Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport

The project has been widely supported by the local population and some businesses in the area have announced plans to switch to air freight services. It is expected that the airport will create 4,000 jobs and reach 1 million passengers in 8 years, with a further 6,000 jobs being generated indirectly. Planned costs of the project were originally estimated at €87 million.{{cite news |url=http://adevarul.ro/economie/stiri-economice/viitorul-aeroport-brasov-magnet-marile-companii-1_50abc57c7c42d5a663800556/index.html |trans-title=The future Brasov Airport, magnet for big companies |work=Adevărul |language=ro |author=Simona Suciu |date=20 November 2012 |title=Viitorul Aeroport Braşov, magnet pentru marile companii |access-date=29 June 2022}}

In 2006, the Romanian State Domain Agency transferred 110 hectares of land to Brașov County. Intelcan Canada was to develop and build the airport in coordination with Brașov, Harghita, and Covasna counties as well as the Ghimbav city. The airport's charter was officially signed on 14 November 2005. Intelcan inaugurated the construction of the airport on 15 April 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroportbrasov.ro/stiri/index.php?itemid=31#nucleus_lf |work=AeroportBrasov.ro |language=ro |trans-title=It has been Inaugurated |title=A fost inagurarea |date=15 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024172549/http://www.aeroportbrasov.ro/stiri/index.php?itemid=31#nucleus_lf |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-date=24 October 2008}} The initial target for completion was twenty-four to thirty months. However, due to legal matters and a lack of funds, the construction works had stopped and Intelcan left the project, being replaced by the local authorities.

On 18 November 2012, the Brașov County authorities signed a €12.7 million (VAT excluded) contract with Vectra Service, a local construction company, for building the runway.{{cite news |url=https://www.gandul.ro/stiri/127-milioane-de-euro-pentru-constructia-pistei-aeroportului-international-brasov-ghimbav-10336787 |trans-title=€12.7 million for constructing the runways at Brasov-Ghimbav International Airport |title=12,7 milioane de euro pentru construcţia pistei aeroportului internaţional Braşov-Ghimbav |work=Gândul |language=ro |access-date=29 June 2022 |date=19 November 2012}} Eventually, construction of the airport restarted in April 2013 with the works at the {{convert|2820|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} runway.{{cite web |website=airportbrasov.ro |url=http://www.airportbrasov.ro/en/index.php?itemid=20 |title=Works begin on the Brașov-Ghimbav international airport |date=2013-04-27 |access-date=2013-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093355/http://www.airportbrasov.ro/en/index.php?itemid=20 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=dead}} On 3 October 2014, the runway was officially inaugurated.{{cite news |work=Agerpres |url=https://www.agerpres.ro/economie/2014/10/03/pista-aeroportului-brasov-ghimbav-a-fost-inaugurata-este-nevoie-in-continuare-de-sprijin-financiar-guvernamental-15-26-53 |title=Pista aeroportului Braşov-Ghimbav a fost inaugurată; Este nevoie, în continuare, de sprijin financiar guvernamental |trans-title=Brasov-Ghimbav airport runway inaugurated; Government financial support still needed |language=ro |first=Jana |last=Pintili |date=3 October 2014 |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027160913/https://www.agerpres.ro/economie/2014/10/03/pista-aeroportului-brasov-ghimbav-a-fost-inaugurata-este-nevoie-in-continuare-de-sprijin-financiar-guvernamental-15-26-53 |url-status=dead}}

The contract for the construction of the main terminal building, with a total area of {{convert|11780|sqm|abbr=on}}, was awarded to the Romanian contractor Bog'Art Bucharest and was signed on 21 August 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.economica.net/aeroportul-international-brasov-azi-se-semneaza-contractul-pentru-constructia-terminalului-cu-bog-art-bucuresti_172892.html |title=Aeroportul Internaţional Braşov: azi se semnează contractul pentru construcţia terminalului cu Bog'Art Bucureşti |trans-title=Brasov International Airport: today the contract for the construction of the terminal is signed with Bog'Art Bucharest |access-date=29 June 2022 |language=ro}} Construction works for the passenger terminal started on 17 March 2020{{cite news |first=Ionuţ |last=Dincă |url=https://bzb.ro/stire/astazi-incep-lucrarile-la-aerogara-brasov-a148764 |title=Au inceput lucrarile la aeroport |language=ro |trans-title=Work begins on airport |date=17 March 2020 |access-date=11 November 2022}} and were completed by March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://bzb.ro/stire/anul-aerogarii-16032020-01032021-a148395 |first=Radu |last=Colţea |date=9 March 2020 |language=ro|title=Anul Aerogării: 16.03.2020 - 01.03.2021 |trans-title=The Year of the Terminal: 16.03.2020 - 01.03.2021 |work=bzb.ro |access-date=11 November 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://monitorizari.hotnews.ro/stiri-infrastructura_articole-24659005-aeroportul-international-brasov-mai-depasit-etapa-este-gata-constructia-terminalului.htm |title=Aeroportul Internațional Brașov a mai depășit o etapă - este gata construcția terminalului |language=ro |trans-title= Brasov International Airport has passed another milestone - terminal construction is ready |date=11 March 2021 |first=Vlad |last=Barza |access-date=11 November 2022}} The construction works on the entire site were finally completed in May 2023, with the total costs raising to approximately €140 million.{{cite web |title=Preţuri la un sfert faţă de cele de pe Otopeni |url=https://bzb.ro/stire/preturi-la-un-sfert-fata-de-cele-de-pe-otopeni-a186556 |publisher=Bună ziua Brașov |access-date=25 May 2023 |date=25 May 2023 |language=Romanian}}

