Former Skopje Airport

The airport was closed due to its replacement by a new, larger, and more modern facility. The primary catalyst for this was the devastating 1963 Skopje earthquake, which destroyed over 80% of the city. As part of the massive international reconstruction effort, a decision was made to build a new airport at a more suitable location (Petrovec), further from the city center and with a longer runway. The old airport's location was then repurposed for much-needed urban expansion and housing.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and is now one of Skopje's largest and most populous urban districts. In a direct tribute to its history, the entire municipality is named 'Aerodrom'. The area where the runways and terminals once stood is now covered with high-rise residential buildings, parks, schools, shopping centers, and boulevards. There are no physical remnants of the airport itself, but its legacy lives on in the name of the district.

This was Skopje's first and primary airport, originally constructed in 1928. It served as the main air gateway to the city and the region for nearly four decades. The airport handled both civilian and military operations. It was a key hub for the Yugoslav flag carrier Aeroput (later JAT - Yugoslav Airlines), connecting Skopje with Belgrade, Zagreb, and other cities. During its operational years, it was a vital piece of infrastructure for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and later the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, supporting commerce, transport, and military activities in the Vardar Banovina and later the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.

There are zero prospects for reopening this airport. The site is a densely populated urban area, and its former grounds are an integral part of the city's fabric. It is physically impossible to re-establish an airport at this location. Skopje is well-served by the modern Skopje International Airport (IATA: SKP, ICAO: LWSK), which is located about 20 km southeast of the city center.