"LLOV" redirects here. For the virus, see Lloviu virus.
Ovda Airport is a military air base and former joint-use civilian airport in the Uvda region of southern Israel, about 60 km (37 mi) north of Eilat. It was the country's second international airport. Ovda was originally built as a military airbase in 1980 following Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula as part of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty because the Israeli Air Force needed alternative airfields to its Sinai bases. The airport ceased handling civilian flights on 31 March 2019 thanks to the opening of Ramon Airport, which is located much closer to the city of Eilat than Ovda.
In 2020 a plan was announced to establish Airpark, a large commercial aircraft storage facility at Ovda capable of storing hundreds of aircraft. The facility will be operated in association with IAI, a leading provider of aviation maintenance services.[2] The decision was taken in light of the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Aviation, but the storage facility is intended to operate even after aviation returns to normal. The fact that the co-located military facilities provide security as well as existing aircraft maintenance capabilities in the area were pointed to as favorable location factors in addition to the dry desert climate which limits corrosion.[3]
Ovda Airport started out as an airbase for the Israeli Air Force, constructed by the United States as a replacement for Etzion Air Force Base. It opened in 1981. The Israeli Airports Authority began operations from Ovda Air Force Base in 1982, after the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt.[4] Previously all charter flights from Europe had landed at Etzion, however this was one of three airports in the Sinai that were handed over to Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords.[4] A civilian terminal was built at the airport which handled direct charter flights from Europe.[4]
In 1988 a decision was made that international flights bringing tourists to Eilat would land at Ovda, instead of at Eilat.[4] This allowed the operation of large, wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, which could not operate from Eilat Airport.[4] Between the late 1980s and 2019 most international flights landed at Ovda instead of Eilat. The runway at Ovda also allowed long range flights to take off for any European destination without the need to refuel.[4]
In 2005, the airport had 746 international aircraft movements and 82,479 international passenger movements.[5]
On 23 July 2014 after the temporary stoppage of international air traffic to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, due to rocket fire on Israeli cities from Gaza,[6] Ovda Airport was opened to accept all international traffic.[7] It was the diversion airport for flights to Israel until replaced in that role by Eilat Ramon Airport.
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LLOV redirects here For the virus see Lloviu virus Ovda Airport is a military air base and former joint use civilian airport in the Uvda region of southern Israel about 60 km 37 mi north of Eilat It was the country s second international airport Ovda was originally built as a military airbase in 1980 following Israel s withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula as part of the Israel Egypt Peace Treaty because the Israeli Air Force needed alternative airfields to its Sinai bases The airport ceased handling civilian flights on 31 March 2019 thanks to the opening of Ramon Airport which is located much closer to the city of Eilat than Ovda Ovda AirportIATA VDAICAO LLOVSummaryAirport typeMilitaryOperatorIsraeli Air ForceElevation AMSL1 492 ft 445 mCoordinates29 56 25 N 34 56 9 E 29 94028 N 34 93583 E 29 94028 34 93583Websitehttp www iaa gov ilMapVDARunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m03L 21R 8 530 2 600 Asphalt03R 21L 9 843 3 000 AsphaltStatistics 2017 Passengers209 078Source Israel Airports Authority 1 In 2020 a plan was announced to establish Airpark a large commercial aircraft storage facility at Ovda capable of storing hundreds of aircraft The facility will be operated in association with IAI a leading provider of aviation maintenance services 2 The decision was taken in light of the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic on Aviation but the storage facility is intended to operate even after aviation returns to normal The fact that the co located military facilities provide security as well as existing aircraft maintenance capabilities in the area were pointed to as favorable location factors in addition to the dry desert climate which limits corrosion 3 Contents 1 History 2 Airlines and destinations 3 Statistics 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditOvda Airport started out as an airbase for the Israeli Air Force constructed by the United States as a replacement for Etzion Air Force Base It opened in 1981 The Israeli Airports Authority began operations from Ovda Air Force Base in 1982 after the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt 4 Previously all charter flights from Europe had landed at Etzion however this was one of three airports in the Sinai that were handed over to Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords 4 A civilian terminal was built at the airport which handled direct charter flights from Europe 4 In 1988 a decision was made that international flights bringing tourists to Eilat would land at Ovda instead of at Eilat 4 This allowed the operation of large wide body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 which could not operate from Eilat Airport 4 Between the late 1980s and 2019 most international flights landed at Ovda instead of Eilat The runway at Ovda also allowed long range flights to take off for any European destination without the need to refuel 4 In 2005 the airport had 746 international aircraft movements and 82 479 international passenger movements 5 On 23 July 2014 after the temporary stoppage of international air traffic to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport due to rocket fire on Israeli cities from Gaza 6 Ovda Airport was opened to accept all international traffic 7 It was the diversion airport for flights to Israel until replaced in that role by Eilat Ramon Airport The airport ceased all civilian flights on March 31 2019 8 now that Ramon Airport in the Timna Valley has opened 9 Airlines and destinations EditAll civilian traffic was transferred to Ramon Airport on 1 April 2019 Prior to its closure to civilian traffic Ovda airport received mostly international flights from Europe operated as charter flights or by low cost carriers Most domestic flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport Haifa Airport and prior to its closure Sde Dov Airport continued to use Eilat Airport as it was much more centrally located Statistics EditTotal passengers and aircraft movements at Ovda Airport 1 Year Total passengers Total aircraft movements2009 104 340 1 4742010 124 316 1 3702011 139 353 1 4662012 118 732 1 0062013 121 395 1 0742014 94 585 8212016 128 595 1 0092017 209 515 1 631See also EditTaba Airport Operation UvdaReferences Edit a b Facts and Figures Israel Airports Authority Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 22 February 2016 Israel to Set up Desert Park for 500 Grounded Aircraft Defense World 2 April 2020 Archived from the original on 11 April 2020 Retrieved 11 April 2020 Amit Hagai 2 April 2020 Israel Offers the World s Grounded Airplanes Long term Desert Parking Haaretz Retrieved 12 January 2023 a b c d e f History of Eilat Airport Israel Airports Authority Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 31 August 2007 Facts and Figures Israel Airports Authority Retrieved 31 August 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Airlines Halt Israel Flights Amid Rocket Fire Sky News 22 July 2014 Archived from the original on 29 July 2014 Retrieved 23 July 2014 Israel set to open second int l airport near Eilat in response to flight cancellations The Jerusalem Post 23 July 2014 Retrieved 23 July 2014 New 470m Ramon Airport handles first domestic flights TR Business Magazine 5 February 2019 Retrieved 6 February 2019 Eilat s new International Airport On Its Way Israel Airports Authority 20 February 2006 Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 1 May 2007 External links Edit Media related to Ovda Airport at Wikimedia Commons Official website Accident history for VDA at Aviation Safety NetworkPortals Israel Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ovda Airport amp oldid 1133168823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
