Sachin Walls
The 1900s saw the emergence of airports as we now know them, with the first airports being established between 1900 and 1909. However, the 1900s also represented a much slower and more antiquated form of travel, with horse-drawn carriages being the most popular mode of transport, and most travellers following waterways, mainly rivers, to reach their destinations. Air travel was still in its infancy, with the first mainstream travel by plane taking place in the 1930s. Early airports were often located near large stretches of water to accommodate large seaplanes, and they served as major centres of leisure activity, attracting visitors with restaurants, observation decks, and parking. These early airports were not designed with the requirements of aircraft and passengers in mind, and paved runways were a rarity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports founded in the 1900s | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (formerly Calcutta Aerodrome) |
| Horse-drawn carriages as the most popular mode of transport | Yes |
| Roadways were not plentiful | Yes |
| Waterways (rivers) as the main means of reaching destinations | Yes |
| Cross-continental travel | Became more prevalent in the 1910s due to the popularity of ocean liners |
| Sailing to Europe | Possible only via steamship in the 1910s |
| Airports as centres of leisure activity | Yes, attracting more visitors than passengers; La Guardia Airport in 1939 attracted almost 250,000 visitors per month, with a peak of 7,000 in one day |
| Airports with large stretches of water | La Guardia Airport and Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro |
| Airports with artificial lakes | Linate Airport near Milan, Italy |
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What You'll Learn
Kolkata Airport, India
Kolkata Airport, officially known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. In the 1900s, the airport was known as the Calcutta Aerodrome or Dum Dum Airport, serving as a crucial gateway to the city of Kolkata, one of the busiest cities in India.
During the early years of the airport in the 1920s, it featured a grass runway and was a significant hub during World War II. The airport rose to prominence in the 1940s to 1960s as a strategic stopover for flights from North America and Europe to South-East Asia, East Asia, and Australia. Airlines such as Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Lufthansa used the airport during this period.
However, with the introduction of longer-haul aircraft in the 1960s, Kolkata Airport experienced a decline. Many airlines discontinued their services, and the political turmoil of the 1971 India-Bangladesh Partition further impacted the airport's operations. This led to a lull in flights and passengers, isolating Kolkata on the global aviation map.
Despite these challenges, the airport has transformed itself and is now a key gateway to South-East Asia and the Gulf. The introduction of low-cost airlines in the Indian aviation industry in the 2000s, such as Kingfisher Airlines, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, brought a significant increase in passenger numbers.
The airport has also undergone significant upgrades and expansions to enhance its capacity and functionality. The construction of the new integrated terminal T2, with a capacity of 25 million passengers annually, has replaced the old international and domestic terminals. The airport has received accolades, including the "Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific region" by the Airport Councils International between 2014 and 2015, and the "Best Airport by Hygiene Measures" in the Asia-Pacific in 2020.
Kolkata Airport continues to play a vital role in India's aviation industry, with plans for further expansion and improvements to cater to the growing demand for air travel in the region.
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LaGuardia Airport, New York City
LaGuardia Airport, located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, is one of the busiest airports on the East Coast of the United States. The airport is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. Covering around 650 to 680 acres, it is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate.
The site of LaGuardia Airport was first used for the Gala Amusement Park, run by the Steinway family, who founded the piano company Steinway and Sons. The amusement park was torn down in 1929, and the space was converted into an airfield. The private airport was originally named the Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, honouring the American aviation pioneer. It was renamed the North Beach Airport in 1935.
Following the election of Fiorello La Guardia as mayor in 1934, there was a new era of public investment in New York City's airports. La Guardia advocated for a central "express" airport to complement the existing Floyd Bennett Field, which opened in 1930. The New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field was dedicated on October 15, 1939, and officially opened for business on December 2, 1939. The airport became a huge financial success, attracting almost 250,000 visitors per month in 1939 and making over $900,000 annually within two years of its opening from non-travel revenue.
LaGuardia Airport has been in operation for over 80 years and continues to be a significant hub for air travel in the New York metropolitan area. It serves over 25 million passengers per year on average, accommodating both domestic and limited international destinations. However, throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the airport received criticism for its outdated facilities, inefficient operations, and poor customer service. In response, a multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the airport's passenger infrastructure was completed in January 2025.
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Croydon Airport, London
The airport was developed from the combination of Beddington and Waddon aerodromes, opening on 29 March 1920. It was the gateway for all international flights to and from London, with regular scheduled flights to Paris, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Two daily flights from Paris were scheduled for ease of communication with London during the Paris Peace Conference, and flights to Berlin Tempelhof Airport began in 1923. Croydon Airport was also the site of the world's first airport hotel, the Gate Lodge, and the first control tower.
