Heviz-Balaton Airport – SOB Balaton, Hungary
Hévíz–Balaton Airport (SOB) previously known as Sármellék International Airport is an international airport in Hungary situated west of Lake Balaton from the village of Sármellék, Zala County and Keszthely. Travelers use the airport as a gateway to the nearby Lake Balaton, Hungary's most important holiday resort as well as the popular thermal spas of Hévíz and Zalakaros. It is an airport open for public use and is owned by the local governments of Sármellék and Zalavárand run byCape Clear Aviation Ltd. In 2016, the airport served a total of 17,663 passengers.
Best Time to Visit
What is now a civilian airport used to be for military use in the 1940suntil 1960 and then became a Soviet military airport between 1960 and 1990. SOB Airport became a public airport in 1991 and is the second international airport in Hungary. It closed from 2008–2009 due to financial problems but soon reopened between 2011 and 2012.Since then the airport has carried its new name: Hévíz–Balaton Airport. Lufthansa operates seasonal services to Frankfurt from the airport and in addition, the airport offers some occasional charter services notably during the German summer holiday season when travelers troop to Heviz, a famous spa town nearby. The runway being used nowadays was built in 1982.There is also a concrete helipad.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Staying at any of Heviz-Balaton Airport hotels like the charming Lotus Therme Hotel & Spa, the Erzsébet Hotel Heviz and the family-friendly Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort means having easy access to the airport since these are all located just 20 minutes away.
