M. R. Štefánik Airport is the international airport of the Slovak Republic. With its favourable geographic position within Europe it has an ambition to become the gateway into the whole Central European region. The airport lies 9 km from the city centre and is very easy to access. Bratislava Airport contains elements of modern transport infrastructure, which offer not only technologically advance capacities for airline companies but also pleasant, customer orientated surrounding for the passengers. In 2008 Bratislava Airport handled a record-breaking number of 2 218 545 passengers.