New airport in northeast Hungary could open this spring
Miskolc City Airport has obtained a licence for a new airport for civilians at an old airfield in Miskolc, Northeast Hungary. Here is what we know about this new development.
The new airport will not disturb residents
László Drótos, representing Miskolc City Airport, stated that approximately HUF 200m (around EUR 486,500) had been invested in the project, which could be operational by the spring. Featuring a grass runway, the airport is primarily intended to serve sport aviation but will also accommodate business aircraft and host sporting or cultural events, he added. The operation of the airport is expected to be managed by the Association of Hungarian Reservists (MATASZ), he said.
Katalin Csöbör, the Fidesz MP for Miskolc’s 1st electoral district, explained that Miskolc’s original airport survived the war, the Communist era, and the 1989-1990 regime change. However, its lease contract and cooperation agreement expired in 2019, after which Bosch constructed a new logistics centre on the site. Users were promised a replacement airport where they could continue their activities. However, the previous left-liberal city leadership failed to deliver this due to the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis. Consequently, pilots relocated to an airfield near Mezőkövesd.
The new airport to be developed in two phases
Mr Drótos approached MP Csöbör to identify a location where pilots could operate without disturbing residents. Csöbör noted that after the new airport is inaugurated, the focus would shift to creating a vibrant community space. Multiple plans are already in place to achieve this.
Initially, an 800×18-metre grass runway and a few hangars will be constructed. In the second phase, the grass runway will be paved, and additional infrastructure, including hangars, offices, and guest houses, will be built, as reported by Boon.
Big announcement on Csöbör’s Facebook page:
Cultural events, concerts, business trips, tourists
Csöbör highlighted that the airport could support sport aviation, welcome business travellers and tourists, and host cultural and sporting events, including concerts. She emphasised that accessibility would be one of the airport’s defining features and that its operations would not disrupt the lives of Miskolc’s residents.
Mr Drótos revealed that planes would turn above the M30 motorway rather than over the city of Miskolc. He added that committed pilots had funded the project thus far, noting that the initiative was not viewed as a business venture but as a way to establish a community space. He also confirmed that work on the new airport was ongoing during the press conference and expressed optimism about opening Hungary’s newest air gateway in the spring.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com