-Width:250
Iata:KSC[1]
Icao:LZKZ
Pushpin Map:Slovakia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Slovakia
Pushpin Label:KSC
Pushpin Label Position:right
Type:Public
Operator:Letisko Košice - Airport Košice, a.s.
City-Served:Košice, Slovakia
Location:Barca
Coordinates:48.6631°N 21.2411°W
Elevation-F:755
Elevation-M:230
Website:airportkosice.sk
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:01/19
R1-Length-M:3,100
R1-Length-F:10,171
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2023
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:625,053
Stat2-Header:Passenger change 22-23
Stat2-Data:15.1%
Stat3-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Data:4,398
Stat4-Header:Movement change 22-23
Stat4-Data:13.0%
Footnotes:Source: Vienna Airport [2]

Košice International Airport (Slovak: Medzinárodné letisko Košice) is an international airport serving Košice, Slovakia. It is the second largest international airport in Slovakia. It is located 6km (04miles) to the south of St Elisabeth Cathedral, 230m (760feet) above sea level, covering an area of 3.5km2. It serves both scheduled and charter, domestic and international flights. Airport capacity is 800,000 passengers a year as of 2012.[3]

Košice Airport operates 6 direct flights to the following destinations - Prague (Ryanair), Warsaw - Fryderyk Chopin Airport (LOT Polish Airlines), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), London - to London Luton Airport (Wizz Air) and London-Stansted Airport (Ryanair), Liverpool (Ryanair). More than 300 destinations are available with a maximum of one change.[4]

On September 13, 2023, the airport announced the arrival of the new airline Swiss International Air Lines, which will operate a direct route from Košice to Zurich starting from June 2024. The start date was later pushed forward to March 27, 2024.

During the summer flight schedule of 2024, the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will fly from Košice to the Croatian city of Zadar twice a week. Additionally, a direct route to Dublin will also be resumed from the summer flight schedule of 2024.

History

Construction of the airport began in 1950s near the suburb of Barca. In 1954, construction began on the first part of the new passenger terminal, hangar and new control tower. In 1955, direct flights began between Košice and Prague. The power supply was enhanced by more powerful transformers in 1962. Increasing traffic required a larger passenger terminal by the mid 1960s. The foundation of the SNP Air Force Academy in 1973 strengthened aviation in the then republic of Czechoslovakia. Between 1974 and 1977, the runway was increased by 1100m (3,600feet), the power supply rebuilt and a lighting system installed to meet CAT II ICAO specifications. Military aviation at the airport stopped in 2004.

Another extensive reconstruction of the runways and equipment area took place in 1992-1993. In 2001, the construction of a new terminal began, which was opened in 2004 and in 2005 was awarded the title Construction of the Year 2005. In 2004, the business company Letisko Košice - Airport Kosice, a.s. was established, in which a strategic partner joined in 2006. In 2007, the handling area was expanded, which increased the number of stands.

After the completion of the new terminal, the airport was privatized; currently the largest share (66%) of business in the airport is KSC Holding, a. s., whose majority shareholder is Vienna-Schwechat Airport, and the remaining share (34%) is owned by the Slovak Republic.[5]

Airport charges

Košice Airport has charges comparable to nearby airports in Vienna, Prague and Budapest. The airport is trying to attract new carriers and fly out new routes from Košice. Carriers who want to introduce new lines are designated Growth Incentive Scheme, which reduces their fees.

Terminals

The total area of Terminal 1 is 4456m2, of which more than 3500m2 is designed for the travelling public. Facilities include international and domestic departure and domestic gates, aviation and travel agencies, a nursery, a quiet room, and comfortable business lounge. There are also restaurants, car rental booths and small shops.

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate scheduled services to and from Košice Airport:[6] [7]

Statistics

YearPassengersChangeCargo (tonnes)
2012235,754
2013237,165+0.6%
2014356,750+50.4%
2015410,400+15.0%
2016436,696+6.4%88
2017496,708+13.7%106
2018542,026[8] +9.1%65
2019558,064[9] +3.0%38
202096,428[10] -82.6%5
2021168 742[11] +73,3 %
2022542 864+222.1%
2023625 053+15.1%
Routes to and from Košice Airport (2023)
CityAirport Weekly departures Airlines
11Austrian Airlines
London-Luton5Wizz Air
Warsaw6 LOT Polish Airlines
London - Stansted5Ryanair
Prague4Ryanair
Liverpool2Ryanair
Busiest charter routes to and from Košice Airport (summer 2023)[12]
DestinationNumber of passengersAirlines
Antalya77 483
Larnaca24 920
Hurghada 18 941

Ground Transport

Košice Airport can easily be accessed by car, taxi or bus as it is located 6km (04miles) from the city centre.

Bus

Bus 23 is operated by the local public transport company. It connects the airport and the station square, where you can find a bus and train station. The bus route passes through the city center and it takes about 20 minutes.[13]

Car

The airport lies directly adjacent to the highway which leads to the ring road. Passengers driving their own cars can park at the airport parking lots. You have a choice of 3 parking lots: short-term parking P1, long-term parking P2, long-term parking P3 for parking during longer journeys, the minimum parking time there is 8 hours. Your car will be monitored by a camera system throughout the parking period.  Car rental facilities are also available at the airport.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Košice - Slovakia. world-airport-codes.com. December 15, 2020.
  2. Web site: FLUGHAFEN WIEN AG REPORTS 23.7 MILLION PASSENGERS AT VIENNA AIRPORT IN 2022, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND ALREADY 75% OF RECORD PASSENGER TRAFFIC RECORDED IN 2019. January 19, 2023. Vienna Airport Press Office. January 19, 2023. en.
  3. Web site: Technical information - Airport Košice . Košice International Airport . August 7, 2012.
  4. Web site: Letový poriadok Letisko Košice. October 13, 2021. www.airportkosice.sk.
  5. Web site: 2006-10-05. Košice International Airport O SPOLOČNOSTI. October 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20061005230827/http://www.airportkosice.sk/c/portal_public/layout?p_l_id=23.1. October 5, 2006.
  6. https://www.airportkosice.sk/en/passengers/news/routemap airportkosice.sk - Route map
  7. Web site: Letový poriadok. airportkosice.sk. June 2, 2024.
  8. Web site: Letisko Košice bilancuje mimoriadne úspešný rok 2018. Košice International Airport . January 14, 2019.
  9. Web site: Rok 2019 bol pre letisko Košice druhým najúspešnejším v histórii. Košice International Airport . January 20, 2020.
  10. . VACCINATION DRIVE AND TESTING STRATEGY SHOULD ENABLE HEALTHY TRAVEL FOR EVERYONE IN 2021 – VIENNA AIRPORT EXPECTS RECOVERY OF FLIGHT TRAFFIC NO LATER THAN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. Vienna International Airport . January 21, 2021 . August 23, 2021.
  11. Web site: Rok 2021 na letisku Košice Letisko Košice. January 25, 2022. www.airportkosice.sk.
  12. Web site: Letisko Košice v lete prilákalo vyše 40 921 dovolenkárov Letisko Košice. October 13, 2022. www.airportkosice.sk.
  13. Web site: Mestská hromadná doprava Letisko Košice. October 13, 2021. www.airportkosice.sk.
  14. Web site: Parkovanie na letisku Letisko Košice. October 13, 2021. www.airportkosice.sk.