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The first airport in the world is a disputed topic. While some sources claim that College Park Airport in Maryland, built in 1909, is the oldest airport in the world, others suggest that Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport in Romania, which began operating in 1909, or Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, Washington, built in 1905, hold this title. Hamburg Airport in Germany, which opened in 1911, is another contender as it is the oldest commercial airport still in operation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First airport in the world | College Park Airport in Maryland, built in 1909 |
| First airport with commercial flights | Hamburg Airport, opened in January 1911 |
| First airport with international commercial services | Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, England, opened in August 1919 |
| First international airport in the Americas | Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona, opened in 1928 |
| Oldest continuously operating commercial airport | Sydney Airport, opened in January 1920 |
| Oldest municipal airport in the US | Albany International Airport, opened in 1928 |
| First airport in Italy | Rome-Centocelle Airport, built in 1908 |
| First airport in India with solar energy | Kochi Airport |
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What You'll Learn
- College Park Airport, Maryland, USA: The oldest operational airport
- Hamburg Airport, Germany: The oldest commercial airport
- Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport, Romania: The first airport with a flight school
- Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, England: The first international airport
- Douglas Municipal Airport, Arizona, USA: The first international airport in the Americas
College Park Airport, Maryland, USA: The oldest operational airport
College Park Airport (IATA: CGS, ICAO: KCGS, FAA LID: CGS) is a public airport located in the city of College Park, in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. It is the oldest airport in the world that is still operational. 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.
College Park Airport was established in August 1909 by the United States Army Signal Corps to serve as a training location for Wilbur Wright (of the Wright brothers) to instruct two military officers to fly in the government's first aeroplane. The first aeroplane, a Wright Type A biplane, was assembled on October 7, 1909, and civilian aircraft began flying from College Park Airport as early as December 1911, making it the world's oldest continuously operated airport. In 1977, the airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The airport features a single runway measuring 2,600ft long and 60ft wide. It offers parking for more than 100 aeroplanes, including tenant and transient aircraft. Major facilities at the airport include fuelling, weather briefing, and a pilot lounge. The historic hangar on the field now houses the Special Operations Division of Prince George County Police.
Since the 9/11 attacks, the airport's proximity to the national capital has resulted in severe restrictions on its operations by the Transportation Security Administration. However, civilian pilots can still use the airport after undergoing a one-time background check.
The College Park Aviation Museum, located within the airport, first opened to the public in 1981. It houses antique and reproduction aircraft associated with the history of College Park Airport. The museum offers rotating exhibits, special events, lectures, workshops, and programmes for the public, schools, and groups.
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Hamburg Airport, Germany: The oldest commercial airport
The search results show that Hamburg Airport in Germany is the oldest international airport still in operation, opening in January 1911. The airport was originally built on the outskirts of the city and is today the fifth-largest airport in Germany. It is equipped to handle wide-bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.
During its early days, Hamburg Airport was primarily used for airship flights, with an airship hangar built in 1912 to accommodate two Zeppelins. During the First World War, the hangar was used extensively by the German military until it was destroyed by fire in 1916. After the war, in 1920, the first scheduled flights began to destinations such as Berlin and Amsterdam.
During the Berlin Airlift in 1948, Hamburg Airport served as a staging area, as the northern air corridor went between Hamburg and West Berlin. When Lufthansa launched passenger operations in 1955, Hamburg was used as a hub until Frankfurt Airport took over due to growth constraints. Lufthansa Technik still maintains a large presence at the airport.
In October 1959, Pan American World Airways was the first airline to start scheduled service with jet aircraft to Hamburg, flying the New York-London-Hamburg-Copenhagen route with a Boeing 707. The airport has grown significantly since its early days, with the site expanding more than tenfold from 440,000 square metres to 5.7 square kilometres. The runways, taxiways, and aprons can accommodate large aircraft, and Emirates commenced services from Dubai International Airport to Hamburg with the A380 in 2018.
In 2016, the airport was renamed Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt after a former senator of Hamburg and chancellor of West Germany, honouring his contributions to the city's aviation industry.
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Bucharest 'Aurel Vlaicu' Airport, Romania: The first airport with a flight school
The first airport in the world was College Park Airport in Maryland, USA, built in 1909. However, Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu Airport, also known as Baneasa Airport, in Romania, is particularly notable for being the first airport with a flight school. It is situated in the Baneasa district, 8.5km from the city of Bucharest.
