PLOCE AIRPORT TO OPEN IN MARCH

PLOCE, Feb 27 (Hina) - The airport "Ploce" will ceremonially open next month, the director of the airport in this southern Croatian seaport, Zdenko Jelavic, said on Saturday. Jelavic told a press conference that the value of those facilities was 15 million dollars. The airport can accept planes with up to 50 seats. It has a runway 1,350 metres long and 23 metres wide. A major part of works on the facilities has already been done in conformity with international standards. Only a part of the port building is to be completed soon. At the beginning, the Ploce airport will be used during the daylight. A regular daily service from Ploce to Zagreb is to be established by the Croatian air carrier. The airport management also expects charter planes carrying out pilgrims to the Catholic shrine in Medjugorje, neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina. Besides, charter planes can carry holiday-makers whose destinations are nearby towns from Makarska to Metkovic. Sports teams and private aircraft have shown great interest in the opening of the Ploce port. Jelavic told the reporters that he expected an increase in the volume of business at the airport which is one of the safest in its category. He added that about 20 new workers would be employed at the airport, and pointed to its importance for the economy of the Neretva valley, the town of Ploce as well as for neighbouring Herzegovina. (hina) ms