<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-center">History of Simferopol International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">On 21 January 1936, the Council of People's Commissars of the Crimean Autonomous Republic decided to allocate land and begin construction of the Simferopol Airport. Simferopol to Moscow flights began in May 1936. Before the Second World War, regular air travel was established between Simferopol and Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other airports. In 1957, a terminal was commissioned. Lighting equipment was installed on a dirt runway and IL-12, IL-14, and Mi-4 aircraft began landing at the airport. In 1960, a concrete runway with an apron and parking areas was constructed.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport began to operate around the clock and in adverse weather conditions, using new aircraft such as Antonov An-10 and IL-18. In the 1950s and 1960s, the AN-2 carried cargo and passenger flights to regional centers of the Crimea, and the Mi-4 flew to Yalta. In the summer of 1960, a squadron of Tu-104 was organized for the first time in Ukrainian SSR. Starting in 1964, the An-24 was based at the airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Construction of the second runway, designed for IL-86, IL-76, IL-62, and Tu-154 aircraft, began in 1977. On 19 May 1982, Simferopol airport was the first in Ukrainian SSR to have a wide-IL-86. In subsequent years, this type of aircraft made an average of 5.6 daily flights to Moscow. In the summer of 1989, the airport was designated as a "western alternate airport" for landing the Buran spacecraft. In the early 2000s, the old runway 01R/19L (length 2700 m, PCN 22/R/B/X/T, accommodating a maximum weight of aircraft of 98 tonnes) was taken out of service because of its insufficient length and strength. Since then, it has been used as taxiway D with a length of 2100 m (the remaining 600 meters are unsuitable for taxiing). The second runway (01/19) is now in operation and is longer, wider and accommodates heavier aircraft.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History of Simferopol International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/sim/14.webp" alt="History of Simferopol International Airport" width="950px" height="500px"></p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3">Ground Transportation from Simferopol International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">Trolleybus Route 9 runs from the airport to the Simferopol Railway station (and Kurortnaya bus station). In 2015, a new direct express route has been launched. 24-hour Transexpress buses and trolleybuses connect the airport with the Simferopol Railway station in the city centre. The route was launched in May 2015 by Crimean Trolleybus, and runs every 10 minutes without stops in both directions.Intercity trolleybus routes 54 and 55 run to the cities of Alushta, Yalta and resorts between them on the Southern Coast of Crimea. Route #55 Simferopol - Yalta, reestablished in April 2014, is known to be the world's longest trolleybus route. The airport is connected with Sevastopol Bus Station by direct bus route.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Ground Transportation from Simferopol International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/sim/15.webp" alt="Ground Transportation from Simferopol International Airport" width="950px" height="500px"></p>