Suddenly the engines roar to life. This is Hamburg Airport, a gateway to the world with a history stretching back over 110 years. Founded in 1911, Hamburg Airport is Germany’s oldest international airport. What’s even more remarkable is its location. It still stands on its original site.
In those early days, airships ruled the skies. Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin inspired Hamburg residents. This led to the founding of Hamburger Luftschiffhallen GmbH. The company built the first airship hangar. It was constructed on a grassland near Fuhlsbüttel. This is where the first Zeppelins took off in 1912.
Soon, airplanes replaced airships. Passengers braved open biplanes with scarves and goggles. By 1920, KLM launched Hamburg’s first international route. It connected Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Copenhagen. The airport opened its first terminal building in 1929. It housed passenger and cargo handling, administration, a restaurant and observation decks.
During the Berlin Airlift, Hamburg Airport played a vital role. It served as a take-off point for “raisin bombers”. The British Army administered the airport until 1950. In 1955, Deutsche Lufthansa took off to Munich from Hamburg for its inaugural flight. Lufthansa’s first Boeing 707 jet landed here in 1960.
By 1961, Hamburg Airport served over one million passengers. The airport expanded its runways to accommodate new jets. Though the airport site grew to around 500 hectares in the 1960s, it remains almost unchanged today. In 1970, Lufthansa’s first Boeing 747 landed. Thousands of spectators came to welcome it.
Instead of relocating, Hamburg Airport expanded at its current location. The expansion included a new terminal and jetbridges. Terminal 4 opened in 1993. Architect Meinhard von Gerkan designed the terminal. Its roof was inspired by aircraft wings. That year, the airport recorded over seven million passengers.
In 2016, the airport honored Helmut Schmidt. The former Federal Chancellor was closely connected to Hamburg Airport. The airport officially became “Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt”. He was Honorary Chairman and lived nearby. Terminal 2 has a permanent exhibition about Helmut and Loki Schmidt.
Hamburg Airport is Germany’s fifth-largest airport. It handled over 16 million passengers in 2016. Around 70 airlines operate approximately 120 national and international routes. Direct flights connect Hamburg to major hubs like Dubai. This provides connections to Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The airport employs around 1,900 staff directly. Adding airlines and other services brings the total to around 15,000 jobs. This makes Hamburg Airport one of the biggest employers in the region. A passenger survey showed that nearly 30 percent of passengers live in Schleswig-Holstein. Over one-third of passengers are business travelers.
Hamburg Airport is essential for the economic prosperity of the region. The Chamber of Commerce supports its development. They participate in committees like the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Hamburg GmbH. In 2023, Hamburg Airport secured second place as “Best Regional Airport Europe” at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. This award reflects passenger satisfaction with airport services and security.
The new Hamburg Airport Carpo Center opened in July 2016. It can handle 150,000 tonnes of cargo. This boosts air cargo development. So as you pass through Hamburg Airport, remember its rich history. From airships to modern jets, it has connected Hamburg to the world for over a century.