Kiel Holtenau Airport
Encyclopedia
Kiel Airport is an airport
in Kiel
, Germany
. It is located in the borough of Holtenau, 8.3 km (5.2 mi) north of the city centre. It is registered as a public airfield .
As of 2006, it served 30,528 passengers p. a.
. In 1927, the Kiel Airport Company was founded, which operated the Countryside Airport of Kiel . During this time, there were 27 national and international destinations. In 1937, the airport was designated a military airbase. However, it continued to be used for civilian flights, such as scheduled flights to Braunschweig
and Berlin (Tempelhof).
Its taxiways were extended in 1963, a first terminal was built in 1965. This terminal was used for scheduled flights to West Berlin
operated by Pan Am.
In 1987, the terminal that is still used today was built. At the same time Lufthansa
began offering scheduled flights to Frankfurt
, and later to Cologne/Bonn, Munich, Copenhagen
, Kaliningrad and Riga.
In 1995, the airport became a civilian airport again and in 1997, a new control tower
that was operated by civilian staff was constructed. However, it continues to be used for military purposes.
A new hangar was built in 2000. In the same year, the airport's future prospects were analysed. Based on that analysis, plans approved by the state administration of Schleswig-Holstein
in March 2002 included an extension of the runway from 1300 m to 2100 m. This would have allowed jet aircraft
to land at Kiel. Federal Highway B 503 would have crossed the extended runway in a tunnel.
However, use of the airport declined in the following years as more and more scheduled flight routes were discontinued. When the last route was cut on 23 December 2005, operation of the airport was suspended until 3 April 2006 and on 24 January 2006, the state's Secretary of Commerce announced that the extension plans were scrapped for good.
Cirrus Airlines
operated scheduled flights to Munich from 2 May 2006 using a single DHC-8-100 aircraft, which was based in Kiel Airport. The state of Schleswig-Holstein
offered subsidies for three years. However, as the number of passengers was substantially lower than expected, the service was discontinued in October 2006.
(German for Air Sports Association Kiel), the charter airline FLM Aviation and a helicopter flight service are based at Kiel Airport.
Further, there are annual Internationale Flugtage (German for International Aviation Days) with air acrobatics, parachute jumps and displays of historic aeroplanes.
. Currently, the Air Wing No. 5 ( is based at Kiel, which is known for search and rescue operations flown from the airport with Sea King
helicopters. In the long run, these aircraft are planned to be replaced by MH 90 aircraft. The new helicopters are to be based with Air Wing No. 3 at Nordholz and to dissolve the Kiel military airbase.
Further, German Air Force aircraft operating as fake targets for practice depart from Kiel Airport.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, Germany
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...
. It is located in the borough of Holtenau, 8.3 km (5.2 mi) north of the city centre. It is registered as a public airfield .
As of 2006, it served 30,528 passengers p. a.
History
The aerodrome was built in 1914 on a plain area that had been created from material dug out during the construction of the Kiel CanalKiel Canal
The Kiel Canal , known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal until 1948, is a long canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.The canal links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau. An average of is saved by using the Kiel Canal instead of going around the Jutland Peninsula....
. In 1927, the Kiel Airport Company was founded, which operated the Countryside Airport of Kiel . During this time, there were 27 national and international destinations. In 1937, the airport was designated a military airbase. However, it continued to be used for civilian flights, such as scheduled flights to Braunschweig
Braunschweig Airport
-See also:* Advanced Landing Ground-External links:*...
and Berlin (Tempelhof).
Its taxiways were extended in 1963, a first terminal was built in 1965. This terminal was used for scheduled flights to West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
operated by Pan Am.
In 1987, the terminal that is still used today was built. At the same time 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 offering scheduled flights to Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport may refer to:Airports of Frankfurt, Germany:*Frankfurt Airport , the largest airport in Germany*Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport, a general aviation airport*Frankfurt-Hahn Airport , a converted U.S...
, and later to Cologne/Bonn, Munich, Copenhagen
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
, Kaliningrad and Riga.
In 1995, the airport became a civilian airport again and in 1997, a new control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
that was operated by civilian staff was constructed. However, it continues to be used for military purposes.
A new hangar was built in 2000. In the same year, the airport's future prospects were analysed. Based on that analysis, plans approved by the state administration of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
in March 2002 included an extension of the runway from 1300 m to 2100 m. This would have allowed jet aircraft
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
to land at Kiel. Federal Highway B 503 would have crossed the extended runway in a tunnel.
However, use of the airport declined in the following years as more and more scheduled flight routes were discontinued. When the last route was cut on 23 December 2005, operation of the airport was suspended until 3 April 2006 and on 24 January 2006, the state's Secretary of Commerce announced that the extension plans were scrapped for good.
Cirrus Airlines
Cirrus Airlines
Cirrus Airlines Luftfahrtgesellschaft mbH is an airline based in Saarbrücken, Germany. It operates both charter and scheduled flights, the latter on behalf of Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines. Its main base and hub is Saarbrücken Airport, Germany....
operated scheduled flights to Munich from 2 May 2006 using a single DHC-8-100 aircraft, which was based in Kiel Airport. The state of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
offered subsidies for three years. However, as the number of passengers was substantially lower than expected, the service was discontinued in October 2006.
Kiel Airport today
Luftsportverein Kiel e.V.Eingetragener Verein
Eingetragener Verein is a legal status for a registered voluntary association in Germany and Austria. While any group may be called a Verein, registration as eingetragener Verein holds many legal benefits because a registered association may legally function as a corporate body rather than just...
(German for Air Sports Association Kiel), the charter airline FLM Aviation and a helicopter flight service are based at Kiel Airport.
Further, there are annual Internationale Flugtage (German for International Aviation Days) with air acrobatics, parachute jumps and displays of historic aeroplanes.
Military use
The aerodrome has been in military use from the beginning. Since 1958, it is a base for air wings of the German NavyGerman Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
. Currently, the Air Wing No. 5 ( is based at Kiel, which is known for search and rescue operations flown from the airport with Sea King
Sea King
Sea-King , refers to a Viking, pirate chieftain of the early Middle Ages.It may also refer to:-Aviation:* SH-3 Sea King, American, naval helicopter* Westland Sea King, British, licensed version of the SH-3...
helicopters. In the long run, these aircraft are planned to be replaced by MH 90 aircraft. The new helicopters are to be based with Air Wing No. 3 at Nordholz and to dissolve the Kiel military airbase.
Further, German Air Force aircraft operating as fake targets for practice depart from Kiel Airport.
Incidents
- On 15 February 2006, a private aircraft from RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
had to make an emergency landing at Kiel due to a formation of smoke within the aircraft. The plane overran the runway and slipped down a slope..