Vrachiapolis Ikopola Airport

Vrachiapolis Ikopola Airport (IATA: VIK; ICAO: LVRA) is one of two international airports serving the city-state of Vrachiapolis, the other being Pantelaides Airport (VPA). It is located 8 km (5 mi) from the Ikopola High-Speed Rail Centre on the edge of Ikopola, Vrachiapolis. It serves as the primary hub for Vrachiapolis Airlines, its cargo division Vrachiapolis Airlines Cargo and its low-cost subsidiary Robin, and serves as a major European hub for Pan Am.

For 48 years, from 1952 to 2000, Ikopola was the primary international airport serving Vrachiapolis, until the opening of the Pantelaides Airport in Pantelaides. It was originally envisioned that Ikopola would become an airport serving continental European flights, with Pantelaides serving general international flights, however, the idea was harshly received, and now both Ikopola and Pantelaides offer major international services.

In 2020, Ikopola was named the world's third best airport, after in Singapore and  in Tokyo, Japan.

RAF Ikopola (1943-1952)
In 1943, amidst World War II, the Royal Air Force established a base on the current site of Ikopola Airport, known as RAF Ikopola (or more commonly, RAF Vrachiapolis as it was the only base on the island). At the time, air travel in Vrachiapolis was handled in Hajik Airport, however the airport was too small as aviation traffic grew after WWII.

As primary airport (1952-2000)
Realizing that air travel would become more common in the future, the British gave part of the base to civilian authorities in 1952, naming it Vrachiapolis International Airport, and closed Hajik Airport to international air service. The RAF maintained a base at Vrachiapolis until 1980.

In 1958, began service from Vrachiapolis to London. By the early 1960s, the name 'Vrachiapolis Ikopola Airport' began to be used to describe the airport, and became official use with the independence of Vrachiapolis in 1974.

In 1973, a new terminal was built at a cost of £1,800,000. In 1980 the RAF ended operations at the airport, thus expanding the original terminal.

As Vrachiapolis became a more popular centre for tourism, the Vrachiapolian government invested and built the new and larger Terminal 3, which opened to flights and passengers on 29 April 1991. Terminal 3 also contained a Vrachiapolis Metro station and later a bus connector to the Ikopola High-Speed Rail Centre.

Almost immediately after Terminal 3 was opened, projections showed that Ikopola Airport would exceed capacity by 2000. With almost no more space for expansion, in 1992, the government decided to build a new airport in Pantelaides at the western end of the island. On 5 January 2000, Pantelaides Airport opened.

Two-airport era (2000-)
It was originally envisioned that Ikopola would become an airport serving continental European flights, with Pantelaides serving general international flights, however, the idea was harshly received, as Vrachiapolis Airlines had its hub in Ikopola.

As a result, both Ikopola and Pantelaides offer international services. The Vrachiapolian government constantly encourages the use of Ikopola for premium business routes and the use of Pantelaides for leisure routes and by low-cost carriers.

Globe Ikopola Airport
Opened in August 2012, Globe Ikopola Airport is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to Vrachiapolis Ikopola Airport, linked to three of its passenger terminals. Its centrepiece is the world's second-tallest artificial waterfall, the Gaia Falls, surrounded by an artificial jungle setting.

Globe includes gardens, attractions, two hotels, 200 dining and retail outlets and an indoor amusement park, as well as early baggage check-in aviation facilities.

Globe receives about 300,000 visitors per day. In October 2012, two months after its official grand opening, it reached the 50 million visitor mark. The complex is located alongside the airport.

Accidents and incidents

 * On October 10, 2023, a group of environmentalist activists blocked a runway. This resulted in the diversion of Pan Am Flight 9032 to Hajik Airport, which resulted in a crash that killed 102 of the 115 people onboard. Several of the activists were controversially charged with involuntary manslaughter for their role in the incident.