Reopening the Kosovo upper airspace: Analyzing the first year of operations

After 15 years without flights, the Kosovo upper airspace was reopened on the 3^rd April 2014. Due to diplomatic reasons and a technically well founded project proposal, Hungary and its air navigation service provider, HungaroControl Hungarian Air Navigation Services, was selected to act as the technical enabler of the renewed activities in the airspace and provide the air navigation services. Besides successful diplomatic negotiations, this necessitated a proper technological background, including the availability of radar and radio coverage, air traffic management and voice communication systems, just as well as the adequate training of the air traffic controllers. After one year of operations, the paper presents the characteristics of this reopened airspace, along with a detailed statistical analysis of the traffic volume encountered in this period.