Dresden Airport celebrates 90 years: A gateway to the changing world!

Dresden Airport celebrates 90 years: A gateway to the changing world!

On July 11, 2025, Dresden Airport celebrated a very special anniversary: ​​90 years of aviation history. In a celebratory setting, the development of the airport in the Klotzsche district was looked back on, which has become an important hub in the aviation industry in Central Germany since it opened in 1935. [Aviation Direct](https://aviation.direct/flughafen-dresden- Feiert-90-jahre-luftfahrtgeschichte-ein-tor-zur-welt-im-wandel-der-zeit) reports that the history of the airport is characterized by technical innovations, political upheavals and economic development.

The airport, originally planned as a military and commercial airport, has undergone numerous changes over the decades. The first flight movements began as early as the 1920s, but in 1937 the airport broke its first major mark with almost 8,000 passengers. However, civil air traffic came to a standstill during World War II when the Luftwaffe took over the airport. In the 1950s, the airport regained its importance, particularly thanks to the serial production of the Il-14P passenger aircraft and the first German jet airliner "152", which took off in 1958 - although the prototype crashed in 1959.

Celebrations and guided tours for the anniversary

Extensive celebrations were organized to mark this significant milestone. Since the anniversary date, special tours of the airport grounds have also been taking place, offering a fascinating insight into the history and technical innovations of the airport. Starting this August, monthly “Airport History Tours” will be offered on the last Sunday of the month. For the entry fee of 18 euros per person, participants can not only tour the site, but also experience the last remaining fuselage of the “152” aircraft up close, as the Dresdner Neueste News report.

Another highlight of the anniversary is a lecture by the historian Dr. Ulrich Unger about the first German female pilot, Melli Beese, which will take place on October 26, 2025. Registration for this is also possible via the Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG) website. The MFAG describes the airport as a “location with a history and a future” – even if there are critical voices that question whether the airport continues to have its right to exist.

The airport in numbers

Statistics show that since its opening in 1935 until the end of June 2025, a total of more than 56 million passengers have been counted at the airport. In 2024, the airport recorded over 882,000 passengers. After the political change, the number of air travelers rose from around 200,000 in 1990 to over a million by 1992. This shows how important the airport is for the region, both economically and culturally.

Today over 4,000 people work directly or indirectly at the airport, particularly in the aviation industry. Dresden Airport has excellent strategic connections to international hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. In addition, companies in the semiconductor industry, including GlobalFoundries and Infineon, have set up shop nearby, further underlining the airport's economic importance. The Statistics from the Federal Aviation Office support these findings and offer a comprehensive overview of developments in the aviation sector in Germany.

Dresden Airport plans to further expand its role as a mobility partner and innovation location in the future. This means it remains an important part of the aviation landscape and the economy in Central Germany.