Croydon Airport was home to Britain's first national airline, Imperial Airways, founded in 1924 through a government-sponsored four-airline merger. The airport was also the departure point for many world record-breaking flights, including those of Amy Johnson, Bert Hinkler, and Alan Cobham. During World War II, the airport was named RAF Croydon and played a role in the Battle of Britain as a fighter airfield. In 1943, RAF Transport Command was founded at the site, transporting thousands of troops into and out of Europe.
After World War II, Croydon Airport returned to civil aviation, but it was enclosed by the urban spread of South London, leaving little room for expansion. As a result, the role of London's primary international airport was later passed to Heathrow Airport. Croydon Airport closed in 1959, and in 1978, the terminal building and Gate Lodge were granted protection as Grade II listed buildings.
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Le Bourget Airport, Paris
Paris–Le Bourget Airport, located 11 km north-northeast of Paris, started commercial operations in 1919 and was Paris's only airport until the construction of Orly Airport in 1932. Le Bourget Airport was the first civil airport since 1919, but it was gradually replaced, first by Orly airport in 1961 and then by Roissy airport in 1977.
Le Bourget Airport is known for its rich history in aviation. It was the landing site for Charles Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic crossing in 1927. The airport also played a significant role during the Second World War, becoming a strategic aviation hub. It was bombed and then occupied by the Luftwaffe, who repainted the buildings for camouflage. The airport was later used by the Allies, who destroyed the Labro building and devastated the Lossier hangars.
Le Bourget Airport has been featured in dozens of movies since the 1930s, sometimes as an active airport and other times as the Air and Space Museum. The airport has a unique architectural heritage, with parts of it protected since 1994. The terminal building is listed as a historical heritage site and houses the Air and Space Museum. The airport also hosts the Musée de l'air et de l'espace, France's main state-owned aviation museum, and has a statue commemorating Raymonde de Laroche, the first woman to earn a pilot's license.
Over the years, Le Bourget Airport has been the site of several notable events and crashes. In 1973, a supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashed during an aerial display at the Paris Air Show. In 1995, a Dassault Falcon 20E operating as Leadair Unijet Flight 001N crashed after takeoff due to an uncontained engine failure caused by a bird strike. In 2000, Air France Flight 4590 attempted to divert to Le Bourget but crashed shortly after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport, resulting in the only fatal Concorde accident during its operational history.
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Tempelhof Airport, Berlin
Tempelhof Airport in Berlin was one of the first airports in the city. The site has a long history, dating back to the medieval period when it was owned by the Knights Templar. From 1720 until the First World War, the site was used as a parade field by the Prussian army. In 1909, the first-ever flight demonstration in Tempelhof was performed by French aviator Armand Zipfel, followed by Orville Wright later that year.
The airport was officially designated by the Reich Ministry of Transport on 8 October 1923, and the old terminal was constructed in 1927. In the late 1930s, the Nazi government began a massive reconstruction project in anticipation of increased air traffic. During this period, the airport was a major centre of leisure activity, attracting visitors with its rooftop restaurant. Tempelhof Airport was also used for propagandistic mass rallies and as a location for the only official Berlin concentration camp.
During the Second World War, the airport played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949, becoming an international symbol of the defence of freedom during the Cold War. The airport's distinctive canopy-style roof could accommodate most contemporary airliners, protecting passengers from the elements.
Despite its historical significance, Tempelhof Airport ceased operations on 30 October 2008, with the last commercial flight departing towards Mannheim. The airport's closure was met with protests and a non-binding referendum, but low voter turnout sealed its fate. After its closure, the airport was repurposed as an 'emergency refugee shelter' during the 2015 European migrant crisis, housing over 1,200 people in its former hangars.
Today, Tempelhof Airport is recognised as Europe's largest architectural monument, offering guided tours and events that showcase its history. The airport is also being revitalised as a creative location, with plans to transform it into a hub for art, culture, and creative industries. The former US Army officers' hotel, for example, will become a digital innovation centre for startups and creative businesses.
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Frequently asked questions
In the early 1900s, airports were known as aerodromes or airfields.
No, there were not many airports in the 1900s. Air travel was still in its infancy, and most travel was done by horse-drawn carriage or by following waterways, like rivers.
Yes, there were a few airports in the US in the 1900s, but they were mostly private. The first official airport in the US was Mines Field, which opened in Los Angeles in 1928.
Yes, there were a few airports in Europe in the 1900s. Berlin's airport, for example, opened in 1909 and reported 750,000 visitors in 1929.
Yes, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India was founded in the early 1900s as the Calcutta Aerodrome. It served as a strategic stopover for flights from North America and Europe to Indochina and Australia.
