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The history of Erfurt airport
Air travel in Thuringia has a long tradition. The first airport was inaugurated in the district of Erfurt as early as 1925, and there were direct Lufthansa flights to major German cities and Zurich just one year later. Passenger numbers declined drastically during the world economic crisis.
The German Luftwaffe began using the airport for military purposes in 1934, but this ended when the Americans invaded on 12 April 1945. The start of World War II brought a sudden end to civil air transportation in Thuringia.
The Soviet military airport of Erfurt-Bindersleben was converted for civilian use in the 1950s, and the DDR’s first passenger aircraft since World War II landed in Erfurt in 1957.
During the 1960s, the terminal building and tower, as well as the runways, were adapted to meet the requirements for the first time. On top of the direct flights, a limited charter traffic was established after 1970, and the airport had a rather humble existence until German unification.
Erfurt Airport has recently transformed into a modern and international aviation facility.