History Groningen Airport Eelde

1 history

1.1 1920s–1930s: first years
1.2 1940s: in , after world war ii
1.3 1950s
1.4 1960s–1970s
1.5 1980s–1990s
1.6 2000s–2010s

history
1920s–1930s: first years

groningen airport eelde s (gae) history can traced 1927, when hayo hindriks, ex-alderman of municipality eelde, approaches klm (without informing community s council). knew klm interested in air link between rotterdam, amsterdam , groningen.

on july 13, 1928, community s council agrees on proposal allocate hakenkampsveld , 12 hectare terrain within municipality of eelde, airport. airport officially opened mayor jan gerard legro on may 23, 1931. 40,000 visitors watched air show, held celebrate opening. on august 15 of same year first scheduled service between eelde , amsterdam/schiphol started, did not appear viable.

in 1933, airport s name changed nv luchthaven eelde . stockholders being provinces of groningen , drenthe, municipalities of groningen, eelde , assen , chambers of commerce , factories groningen, drenthe , peat-colonies. there money expand airport. @ time airport s area covered 12 hectares. furthermore, new service between airport , amsterdam/schiphol set up.

1940s: in , after world war ii

the irish regiment of canada salutes general crerar during review @ airport in 1945

during world war ii, between 1940 , 1945, airport occupied german military. however, airport s hangars destroyed dutch soldiers, when retreated militarily superior invaders. occupation severe blow airport s promising expectations, airport played important role in war. during occupation, airport expanded considerably germans. many hangars built , apron expanded accommodate fighter aircraft.

early 1945, germans abandoned fliegerhorst . during german retreat, member of local resistance, w.w. krijthe, prevented airport being blown up, cutting explosives ignition wires. in summer of 1945 canadian soldiers used airport store vehicles of 5th canadian (armoured) division.

the canadians called site finitocamp

the airfield returned hands of nv luchtvaartterrein noord-nederland. national government shouldered of cost of restoring damaged drainage system in airfield. in addition, government subsidized further developments @ airport meet international standards , remain registered aviation.

the airport appointed alternative airport flights bound amsterdam/schiphol, in 1948. cater these deviating aircraft, new base plan had designed egalisation , drainage of runways (with 1,800 metres long main runway , secondary measuring 1,500 metres), taxiways , apron. new runways ready service in 1953, making site official aerodrome.

1950s

on august 16, 1954, rijksluchtvaartschool (rls) – or national aviation academy in english – moved airport gilze-rijen. klm acquire ownership of rls in 1991, becoming klm flight academy. in course of next 2 years after 1954, (amongst others) flight theory school, secondary , final flight education other branches transferred eelde, making airport important aviation training site.

in 1956, airport renamed luchthaven eelde nv . official opening of airport building complex took place following year on may 15, prince bernard.

the first landing of european aeroplane took place on july 13, 1958. twelve passengers boarded aircraft, making trip mallorca fourteen days vacation. in same year, new air traffic control tower taken use.

1960s–1970s

an nlm fokker f.27 friendship on national flight in march 1967 showing terminal , facilities.

during 1960s, regular scheduled services restored, national flights operated nlm. airfield seen have potential operate usefully regional airport , play role in infrastructure of northern part of netherlands. study committee development of eelde airport established. committee suggests there should taken closer regional airports in other countries , see how have developed. eelde airport seemed key part of larger system of infrastructure in region. finding aircraft noise bigger problem @ eelde @ similar airports. therefore, noise pollution committee established.

in 1977, new passenger terminal opened , more parking space cars constructed. adding this, bus link city of groningen established, improving airport s accessibility. furthermore, work started expand apron , adding hangar. in same year, dutch ministry of infrastructure , environment published structural plan civil aerodromes. plan stated expansion of main runway 500 metres should taken account. make flights of aircraft types possible.

1980s–1990s


boeing 737-229 of trans european airways @ airport in 1988

during period 1979−1982, buildings housing state aviation service (rijksluchtvaartdienst) , meteorological service modernised. adding this, new air traffic control tower constructed.

the aerodrome s name changed once again in 1988, becoming officially groningen airport eelde nv . decided because of airport s international significance had steadily increased through years.

with airport becoming more crowded due holiday flights, decided join 2 existing passenger halls together. created single departure hall capable of holding 200 passengers. merge resulted in arrivals hall conveyor belt. part of project, new car park added well. groningen airport eelde received sum of 2.5 million guilders new passage hall. sum donated european support fund isp, granted province of drenthe. finance 1 third of costs new hall.

in 1997, dutch government planned stop financial support regional airports. despite this, airport still entitled 25 million guilders (about 11.3 million euros) expansion of main runway. on november 12, 1999, government agreed proposal extend runway, provided flying of training circuits large aircraft terminated.

2000s–2010s

transavia boeing 737-800 in 2007

april 2000: majority of dutch parliament had no objection against runway extension, due changing environmental legislation , civil objection procedures, take 12 more years until project started.

ryanair started scheduled service london stansted base in 2003. service attracted many passengers airport. however, service did not last long, ryanair terminated service in may 2004. 1 reason leading decision limited length of main runway, limiting aircraft s effective range , maximum load.

finally, province s state of council gave final go ahead runway extension on february 15, 2012. after approval given, ryanair announced 3 new routes, returning airport after 8 years. extended runway put service on april 24, 2013. once again ryanair did not operate eelde long, last flight being in november 2014.

in june 2014, uk low-cost carrier flybe commenced new year-round service london-southend. march 2018 service expanded, 6 18 flights per week.

from 19 september 2016 nordica started operating 2 flights day between groningen , copenhagen.