The first flights at the airport took place in 1909, carried out by French pilot and aviation pioneer Louis Blériot. However, it was the establishment of a flight school at the site in 1912 that officially made it an airport. Baneasa Airport was the only international airport in Romania until Henri Coanda International Airport opened in 1968.
The airport's terminal building, opened in 1952, is considered a city landmark. It was designed in the late 1940s and features a central dome with three distinct wings, representing an airplane propeller with three blades. During World War II, the airport was used by both Romanian and German units as an aircraft repair hub and was the headquarters of the Romanian White Squadron. The airport mainly had a grass surface, with a single concrete runway built in 1942.
In 2012, the airport was converted into a dedicated business airport as the facilities could not handle the increasing commercial traffic and there was no scope for expansion. After 10 years of renovation work, the airport reopened in 2022, 110 years after it was founded.
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Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London, England: The first international airport
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in the London borough of Hounslow was the site of the first international commercial flight. The airport, which was in operation from 1914 to 1920, hosted the British Empire's first scheduled daily international commercial flights in 1919.
The airport's history can be traced back to 1909 when the Royal Flying Corps began using the base for a handful of missions near the city's barracks. The first hangar was built in 1910, and the site was used for civil flying. However, it was not until World War I that Hounslow Heath really came into its own. During the war, it served as a military airfield for the Royal Flying Corps, with several frontline squadrons forming there and multiple hangars and fuelling facilities being constructed. The airport played a significant role as a base for fighters and in countering the threat of Zeppelin airships.
In the post-war years, Hounslow Heath Aerodrome continued to be an important aviation hub. On 25 August 1919, the world's first scheduled international flight took place between Hounslow and Paris–Le Bourget. The flight, operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), carried a single passenger and cargo, including Devonshire cream, jam, grouse, and newspapers. This marked the beginning of regular international commercial services from the airport, with flights to Amsterdam and Cardiff also being inaugurated in 1919.
However, despite its pioneering status, Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was soon superseded by larger airports, such as Croydon Airport, which became London's designated airport in 1920. The last commercial flights operated from Hounslow Heath in March 1920, after which the site was repossessed by the army and used as a repair depot and training school. Today, the site has largely reverted to an undeveloped public open space and nature reserve, with only occasional memorials to its important place in aviation history.
While Hounslow Heath Aerodrome may no longer be a functioning airport, its legacy as the world's first international airport remains. It played a crucial role in the development of aviation and paved the way for the modern airports we know today.
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Douglas Municipal Airport, Arizona, USA: The first international airport in the Americas
The first airport in the world was built in College Park, Maryland, in 1909. However, when it comes to international airports in the Americas, the Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona, USA, holds a significant place in aviation history.
Located 2 miles (3 kilometres) east of the central business district of Douglas, a city in Cochise County, Arizona, the Douglas Municipal Airport is a little-used airstrip today. However, its history is quite remarkable. In the late 1920s, an aeronautical club, upon hearing about the possibility of airmail service in the area, decided to construct an airport. They purchased the land for $900 and transferred ownership to the city of Douglas.
On February 5, 1929, the first international flight took off from Douglas Municipal Airport, making it the first international airport in the United States. This event marked a significant milestone in aviation history. The airport was also the site of the first Women's Air Derby, a transcontinental race for female pilots, in August 1929. Amelia Earhart, the renowned aviator, participated in this race and made a stop at the airport.
Douglas Municipal Airport was designed by J. P. Sexton and officially dedicated as an international airport by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on June 5, 1933. Roosevelt's signed certification letter can be found on display at the Border Air Museum, located within the airport. The airport was also the first in Arizona to use runway lights.
However, by the late 1940s, most commercial traffic was diverted to the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport, situated 9 miles north of Douglas. Consequently, the Douglas International Airport lost its international status and was renamed the Douglas Municipal Airport. Despite this change, the airport continues to operate, and its rich history remains an important part of Arizona's aviation legacy.
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Frequently asked questions
College Park Airport in Maryland, United States, is considered the oldest airport in the world and the first to be built, starting its operations in 1909.
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in London, England, was the first airport to operate scheduled international commercial services in August 1919.
Douglas Municipal Airport in Arizona, United States, became the first international airport in the Americas in 1928.
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