Today, a ceremony was held at Sarajevo International Airport on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the post-war opening of the airport for civil air traffic (1996–2026).
At the ceremony, which was attended by representatives of institutions, business partners, employees and numerous guests, the importance of the re-establishment of civil air traffic after the war was highlighted, as well as the role of Sarajevo Airport in the development of the economy, tourism and international connectivity of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the past three decades.
From humble post-war beginnings to the status of the leading airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it was pointed out, Sarajevo International Airport has gone through an impressive development path.
Over the past thirty years, numerous infrastructure projects have been implemented, safety standards have been improved, the network of destinations has been expanded, and partnerships have been established with leading European and world airlines.
According to the words of acting director of Sarajevo International Airport Dina Selimović, thirty years after the end of the four-year siege of Sarajevo, the city of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina could hardly have received a more beautiful symbol of progress and success. Precisely on the day of the commemoration of that significant anniversary, August 15 of this year, Sarajevo International Airport once again broke the record for the number of passengers served in one day.
“This is a result that all employees of the Airport can rightfully be proud of, as well as all citizens who have Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in their hearts. Few could have imagined in 1996 that, three decades later, Sarajevo International Airport would become the country’s main air hub and one of the key entry points for thousands of tourists who come to Bosnia and Herzegovina every year,” said Selimović.
Today’s jubilee celebration, he added, is also an opportunity to remember the colleagues who, 30 years ago, in the first post-war days, laid the foundations of the Airport’s development with their work and dedication. At the same time, emphasized Selimović, it is an opportunity to discuss the future and ambitious plans of the Airport.
“Although the aviation industry today is faced with numerous challenges and uncertainties, we base our optimism on concrete results and partnerships. A record number of Ryanair airline seats in the summer season of 2027 has already been announced, more than 420,000 of them, which represents a significant step forward for Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” added Selimović.
He especially pointed out that in cooperation with Wizz Air, Sarajevo will be connected to three new European destinations – Berlin, Prague and Bratislava – from the upcoming winter season. These flights will continue to operate during the next year, which will further improve the connection of BiH with European markets, facilitate travel for citizens and open up new opportunities for the development of tourism and economy.
The Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, said that the airport is one of the most important gates of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a strong symbol of its development.
He emphasized that today Sarajevo Airport looks modern, functional and infrastructurally fully equipped, thanks to continuous investments and dedicated work of management and employees.
Avdić reminded him that at the end of the nineties the airport building looked much more modest, while today it is a serious international facility that records record results and welcomes thousands of passengers and tourists every day. He particularly emphasized the importance of the development of air traffic for the economy, tourism and the international connection of Sarajevo.
“Today, planes depart from this airport to 41 European destinations. This is a big deal, because it directly connects Sarajevo with other European and world centers and opens up new opportunities for development and business to citizens and the economy,” said the mayor of Sarajevo.
Indira Korman, an employee of Sarajevo International Airport since 1996, pointed out that in the first post-war years the airport worked in very modest and improvised conditions, relying on the enthusiasm of the employees who together built the foundations of its development. She recalled the time when passenger registrations were done manually, and when procedures and rules were just being established.
“Today, three decades later, Sarajevo Airport has grown into a modern and significant air center of the region, connected to numerous European destinations thanks to continuous development and the arrival of new airlines,” added Korman.
At the ceremony, a personalized postage stamp issued by BH Post, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the reopening of Sarajevo International Airport for civil traffic, was presented.
The author of the stamp is Sarajevo academic graphic designer Bernard Pavlinović, who symbolically connected the past and present of Sarajevo Airport through his conceptual solution.
The motif of the stamp depicts two points in time in the airport’s development: a black-and-white depiction of the war-ravaged airport building from 1996 and today’s modern Sarajevo Airport, thus symbolizing three decades of renovation, development and international recognition, Fena writes.
