Dresden-Klotzsche: Airport is fighting for survival after 90 years!

Dresden-Klotzsche: Airport is fighting for survival after 90 years!

On July 11, 1935, Dresden-Klotzsche Airport put its first aircraft into operation. Since then, he has played an important role in the city, its economy and politics, although he has faced challenges in recent years. The number of passengers is currently around 882,000 in 2022, while the numbers for 2023 could rise to 929,928 passengers. Sächsische.de reports on these developments and describes the economic difficulties the airport has experienced.

With a height of 110 meters above the Elbe basin and its strategic “hilltop” location, the airport allows unhindered arrivals. Construction of the airport began in 1934 and took about a year, while the first airliners landed inconspicuously. A strong feature of the location was the technical equipment, which is still equipped today with a 1,460 meter long and 1,025 meter wide runway as well as a ground radio and direction finding station. Wikipedia adds that the airport now occupies the 17th position among 36 German commercial airports.

The history and developments of the airport

The history of the airport is marked by ups and downs. Before it opened, there was already a municipal land and water airport and Dresden-Heller Airport. The latter was closed in 1930 due to technical problems. The new building in Klotzsche was driven forward by the military buildup in the 1930s. During the Second World War, civil air traffic was stopped and the airport was used as an air base. Military use ended in 1993 and civilian flight operations did not resume until 1957.

The number of passengers grew in the 1990s: in 1992 the number of passengers exceeded one million, and in 2011 the highest figure in history was reached with 1.92 million passengers. A decline began with the COVID-19 pandemic, so that only 385,651 passengers could be counted in 2020. The following year the number was even 331,384. As Wikipedia notes, the future of the airport is being planned with further expansion and remote control from the end of 2025.

Economic significance and outlook

The airport not only offers travel opportunities, but also has a major impact on the regional economy. According to a report from IATA, as on the website of BDF As you can read, air traffic in Germany generates over 35 billion euros in economic output and secures around 1.5 million jobs. These economic impulses are of central importance, especially for places like Dresden.

In summary, Dresden-Klotzsche Airport bears impressive testimony to its long history while remaining an important player in the aviation industry. Despite recent challenges, there is optimism about future development, which could provide numerous opportunities for the region.