Bremen Airport
Encyclopedia
Bremen Airport or Flughafen Bremen serves the German
city of Bremen
and is located 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of the city. There were 2.4 million passengers in 2008.
supported the establishment of an airfield in order to connect Bremen to the growing airship route network. Official permission for the opening of an airport was granted on May 16, 1913. The initial infrastructure was geared towards aircraft operations instead of the initially envisaged airships. Several wooden hangars were erected.
During World War I
, the airport was taken into military administration, and civilian operations ceased. The military erected a wooden hangar, but conducted only a small number of operations from the airfield. After the war, the airport only reopened on July 18, 1920, with Dutch airline KLM beginning scheduled flights to Amsterdam
soon thereafter. In the same year, the Weimar National Assembly
authorized investment into upgraded facilities at the airport. Administration of the airport was transferred to the newly founded Bremer Flughafengesellschaft. In 1923, the airplane manufacturer Focke-Wulf
was founded on a site adjacent to the airfield.
In the 1930s, several new terminal buildings and hangars were constructed, with the largest to date being completed in 1937. In the same year, four new runways were built. These were arranged in a star-like pattern. The increasing military buildup under the rule of the Nazis also began to show itself at the airport, with the Luftwaffe
establishing a flight training base there. Civilian operations again came to a standstill with the beginning of World War II
. For a short period between November 1939 and June 1940, the airport served as the base for a squadron of Focke-Wulf Fw200 bombers. In the later stages of the war, the airport came under repeated bombardment due to co-location with the Focke-Wulf plant. This left most of the infrastructure destroyed or severely damaged by the end of the war.
The United States Army
took over the airport and the adjacent aircraft plant in 1945 for use as an airbase. After conducting the necessary repairs, it operated mostly transport aircraft into and out of the American enclave within otherwise British-occupied northern Germany. Control was handed back to the Bremen authorities in 1949. Civilian operations resumed in April with Scandinavian Airlines connecting Bremen to Copenhagen, with onward flights within Germany and from 1951 onwards to New York. Runway 09-27 was extended to 2.000 m.
In the mid-1950s, the terminal buildings were reconstructed and Lufthansa
began scheduled flights to the airport. The German airline also established its pilot training operations (Lufthansa Flight Training
) at the airport. During the 1960s, scheduled jet flights began to be operated at Bremen. In 1971, a large radar system was installed on the southern perimeter of the airport.
1989 - was the first year that the airport had more than one million passengers.
The Bremenhalle inside the airport hosts a little aviation and space exploration museum, displaying the Junkers W33 Bremen air plane and the first Spacelab
module.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
city of Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
and is located 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of the city. There were 2.4 million passengers in 2008.
History
The beginnings of the airport date back to the early 20th century. The Bremer Verein für Luftschiffahrt, a local aerospace club, conducted the first experimental flights at the present site in the summer of 1910, on what was then the parade ground of the local garrison. The Senate of BremenSenate of Bremen
The Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the government of the city-state of Bremen . The senate has existed since mediæval times. The senate is headed by a President, who also holds the title of Mayor. The President's deputy also holds the title Mayor...
supported the establishment of an airfield in order to connect Bremen to the growing airship route network. Official permission for the opening of an airport was granted on May 16, 1913. The initial infrastructure was geared towards aircraft operations instead of the initially envisaged airships. Several wooden hangars were erected.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the airport was taken into military administration, and civilian operations ceased. The military erected a wooden hangar, but conducted only a small number of operations from the airfield. After the war, the airport only reopened on July 18, 1920, with Dutch airline KLM beginning scheduled flights to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
soon thereafter. In the same year, the Weimar National Assembly
Weimar National Assembly
The Weimar National Assembly governed Germany from February 6, 1919 to June 6, 1920 and drew up the new constitution which governed Germany from 1919 to 1933, technically remaining in effect even until the end of Nazi rule in 1945...
authorized investment into upgraded facilities at the airport. Administration of the airport was transferred to the newly founded Bremer Flughafengesellschaft. In 1923, the airplane manufacturer Focke-Wulf
Focke-Wulf
Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.-History:...
was founded on a site adjacent to the airfield.
In the 1930s, several new terminal buildings and hangars were constructed, with the largest to date being completed in 1937. In the same year, four new runways were built. These were arranged in a star-like pattern. The increasing military buildup under the rule of the Nazis also began to show itself at the airport, with the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
establishing a flight training base there. Civilian operations again came to a standstill with the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. For a short period between November 1939 and June 1940, the airport served as the base for a squadron of Focke-Wulf Fw200 bombers. In the later stages of the war, the airport came under repeated bombardment due to co-location with the Focke-Wulf plant. This left most of the infrastructure destroyed or severely damaged by the end of the war.
The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
took over the airport and the adjacent aircraft plant in 1945 for use as an airbase. After conducting the necessary repairs, it operated mostly transport aircraft into and out of the American enclave within otherwise British-occupied northern Germany. Control was handed back to the Bremen authorities in 1949. Civilian operations resumed in April with Scandinavian Airlines connecting Bremen to Copenhagen, with onward flights within Germany and from 1951 onwards to New York. Runway 09-27 was extended to 2.000 m.
In the mid-1950s, the terminal buildings were reconstructed and Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
began scheduled flights to the airport. The German airline also established its pilot training operations (Lufthansa Flight Training
Lufthansa Flight Training
Lufthansa Flight Training GmbH is a company owned by the airline Lufthansa, that trains Lufthansa pilots. The training locations are Bremen, Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich in Germany, Vienna in Austria, Zurich in Switzerland and a facility in Phoenix, Arizona, USA...
) at the airport. During the 1960s, scheduled jet flights began to be operated at Bremen. In 1971, a large radar system was installed on the southern perimeter of the airport.
1989 - was the first year that the airport had more than one million passengers.
The Bremenhalle inside the airport hosts a little aviation and space exploration museum, displaying the Junkers W33 Bremen air plane and the first Spacelab
Spacelab
Spacelab was a reusable laboratory used on certain spaceflights flown by the Space Shuttle. The laboratory consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware housed in the Shuttle's cargo bay...
module.
Ground transportation
Tram number 6 departs every 5 to 10 minutes (on Sunday evenings up to 50 min) to Bremen City Centre. The ride takes 11 minutes and costs €2.30. Bus2fly offers a bus to and from Hamburg, scheduled to coordinate with Ryanair flights. The ride takes 90 minutes and costs €18.00 each way.Airlines and destinations
Traffic statistics
| Number of Movements | Freight (tonnes) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2,232,018 | - | - | |
| 2008 | 2,486,337 | 46,876 | 27,661 | |
| 2009 | 2,448,846 | 43,650 | 20,603 | |
| 2010 | 2,676,297 | 46,412 | 20,673 | |
| Source: [Airport Bremen GmbH] | ||||