PLOCE AIRPORT RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR USE

PLOCE, April 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Transport Ministry issued the inspection certificate for the Ploce airport, said Zdenko Jelavic, the director of this port in the south of Croatia, on Sunday. In this way the Ploce port has received approval for use and can be opened on April 30, according to the schedule. The airport can accept aircraft with up to 50 seats, and has the runway 1,350 metres long and 23 metres wide. For the time being, flights in daylight can be ensured, whereas equipment for flights at night will be installed by the end of this year. The daily line between Zagreb and Ploce will be maintained by the Vrsar-based Nort Adria, while Croatia's national carrier, Croatia Airlines, has shown interest in providing occasional charter services. Charter flights for Medjugorje, the Virgin Mary's shrine in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, have already been planned. The Ploce airport has met all international standards, and the value of the project is over 15 million dollars, Jelavic said. The airport has 12 employees. (hina) ms