Nicosia International Airport

Nicosia International Airport Διεθνές Αεροδρόμιο Λευκωσίας Lefkoşa Uluslararası Havaalanı
The now-derelict passenger terminal at Nicosia International Airport
IATA: NIC ICAO: LCNC
Summary
Airport type	Military (and formerly: joint Civil)
Owner	British Ministry of Defence,
Operator	Formerly: Royal Air Force Now: de facto United Nations
Serves	Nicosia
Location	West of Nicosia, Cyprus
Elevation AMSL	722 ft / 220 m
Coordinates	35°09′00″N 033°16′38″E / 35.15000°N 33.27722°E / 35.15000; 33.27722Coordinates: 35°09′00″N 033°16′38″E / 35.15000°N 33.27722°E / 35.15000; 33.27722
Map
NIC Location in Cyprus
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 14/32 8,882 2,707 asphalt 09/27 5,988 1,825 asphalt

Nicosia International Airport (Greek: Διεθνές Αεροδρόμιο Λευκωσίας, Turkish: Lefkoşa Uluslararası Havaalanı) is a largely disused airport located 8.2 km (5.1 mi) west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia in the Lakatamia suburb. It was originally the main airport for the island, but commercial activity ceased following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The airport site is now mainly used as the headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

Nicosia was the principal airport for Cyprus from its initial construction in the 1930s as the Royal Air Force station RAF Nicosia until 1974. At first it acted principally as a military airport, and it is still owned by the British Ministry of Defence The landing strip was constructed in 1939 by the Shell Company and Pierides & Michaelides Ltd. Services were provided by Misrair with four-engined DH.86 aircraft.

During the Second World War the airport's facilities and runway were extended by local contractors Stelios Joannou and George Paraskevaides. American bombers used the runway in 1943–44 when returning from the allied bombings of the Romanian Ploieşti oil fields.

After the war commercial services were reintroduced, and by 1948 Misrair, BOAC, Cyprus Airways and MEA were providing regular services.