Owais Crawford
The old Munich Airport, known as Munich-Riem Airport, was located near the old village of Riem in the borough of Trudering-Riem in the east of Munich. It was operational from 1939 to 1992, serving as the international airport of the Bavarian capital. The airport was decommissioned on May 16, 1992, and operations were moved to a new location near Freising, with the new airport opening the next day. The old airport site was initially used for events and as a flea market before being redeveloped into Messestadt Riem, a new urban district with housing, recreational areas, and an exhibition centre. Today, only a few remnants of the old airport remain, including the control tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall, which are protected monuments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Munich-Riem Airport |
| Location | Riem, near the old village of Riem in the borough of Trudering-Riem in the east of Munich |
| IATA Airport Code | MUC |
| ICAO Airport Code | EDDM |
| Operational Years | 1939-1992 |
| Number of Passengers Handled | 250 million |
| Air Freight Handled | 900,000 tons |
| Air Mail Handled | 330,000 tons |
| Number of Aircraft Movements | 4 million |
| Runway Length | 2,804 metres |
| Replacement Airport | Franz Josef Strauss Airport |
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What You'll Learn
The old Munich-Riem Airport was located near the old village of Riem
During its operational years, the Munich-Riem Airport witnessed significant events and milestones. It was almost entirely destroyed by bombings in 1945 during World War II. After the war, it became the first airport in Germany to resume civil aviation operations in 1948. The airport saw continuous growth in passenger numbers and air traffic, leading to plans for expansion as early as 1954. However, due to its proximity to the city centre and several air accidents, the decision was made to build a new airport further away from the city.
The old Munich-Riem Airport officially ceased operations on May 16, 1992, after almost 53 years of service. During its time, it handled approximately 250 million passengers, 900,000 tons of air freight, and 330,000 tons of air mail. The site was redeveloped into Messestadt Riem, a new urban district with housing projects, recreational areas, and a convention centre.
Today, only a few remnants of the old airport remain. The control tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall have been placed under monument protection and still stand as reminders of the airport's past. The area has been transformed, with the New Munich Trade Fair Centre and the trade fair city of Riem occupying the former airport's site.
The old Munich-Riem Airport holds a significant place in the history of aviation in Munich. Its construction and operation marked a pivotal moment in the city's development as a transportation hub, and its legacy continues to be remembered through the preserved structures that once served the airport's functions.
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It was operational from 1939 to 1992
Munich-Riem Airport was the international airport of Munich, the capital city of Bavaria, from 1939 to 1992. It was located near the old village of Riem in the borough of Trudering-Riem in the east of Munich. Construction began in 1936, and the first plane landed on 25 October 1939, signalling the beginning of air traffic. At the time, it was one of the most modern airports in the world, replacing the airfield at Oberwiesenfeld (now the site of the Olympic Village).
During World War II, it was home to Adolf Galland's legendary Jagdverband 44. On 9 April 1945, it was almost completely destroyed by bombings. After the war, Munich-Riem was the first airport in Germany to be used for civil aviation. Post-war operations started on 6 April 1948, and on 12 October 1949, Flughafen München-Riem GmbH (Munich-Riem Airport Ltd.) was founded.
The airport continued to expand and modernise throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1962, more than one million passengers passed through the airport. However, due to its proximity to the city centre and several air accidents, the decision was made to build a new airport further away from the city. In 1969, the Bavarian government officially decided to construct a new airport in the area called "Erdinger Moos".
Munich-Riem Airport was decommissioned on 16 May 1992, and operations moved to the new location. The new airport opened on 17 May 1992, and the old airport site was initially used for events and as a flea market. Over time, the old airport grounds were redeveloped into Messestadt Riem, a new urban district consisting of housing projects, a shopping mall, recreational areas, and an exhibition and convention centre. Today, only a few remnants of the old airport remain, including the control tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall, which are protected monuments.
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The airport was decommissioned in May 1992
Munich-Riem Airport was officially decommissioned on 16 May 1992 at 10:55 p.m. after almost 53 years of service. The airport's operating license expired in August 1992. The new Munich Airport, located in Erdinger Moos, commenced operations on 17 May 1992, with Terminal 1 being the older terminal. The new airport is named after former Bavarian minister-president Franz Josef Strauss.
The decommissioning of the old Munich airport was the result of a decision made in 1969 to build a new airport in a different location. The old airport had served as the international airport of Munich, the capital city of Bavaria and the third-largest city in Germany. However, with rising passenger numbers and a growing population in the surrounding area, it became necessary to relocate the airport to a new site.
