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

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

Dresden-Klotzsche, Deutschland - On July 11, 2025, Dresden Airport celebrated a very special anniversary: 90 years of aviation history. In a solemn framework, the development of the airport in the Klotzsche district, which has blossomed into an important hub in the aerospace industry since its opening in 1935. [Aviation Direct] (https://aviation.direct/flughafen-dresden-feier-90-year-aerial history-one-gate-world-to-change time) reports that the history of the airport is shaped by technical innovations, political upheavals and economic development.

The airport, originally planned as a military and transport airport, has experienced numerous changes over the decades. There were first flight movements in the 1920s, but in 1937 the airport cracked its first large brand with almost 8,000 passengers. However, civil air traffic came to a standstill during the Second World War when the Air Force took over the airport. In the 1950s, the airport won back, in particular thanks to the series production of the IL-14P passenger aircraft and the first German nozzle traffic aircraft "152", which took off in 1958-although the prototype crashed in 1959.

festivities and tours for the anniversary

In order to duly appreciate this significant milestone, comprehensive celebrations were organized. Among other things, special tours of the airport site have also been taking place since the anniversary date, which offer a fascinating insight into the history and the technical innovations of the airport. From this August there are monthly “airport history tours” that are offered on the last Sunday of the month. For the entrance fee of 18 euros per person, participants can not only visit the site, but also experience the last surviving fuselage of the "152" aircraft, as the Dresden's latest News report.

Another highlight of the anniversary is a lecture by the historian Dr. Ulrich Unger about the first German pilot, Melli Beese, who will take place on October 26, 2025. Registrations via the website of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG (MFAG) are also possible for this. MFAG describes the airport as a "location with history and 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 a total of more than 56 million passengers have been counted at the airport since its opening in 1935 to the end of June 2025. In 2024, the airport recorded over 882,000 passengers. After the political turn, the number of flight travelers rose from around 200,000 in 1990 to over one million to 1992. This makes it clear how important the airport is for the region, both economically and cultural.

Today, over 4,000 people work directly or indirectly at the airport, especially in the aviation industry. Dresden Airport is strategically connected to international hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. In addition, companies in the semiconductor industry, including Globalfoundries and Infineon, have settled nearby, which continues to underpin the economic importance of airport. The statistics of the Federal Aviation Office support these findings and provide a comprehensive overview of developments in the air traffic area in Germany.

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