“The hangar is 55 metres long, 45 metres wide, and the whole complex is divided into two workshops, which are both 45 metres long.”
So stated engineer Emile Nennig in issue 21 of the magazine “Revue”, which was published in 1951. Nennig was the individual responsible for constructing Luxair’s first hangar.
It also remains Luxair’s only hangar, as to this day the company checks its fleet of aircraft in the almost 70-year-old “Hangar Nennig”. Even though the structure still fully complies with safety standards, Luxair’s managers admit that the time for a new hangar may be ripe. The plans for the new building have already been drawn up and construction will start in the near future.
Back in the 1950s, Nennig used the then-novel method of “prestressed concrete"; concrete which is compressed during production by the tension of steel wires located within the material. The old hangar stands out due to its striking arch. Since September 2018, Hangar Nennig, located on the premises of the “old” Luxembourg Airport, has been under a preservation order, meaning that it will definitely not be torn down.
Minister of Culture Sam Tanson explains that, at the moment, there are no plans for a repurposing of Hangar Nennig. If such plans were to arise, the minister adds, they would have to be carefully considered. In any case, the building needs to be renovated and if Luxair had no use for it anymore, it could be assessed whether Hangar Nennig could be opened up to the public. On the other hand, if Luxair wants to keep the building and make changes, then they will have to work alongside the National Sites and Monuments Service, Tanson explains.
Hangar Nennig will not be Luxair’s only hanger for much longer. Luxair CEO Gilles Feith showed RTL the plans for the new hangar, which will be built by Luxairport near the Cargolux Maintenance building.
While Feith highlights the importance of the new hangar, especially for the aircraft fleet, he also stresses the historical importance of Hangar Nennig. Feith explains that, as a Luxembourger, he would be happy if the building could be repurposed. It is always a shame, Feith says, when a building withers away without purpose. In collaboration with Rockhal, Luxair recently learnt that the building could potentially be more than “just” a hangar.
While Tanson does not rule out a more “artsy” future for Hangar Nennig, the director of Luxairport seemed less keen when queried, merely stating that the building is and will remain the property of Luxairport.
