Companies from China are interested in investing in Ponikve Airport in the western Serbian town of Uzice, according to the local authorities, which have proposed an acquisition or a public-private partnership (PPP). 

Ponikve Airport is mainly a military installation that has been opened for civilian air traffic and holds a permit for handling and dispatching smaller aircraft (with eight to 12 seats). While it has potential for development, being close to mountain resorts like Zlatibor and Mokra Gora, it is not yet fully equipped to serve civilian passengers so an investment is highly important.

Representatives of 23 Chinese companies visited Uzice on October 9. Among them were representatives of airline companies whose names haven’t been revealed yet.

“We will take the proposal of the project of investment in the Ponikve Airport with us to Beijing to be analysed by experts. If the project is estimated to be profitable, we will return and continue the negotiations,” Linda Wong, president of the Yihai Group and the head of the Chinese delegation, said according to a statement on the local government website.

“PPP is one option, and we are also ready to sell the airport, under the condition that we are provided with strong guarantees that there will be considerable investments in the entire airport complex,” Uzice mayor Tihomir Petkovic said. 

Ponikve Airport was built in the mid-1980s for military purposes and it was in use occasionally. It was severely damaged during the 1999 Nato bombing, and was de-mined in 2013. 

The entire complex consists of 556 hectares, of which 200 hectares are used for the purposes of air traffic. 

Ponikve Airport was transferred to the City of Uzice in 2010. The city assembly decided in 2011 to establish a public enterprise to manage the airport and offer airport services, according to the airport’s website.