Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport
Bucharest's historic secondary airport serving the capital.
- ›Named after Aurel Vlaicu, a Romanian aviation pioneer who made one of Europe's earliest powered flights.
- ›The airport opened around 1920, making it one of Romania's oldest airports.
- ›Scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in 2012 and redirected to Henri Coandă International Airport.
- ›Băneasa served as a hub for low-cost carriers including Wizz Air and Blue Air during the 2000s.
- ›The airport sits approximately 8 km north of Bucharest city center, closer than the main Henri Coandă Airport.
Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport, one of Romania's oldest aviation sites, has served the capital since the early twentieth century and is named after pioneering Romanian aviator Aurel Vlaicu. Situated just 8 kilometres north of central Bucharest, it functions primarily as a general aviation, charter, and low-cost carrier hub, offering a quieter alternative to the main Henri Coandă International Airport. Its compact scale and proximity to the city centre make it especially convenient for business travellers and those staying in Bucharest's northern districts.
- Passenger Terminal — A single compact terminal handling limited scheduled, charter, and private aviation traffic with basic check-in and boarding facilities.
- City bus routes connecting to central Bucharest (lines 131 and 301)
- Taxi services available at the designated rank outside the terminal
- Rideshare apps (Bolt, Uber) operating from the airport
- Car rental desks available within the terminal building
- Private transfer and shuttle services bookable in advance
- Crowne Plaza Bucharest
- Sofitel Bucharest Airport (Henri Coandă area)
- Phoenicia Grand Hotel
- Triumph Hotel Bucharest
- Trianon Boutique Hotel
Inside the terminal, food and beverage options are limited to a small café and snack bar suitable for light refreshments before departure. The surrounding Băneasa area offers considerably more choice, with the nearby Băneasa Shopping City mall hosting a wide range of restaurants and fast-food outlets a short drive or bus ride away. Travellers seeking traditional Romanian cuisine will find several well-regarded local restaurants along Șoseaua București-Ploiești.
- Arrive early even for domestic or short-haul flights as staffing and check-in lanes can be limited during peak hours.
- Confirm your flight departure airport when booking, as Bucharest has two airports — many scheduled flights operate from Henri Coandă (OTP), not Băneasa.
- Taxis from Băneasa to the city centre typically take 15–25 minutes outside rush hour; budget extra time during morning and evening peaks.
- The airport has limited long-term parking, so pre-booking or arranging a drop-off is advisable for multi-day trips.
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Bucharest Băneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport — generally known as Băneasa Airport or Bucharest City Airport — is located in Băneasa district, Bucharest, Romania, 8.5 km (5.3 mi) north of the city center. Named after Aurel Vlaicu, a Romanian engineer, inventor, aeroplane constructor, and early pilot, it was Bucharest's only commercial airport until 1969, when the Otopeni Airport was opened to civilian use.
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