Air traffic control is provided by a remote virtual tower operated from {{cvt|400|km}} away, in Arad.{{cite web |url=https://247newsbulletin.com/politics/199446.html |title=PHOTO-VIDEO. The first new airport in Romania in the last 50 years is ready in Brasov. What they look like and what companies want to fly |work=247 News Bulletin |date=9 April 2022 |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111141228/https://247newsbulletin.com/politics/199446.html |url-status=dead}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2022/saab-receives-order-for-a-digital-tower-in-romania |title=Saab Receives Order for a Digital Tower in Romania |work=saab.com |date=8 February 2022 |access-date=11 November 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/economie/transporturi/cum-arata-primul-aeroport-din-romania-construit-de-la-zero-in-ultimii-50-de-ani-turnul-de-control-nu-va-fi-unul-clasic-ci-virtual-2111481 |work=Digi24 |title= Video Cum arată primul aeroport din România construit de la zero în ultimii 50 de ani. Turnul de control nu va fi unul clasic, ci virtual |language=ro |trans-title=Video: What Romania's first airport built from scratch in 50 years looks like. The control tower won't be a traditional one, but a virtual one |date=16 October 2022 |first=Toma |last=Petcu |access-date=11 November 2022}}

In the first year of operations, the airport is expected to service 300,000 passengers.{{cite news |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/brasov-airport-nov-opening-feb-2022 |date=3 February 2022 |title=Brasov international airport to open this November |work=Romania-Insider.com |first=Andrei |last=Chirileasa |access-date=11 November 2022}} It is expected that the traffic at the airport will reach one million passengers by 2026, and the construction of a second terminal, or more likely an extension of the already existing building,{{cite web | url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/economie/transporturi/cum-arata-primul-aeroport-din-romania-construit-de-la-zero-in-ultimii-50-de-ani-turnul-de-control-nu-va-fi-unul-clasic-ci-virtual-2111481 |title=Cum arată primul aeroport din România construit de la zero în ultimii 50 de ani. Turnul de control nu va fi unul clasic, ci virtual |date=17 October 2022}} is envisioned for 2027–2033.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizbrasov.ro/2023/05/24/aeroportul-ghimbav-primeste-ajutor-pentru-functionare-de-23-milioane-de-euro-in-plan-constructia-celui-de-al-doilea-terminal-o-investitie-de-235-milioane-de-euro%ef%bf%bc/|title=Aeroportul Ghimbav primește ajutor pentru funcționare de 2,3 milioane de euro. În plan, construcția celui de-al doilea terminal, o investiție de 23,5 milioane de euro • Administratie Biz Brasov|work=Biz Brasov |date=24 May 2023}}

The airport opened on 15 June 2023. The first flight was a TAROM flight from Bucharest, operated by a Boeing 737-700 registered YR-BGG (TAROM's retrojet) which touched down at 08:10 in the morning.{{Cite web |last=Bobon |first=Gabriel |date=2023-06-16 |title=FTOT/VIDEO: Aeroportul Brașov este operațional |url=https://boardingpass.ro/aeroportul-brasov-este-operational/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=BoardingPass.ro |language=ro-RO}} The first international flight was Dan Air flight 234 from Stuttgart, operated by an Airbus A320 registered YR-DSE.{{Cite web |title=New Brasov Airport Set to Open June 15 - Airliners.net |url=https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1484457&p=23841137#p23841137 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=www.airliners.net}}{{Cite web |last=Flightradar24 |title=Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/JOC234/30b9dd64 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Flightradar24 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Airnav Systems |title=Follow Flight JOC234 on AirNav RadarBox |url=https://www.radarbox.com/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=AirNav Radarbox}}

Upon the airport starting operating, the Romanian authority for air traffic control has only been allowing flights on the site between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, due to the limited number of trained staff able to handle the work.{{Cite web|url=https://boardingpass.ro/dan-air-comaseaza-zborurile-de-la-bucuresti-cu-cele-de-la-brasov/|title=Dan Air comasează zboruri de la București cu cele de la Brașov|first=Gabriel|last=Bobon|date=14 June 2023}} Because of this situation, some carriers operating at the airport have been rerouting their flights that had been delayed outside these working hours to other airports, such as Bucharest or Sibiu. From January 2024, the airport has extended its operating schedule to 11:00 PM.

