Let's journey through the fascinating history of Luxembourg Airport, from its inception to its role as a modern hub.
Did you know that the airport was a strategic base for the US Army in World War II against Nazi Germany? Or that its runway, which is one of the longest in Europe, allowed the legendary Concorde to make an appearance in the Grand Duchy? These are only some of the astounding chapters of the airport's older days.
Find out more about Findel airport in this podcast episode – including the rise of Luxembourg's cargo airline Cargolux and Luxembourg's worst plane crashes – or continue reading down below!
Early beginnings
1930 – The story begins with a group of aviation enthusiasts who establish "Sandweiler Airport." Approved by parliament, this small airfield features a 1000m grass runway, primarily serving light aircraft.
1936 – Luxembourg’s first significant airport is founded in Esch-sur-Alzette, on the site that now hosts technical control facilities. This airport includes a permanent runway, a clubhouse, hangars, and a unique airplane, the Luxembourg Listener, which transported music tapes for RTL Radio from London.
World War II and its aftermath
1940 – WWII breaks out, and neutral Luxembourg is invaded by Germany on 10 May. Several weeks after, the Luftwaffe assigns Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53), a Messerschmitt Bf 109 unit, to the airport.
JG53 is engaged in combat against the French and British during the Battle of France in the early summer of 1940. The unit remains in Sandweiler until August and takes part in the Battle of Britain.
Sandweiler Airport remains unused for several years, and when the US Army clears Luxembourg of the German forces in 1944, it performs minor reconstruction for the upcoming missions.
1944 – As the US Army liberates Luxembourg from German forces, Sandweiler Airport is designated an "Advanced Landing Ground." It supports the Ninth Air Force’s 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group with logistics and medical evacuations.
© American Air Museum
1945 – On August 15, control of the airport is returned to Luxembourg.
Post-war developments
1946 –The newly renamed "Findel Airport" opens for commercial use. Initial facilities include wooden barracks serving as the terminal and control tower, with a reinforced grass runway.
1948 – Findel Airport sees the inauguration of its first terminal, and "Luxembourg Airlines" commences operations with three aircraft, servicing routes to Zurich, Frankfurt, and London. Cargo made up the lion’s share of these flights.
1950 – Luxembourg Airlines rapidly expands, necessitating the construction of two new runways: one measuring 2000m x 60m and another 1600m x 50m.
1954 – The main runway is equipped with lighting, enabling night flights.
Expansion and modernisation
1962 – Luxembourg Airlines is rebranded as "Luxair." The airline begins with a Luxembourg-Paris route operated by a Fokker F27 Friendship and later expands to Johannesburg. The idea behind a national airline was also that of political motivation.
The Fokker F27 Friendship was Luxair's first aircraft.
It was around this time the decision was made for EU institutions to establish themselves in Luxembourg, Brussels and Strasbourg. The main argument against Luxembourg had always been: “how are we supposed to even get there?” Thus, the transport minister came up with the idea of a national airline. Even today the state is a stakeholder in Luxair.
1963 – Findel Airport welcomes its first jet aircraft.
1965 – The airline expanded its offerings to include holiday packages, and that year, it launched its first flight with tourists onboard, heading to Palma.
1970 – Cargo airline Cargolux begins operations with a route to Hong Kong, using a Canadair CL-44.
1975 – A new, larger terminal is constructed, modernizing the airport’s appearance.
1982 – The concorde made its first historic landing in the Grand Duchy on 20 May 1982. The famous jet quickly became the main attraction of the day. Only on two other occasions, in March 1985 and in May 1986, a Concorde made its way to Findel airport.
1984 – The runway is extended to 4000m, accommodating a wider range of modern aircraft.
1985 – The supersonic Concorde made a promotional visit to Luxembourg in 1985 as part of a PR stunt. The aircraft, capable of flying so fast that a noon departure from Paris would allow arrival in New York the same morning due to the time difference, required a significant portion of the airport’s runway for takeoff. This visit highlighted Luxembourg Airport’s capacity to handle advanced aircraft.
NATO is in part responsible for its length: Findel is one of few European NATO airports. Training flights by the radar surveillance AWACS is a frequent reminder of that matter. In case of a crisis Luxembourg must make its airport available to the international allied community.
Luxembourg further benefits from the Nato Kerosin Pipeline, which stretches underground around Europe to numerous major airports, including Findel. Fuel trucks only have to pump it out of the ground and drive up to the aircraft.
Cargolux, too, benefits from the long runway. The long take-off distance allows their aircraft to fully fuel and load up, improving cost efficiency. In terms of weight, LuxCargo is amongst the top 10 freight centres in Europe.
Recent developments
2003–2008 – Construction of the new Terminal A is completed, enhancing passenger facilities.
2009 – A new Cargolux maintenance hangar for Boeing 747s opens, reflecting the growth of cargo operations.
2016 – Luxembourg Airport achieves a major milestone with 3 million passengers passing through its gates.
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