16 years from post-war re-opening of Sarajevo International Airport

As said in the headline, today we mark the 16th anniversary of re-opening of Sarajevo International Airport for civil air traffic operations what makes the occasion to turn back to achievements in the period behind us.
After total destruction of airport capacities during the war, Sarajevo International Airport was re-opened on the 16th August 1996. The opening ceremony meant that the employees' biggest dream was coming true. It was attended by Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Mr. Alija Izetbegović and the US Secretary General, Mr. Warren Christopher.
As soon as the Airport was re-opened, Croatia Airlines started flying between Sarajevo and Zagreb and Top Air (Turkish Carrier) between Sarajevo and Istanbul. By the end of that year Sarajevo Airport recorded 26.000 passengers as the only airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina in use for civil air traffic operations.
From that moment commenced expansion of the planned reconstruction and fast development of Sarajevo International Airport.   The reconstruction included all maneuvering surfaces, technical airport buildings and Air Traffic Control facilities with ATC tower.
General reconstruction of the Airport Terminal building with completely new technology and top quality equipment was successfully finished in early 2001. By the official opening in March 2001, the Airport completed all its facilities being necessary to satisfy passengers' needs and comfort, and thus officially entered a new period of quality activities and excellent business results.
Today, with 600.000 passengers a year, we can proudly conclude that the old myth of Phoenix , in our case, has become true since we have past a long way from the war ashes to technological operating maximum to which we all in aviation industry aspire.