In the years that followed its closure, the old airport site in Riem was used for various purposes. It initially served as an event location and flea market area, hosting large events such as concerts and raves. The remaining terminal buildings, including Zeppelinhalle, Charterhalle, Terminal 1, and Wappensaal, were utilised for this purpose. Riem gained international recognition in the techno, alternative, and rock music scenes, with Nirvana's last concert taking place there on 1 March 1994.
From 1992 to 1996, the former airport grounds were transformed into a cultural centre. However, over time, the remnants of the old airport gradually disappeared to make way for the new Munich Trade Fair Centre and the trade fair city of Riem. The Lufthansa maintenance hangar, for instance, was demolished in November 1996.
Today, only a few remnants of the old Munich-Riem Airport remain. These include the airport tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall, which have been placed under monument protection. The control tower, an eight-storey structure, has been converted into a modern office complex, serving as a reminder of the airport's former glory.
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The site is now home to the New Munich Trade Fair Centre
The former Munich-Riem Airport was officially decommissioned on May 16, 1992, after nearly 53 years of service. The airport, located near the old village of Riem in the borough of Trudering-Riem in eastern Munich, was one of the most modern airports in the world when it opened in 1939.
In the years following its closure, the old airport site in Riem served as an event venue and flea market. The new exhibition grounds and Messestadt Riem, including Riemer Park, were gradually constructed on the former airport grounds, beginning in 1994. The New Munich Trade Fair Centre and the trade fair city of Riem are now located on the approximately 500-hectare site of the former airport.
The New Munich Trade Fair Centre is part of Messestadt Riem, a new urban district that has emerged on the site of the old airport. Housing projects, a shopping mall, recreational areas, and the Neue Messe München, an exhibition and convention centre, are all part of this new development. The district is well-connected to the rest of the city, with the S-Bahn station located in the Central Area, which was originally built as part of Terminal 1.
While most of the old airport has been dismantled to make way for the new development, a few remnants remain. The airport tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall are protected monuments that still stand today, reminding visitors of the site's aviation history. The control tower, an eight-storey building with 14,000 square metres of floor space, was converted into a modern office complex in 2016 and now serves as the headquarters of BRAINLAB. The airport lobby, also known as the Wappenhalle, is another protected monument that has been integrated into the new development.
The New Munich Trade Fair Centre has become a hub for business and recreation, hosting various events and exhibitions. It is easily accessible and well-integrated into the surrounding urban fabric, contributing to the vibrant and dynamic nature of the city of Munich.
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The airport was replaced by Franz Josef Strauss Airport
Munich-Riem Airport was the international airport of Munich, the capital city of Bavaria, from 1939 until 1992. The airport was officially decommissioned on May 16, 1992, at 10:55 p.m. after almost 53 years of service. During the night from May 16 to May 17, 1992, operations moved to a new location near Freising, and the new airport, Franz Josef Strauss Airport, took over.
The new airport is named after former Bavarian minister-president Franz Josef Strauss and is located 28.5 km (17.7 mi) northeast of Munich, in the area of "Erdinger Moos". The decision to build a new airport in Erdinger Moos was taken by the Bavarian government on August 5, 1969, due to the inability to expand the Riem Airport further, as well as security concerns due to its proximity to the city centre. Construction of the new airport began on November 3, 1980, and it finally opened on May 17, 1992, with a capacity of 12 million passengers per year.
The old airport site in Riem was initially used for events and as a flea market area. The remaining terminal buildings were also used for large events such as concerts and raves. In 1994, the new exhibition grounds and the Messestadt Riem with the Riemer Park were built on the old airport grounds. The airport tower, the grandstand, and the coat of arms hall were placed under monument protection in 1995 and still remain today. The control tower was converted into a modern office complex in 2016 and now serves as the headquarters of BRAINLAB. The rest of the old airport has been redeveloped into a new urban district, Messestadt Riem, consisting of housing projects, a shopping mall, recreational areas, and the Neue Messe München, an exhibition and convention centre.
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Frequently asked questions
The old Munich airport, Munich-Riem Airport, was located near the old village of Riem in the borough of Trudering-Riem in the east of Munich.
Munich-Riem Airport closed on 16 May 1992, with operations moving to the new airport near Freising overnight.
The new Munich Trade Fair Centre and the trade fair city of Riem are now located on the site of the old airport. The area has been redeveloped into Messestadt Riem, a new urban district consisting of housing projects, a shopping mall, recreational areas and an exhibition and convention centre.
