Summary
A hotel in Graz, Austria, has to be one of the most unique and interesting places to stay if you’re an aviation enthusiast.
The Novapark Hotel has 157 rooms and apartments, and is in a good location just to the north of the city center.
It has a spa, banqueting room and seminar spaces.
However, it is the two classic airliners that sit on the roof of the hotel that are the real draws.
Why Airliners on a Hotel Roof?
Visible from all around, the two airliners that sit on the roof of the Novapark Hotel in Graz are an Ilyushin Il-62 and a Boeing 727-200, both formerly passenger-carrying aircraft.
Known as Nova-Air, these aircraft are exclusive features of the hotel, used as a bar and a restaurant respectively.
The aircraft are Ilyushin Il-62 OK-GBH and Boeing 727-200 3D-JJM, with ‘Nova-Air’ and ‘Sport Hawk’ titles.
Aircraft Histories
OK-GBH with CSA Czech Airlines. Photo: Colin Cooke
OK-GBH
This Ilyushin Il-62 was built in 1976 and flew for CSA Czech Airlines, based at Prague. It operated on the airline’s European and long-haul scheduled network.
In 1993 the aircraft was sold to start-up carrier Espe Air Prague. This short-lived airline flew the aircraft on charter services, before rebranding as Georgia Air Prague.
The airline closed down in 1999 and OK-GBH was eventually purchased and relocated to Graz, and ultimately the Novapark hotel.
3D-JJM
Built for Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1969 as N64320, this classic Boeing 727-231 operated on the airline’s domestic (and occasional European) networks until September 1998. It had a brief spell on lease to National Airlines in 1970.
In 1999 Sport Hawk Chicago purchased the jet for use on sport team charter work, before selling it to Inter-Air Airlines of South Africa, with the registration 3D-JJM. 3D- is the Eswatini (Swaziland) registration prefix.
In 2004 the aircraft was parked, and eventually relocated to Graz.
Can Non-Guests Visit?
Inside the Boeing 727. Photo: Novapark Hotel
Yes. Both the Il-62 bar and restaurant, and the Boeing 727 restaurant, are open to non-guests to visit and enjoy a drink or meal 22 meters up in the air.
You can enjoy the aircraft interiors and cockpits.
To find out more, visit https://www.novapark.at/nova-air/
How to Find the Hotel
If you want to see these classic aircraft, you can find the Novapark Hotel at Fischeraustraße 22, 8051 Graz, Austria.
To find out more, or book a room, visit https://www.novapark.at/
