Lois Larson
The first airport to operate scheduled international commercial services was Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in London, England, in August 1919. However, the world's oldest airport is a topic of debate. College Park Airport in Maryland, US, was built in 1909 and is still in operation today. It was here that Wilbur Wright started aviation training for two US Army officers. The first 'real' airport, according to some, is Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, Washington, US, which was built in 1905 to accommodate planes and airships in 1911.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First airport in the world | College Park Airport, Maryland, US, built in 1909 |
| First airport in Italy | Rome-Centocelle, built in 1908, and Turin-Mirafiori, also built in 1908 |
| First airport in Romania | Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport, also known as Baneasa Airport, established in 1912 |
| First airport in Germany | Bremen Airport, built in 1913 |
| First airport in the Netherlands | Amsterdam Airport, established in 1916 |
| First airport in India | Kochi, the world's first airport to be fully powered by solar energy |
| First airport in the UK | Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, England, opened in August 1919 |
| First airport in the Americas | Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona, opened in 1928 |
| First airport in New York | Albany International Airport, established in 1928 |
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What You'll Learn
- College Park Airport, Maryland, is the oldest operational airport in the world, built in 1909
- Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport, Romania, became an airport in 1912, but flights began in 1909
- Hamburg Airport, Germany, opened in January 1911 and is the oldest commercial airport still in operation
- Bremen Airport, Germany, opened in 1913 and is accessible from the city centre in 11 minutes
- Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, was the first airport to operate scheduled international commercial services in August 1919
College Park Airport, Maryland, is the oldest operational airport in the world, built in 1909
College Park Airport, located in the City of College Park, in Prince George's County, Maryland, is the oldest operational airport in the world. It was built in 1909 and is still in operation today. The airport is located south of Paint Branch and Lake Artemesia, east of U.S. Route 1 and the College Park Metro/MARC station, and west of Kenilworth Avenue.
The history of College Park Airport is fascinating. It began in 1909 when Wilbur Wright, the eldest of the Wright brothers, arrived in College Park to provide aviation training for two US Army officers. The airport was established by the United States Army Signal Corps, and the first airplane, a Wright Type A biplane, was assembled on October 7, 1909. Civilian aircraft began flying from College Park Airport as early as December 1911, making it the world's oldest continuously operated airport.
College Park Airport has witnessed many significant events in aviation history, including the testing of the first aerial machine gun and the first bomb sight developed for use in an airplane. Americans also experimented with wireless radio communications and made the first reported nighttime landing with the aid of ground lights at the airport. In 1915, Cecil Peoli, one of the world's first professional aviators, died at College Park while testing his biplane for upcoming cross-country flights.
The airport became the Washington terminus for the first US Post Office commercial airmail service in 1918, serving Philadelphia and New York City. In 1920, Emile and Henry Berliner brought their theories of vertical flight to the field, and in 1924, they made the first controlled helicopter flight. College Park Airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and today, it operates as both a historic site and an active airport.
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Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport, Romania, became an airport in 1912, but flights began in 1909
The first airport in the world was built in College Park, Maryland, in 1909. However, Hamburg Airport in Germany, which opened in January 1911, is the oldest commercial airport still in operation.
Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu Airport, also known as Baneasa Airport, is situated in the Baneasa district, 8.5km from the city of Bucharest, Romania. The airport was named after Aurel Vlaicu, a Romanian engineer, inventor, aeroplane constructor, and early pilot. While the first flights at the airport began in 1909, it officially became an airport in 1912 when a flight school was established at the site. The first flights in 1909 were carried out by the French pilot and aviation pioneer Louis Blériot, who flew on 18 October at the Baneasa Hippodrome.
Baneasa Airport was Bucharest's only commercial airport until 1968 when the Otopeni Airport (now Henri Coanda International Airport) was opened to civilian use. In 1922, the airport became the headquarters of the first aviation company in Romania and one of the earliest in the world, CFRNA (The French-Romanian Company for Air Navigation). CFRNA built industrial facilities for aircraft maintenance in Baneasa in 1923, which preceded the aerospace company Romaero. During World War II, the airport was used by both Romanian and German units for aircraft repair and also functioned as the headquarters of the Romanian White Squadron.
In 1952, a new terminal building was opened, which is still in use today. The building, designed in the late 1940s, is considered a city landmark and one of Bucharest's finest architectural features. The terminal consists of a central dome with three distinct wings, representing an airplane propeller with three blades.
In March 2012, Baneasa Airport was converted into a dedicated business airport due to inadequate facilities to handle large commercial traffic and a lack of scope for expansion. The airport is accessible by bus, tram, taxi, ride-sharing services, and the Airport Express. An extension of the Bucharest Metro Line M6 to connect the airport to the Main Train Station and the Henri Coanda International Airport is currently under construction.