The then new Romanian airline Dan Air had been the most active carrier upon the airport's opening, with a large number of routes served, yet from November 2023, they decided to move all their flights to the Bacău airport, because of the tight operating schedule.{{Cite web|url=https://boardingpass.ro/dan-air-va-muta-zborurile-de-la-brasov-la-bacau/|title=Dan Air va muta zborurile de la Brașov la Bacău din 13 noiembrie 2023|first=Vlad|last=Marcu|date=31 October 2023}} In December 2024, Fly Lili announced the termination of all scheduled operations from Brașov by January 2025, citing insufficient business figures.[https://www.airways.cz/zprava/fly-lili-konci-s-pravidelnymi-lety-z-rumunskeho-brasova/ airways.cz - FLY LILI KONČÍ S PRAVIDELNÝMI LETY Z RUMUNSKÉHO BRAŠOVA] (Czech) 27 December 2024

As of February 2025, Brasov-Ghimbav Airport officials and representatives were reportedly panicking because the low traffic numbers call into question plans to build a second terminal originally scheduled for 2027-2029. The representatives were expecting the airport to reach 500,000 thousand passengers in 2024, however they later adjusted those projections down to 375,000. Neither of these goals were reached, the airport barely surpassing the 200,000 passenger mark in December 2024. Fly Lili's disastrous arrival, and Wizz Air withdrawing the Dortmund route affected the airport in 2024-2025, making its goals unachievable.https://bizbrasov.ro Wizz Air announced the expansion of its Sibiu base adding 6 new routes and increasing weekly flights on 4 out of 5 currently served destinations, which will impact Brasov's Airport chance of meeting the 500,000 thousand passengers goal in 2025.wizzair.com

The following airlines operate flights at Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport:

{{Airport-dest-list

| {{nowrap|Aegean Airlines}} | Seasonal charter: Chania (begins 5 June 2025){{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|title=Știri |url=https://brasovairport.ro/stiri/ |date=20 January 2025|access-date=20 January 2025|language=en-ca}}

| Animawings |Seasonal: Heraklion (begins 3 June 2025),{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241217-a2ns25%7C|title=Animawings NS25 Operations – 17DEC24|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=22 December 2024}}
Seasonal charter: Antalya (begins 2 June 2025),https://www.bizbrasov.ro/2025/01/29/spre-antalya-incep-peste/ Monastir (begins 6 June 2025)

| {{nowrap|Corendon}} | Seasonal charter: Antalya (begins 6 June 2025)

| FlyLili | Seasonal charter: Tel Aviv (begins {{date|2025-6-23}}),{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Fly Lili NS25 Israel Charter Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250327-flns25 |access-date=27 March 2025 |work=AeroRoutes |date=27 March 2025 |language=en-CA}}

| {{nowrap|FlyOne}} | Seasonal charter: Antalya (begins 5 June 2025)

| {{nowrap|HiSky}} | Seasonal charter: Heraklion (begins 9 June 2025){{Cite web |last1=Liu|first1=Jim|title=Știri |url=https://brasovairport.ro/stiri/|date=10 March 2025|access-date=10 March 2025|language=en-ca}}

| {{nowrap|Nile Air}} | Seasonal charter: Hurghada{{Cite web|last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Știri |url=https://brasovromania.net/2025/02/aeroportul-brasov-chartere-la-hurghada-cu-nile-air-compania-romaneasca-aeriana-animawings-lanseaza-trei-rute-noi-de-vacanta-de-la-aeroportul-brasov/|date=13 February 2025|access-date=13 February 2025|language=en-ca}}

| {{nowrap|Sky Express}}|Seasonal charter: Rhodes (begins 9 June 2025),{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241217-gqns25chr|title=Sky Express NS25 Charter Network Additions|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=17 December 2024|access-date=31 December 2024|language=en-ca}} Heraklion (begins 31 May 2025)

| {{nowrap|TAROM}} | Seasonal charter: Antalya (begins 20 June 2025)

| Wizz Air | Budapest,{{cite web | url=https://dailynewshungary.com/wizz-air-launches-six-new-flights-budapest/ | title=BREAKING: Hungarian Wizz Air launches six new flights from Budapest! - UPDATED - Daily News Hungary | date=28 February 2024}} Dortmund,{{cite web |first=Gabriel |last=Bobon |url=https://boardingpass.ro/wizz-air-anunta-primele-rute-de-la-aeroportul-brasov/ |work=boardingpass.ro |title=Wizz Air anunță primele rute de la aeroportul Brașov |date=6 April 2023 |language=ro |access-date=11 May 2023 |trans-title=Wizz Air Announces First Routes from Brașov Airport}} London–Luton, Naples (begins 16 October 2025)https://boardingpass.ro/wizz-air-zboruri-din-napoli-spre-brasov-si-chisinau-din-octombrie-2025/

}}

• Aviation in Romania
• Transport in Romania
• List of airports in Europe

{{Reflist}}

• [https://brasovairport.ro/ Official website]
• [https://cjbrasov.ro/aeroportul-international-brasov/ Brașov County Council official website]

{{Portalbar|Romania|Aviation}}

{{Airports in Romania}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brasov Airport}}

Brasov

Category:Airports established in 2023

Category:2023 establishments in Romania