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Hamburg Airport, Germany, opened in January 1911 and is the oldest commercial airport still in operation
The first airport to be built was Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, Washington State, USA, in 1905. However, it was used as a docking station for airships until 1911, when the first airplane was assembled. The first real airport, College Park Airport in Maryland, was built in 1909 and is still in operation today.
Hamburg Airport in Germany, which opened in January 1911, is the oldest commercial airport still in operation. It is located 8.5km away from the city centre of Hamburg and is Germany's oldest airport. The airport underwent a major renovation programme between 2001 and 2009, which added two new terminals, wide access roads, parking spaces, and a new metro rail connection, transforming it into one of Europe's most modern airports.
College Park Airport, on the other hand, is the world's oldest continuously operated airport. It was established in August 1909 by the United States Army Signal Corps to serve as a training location for Wilbur Wright to instruct two military officers to fly in the government's first airplane. Civilian aircraft began flying from College Park Airport as early as December 1911. The airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Other old airports include Bremen Airport in Germany, which opened in 1913, and Amsterdam Airport, which was inaugurated in 1916 as a military aviation base before hosting the first take-off of a civil aircraft in 1920. Rome Ciampino Airport, located 12km off the city centre of Rome, opened in 1916 and was Rome's only airport until 1961.
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Bremen Airport, Germany, opened in 1913 and is accessible from the city centre in 11 minutes
The first airport in the world was built in 1909 in College Park, Maryland, US. However, Bremen Airport in Germany, which opened in 1913, is notable for being just 3.5km (2.2 miles) from Bremen's city centre and accessible in only 11 minutes by tram. The airport currently offers international flights to all of Europe and North Africa.
The beginnings of Bremen Airport date back to 1910 when the Bremer Verein für Luftschiffahrt, a local aerospace club, conducted the first experimental flights at the site. The airport was initially intended to connect Bremen to the growing airship route network. However, the infrastructure eventually became geared towards aircraft operations. During World War I, the airport was administered by the German military, and it was reopened for commercial traffic in 1920.
In the 1930s, new terminal and runway facilities were built, making Bremen Airport one of the most modern airports of its time. The airport served as an American military field from 1945 to 1949. In the mid-1950s, the terminal buildings were reconstructed, and Lufthansa began operating scheduled flights to the airport. During the 1960s, Bremen Airport began operating scheduled jet flights, and in 1971, a large radar system was installed on the airport's southern perimeter.
In 1989, Bremen Airport surpassed one million passengers for the first time. The current terminal building was opened in 1998, and in 2016, the airport introduced its new brand: BRE Bremen Airport, replacing City Airport Bremen. In 2023, the airport gained two important hub connections when the Lufthansa Group Airlines SWISS and Austrian Airlines began scheduled routes to their hubs in Zurich and Vienna, respectively.
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Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, was the first airport to operate scheduled international commercial services in August 1919
The quest for air travel began in the early 20th century, with the first airports being built around that time. College Park Airport in Maryland, US, was built in 1909 and is considered the oldest operational airport in the world. The first airports in Italy, Rome-Centocelle, and Turin-Mirafiori, were also built in 1909.
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome hosted the British Empire's first scheduled daily international commercial flights in 1919. The first international commercial flight arrived on 14 July 1919, in the form of a Caudron aircraft piloted by Etienne Poulet, carrying photos from Paris–Le Bourget Airport. On 25 August 1919, several flights inaugurated scheduled international commercial flights. The first was by an Airco DH.4A (G-EAJC) owned by Aircraft Transport and Travel (AT&T) and piloted by E.H. 'Bill' Lawford.
The same day, Handley Page operated incoming and outgoing proving flights, using O/400 aircraft. On 30 September 1919, North Sea Aerial Navigation Co Ltd started a regular passenger service between Roundhay Park (Leeds) and Hounslow Heath, using Blackburn Kangaroos. Services were later extended to Amsterdam. Handley Page continued to operate London-Paris passenger services from its private Cricklewood Aerodrome, in competition with AT&T from Hounslow Heath.
In 1920, the last commercial flights took place at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, after which services moved to Croydon Airport, which became London's designated airport. Hounslow Heath has since largely reverted to an undeveloped public open space and nature reserve.
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Frequently asked questions
College Park Airport in Maryland, US, is considered the oldest airport in the world and was built in 1909.
Hamburg Airport in Germany opened in January 1911 and is the oldest commercial airport in the world that is still in operation.
Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport in Romania became an airport in 1912, making it the oldest airport in Asia.
The Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona, US, became the first international airport in the Americas in 1928.
