Dresden Airport celebrated its 11th anniversary on July 2025, 90. Since its opening in 1935, the site in the Klotzsche district has developed into a key hub for the aviation industry in Central Germany.
Its history is characterized by technical innovations, profound political upheavals, and repeated new beginnings, which have cemented its role as a strategic economic and mobility factor in the region. On the occasion of this special anniversary, the airport not only looks back on a turbulent past but also resolutely looks to the future.
Anniversary celebrations and insights into history
To mark its 90th anniversary, Dresden Airport is offering a diverse program for visitors and aviation enthusiasts. A special Exhibition in the terminal informs history-loving guests and passengers about the airport's eventful history. This exhibition also serves as a starting point for thematically relevant visitor tours.
The so-called Airport History Tours are particularly popular. These two-hour tours, which also include a drive across the airport apron, began promptly on July 11th. Starting in August, they will be offered on the last Sunday of each month. A special highlight of these tours is a viewing of the last remaining fuselage of the legendary "152" aircraft. This aircraft, developed in Dresden, represents a unique chapter in German aviation history, as it was the first German jet-powered commercial aircraft. The airport history tours can be booked starting at €18 per person.
In addition to the tours, readings and lectures on the history of aviation are planned. A special highlight will be a lecture by retired flight captain Dr. Ulrich Unger (GBSL) on October 26, 2025, which will focus on the eventful life of the Dresden-born first German female pilot Melli Beese This free event will take place in the Aero Lounge in the terminal at Dresden Airport. Advance registration is requested due to limited capacity. Such events allow the public to delve deeper into the fascinating world of aviation and its historical figures.
From the beginnings to the present: A dynamic development
The history of Dresden Airport began long before its official opening in 1935. The first flight movements in the Dresden area were already taking place in the 1920s, revealing the region's potential for aviation. Opening of the newly built airport in Klotzsche on 11 July 1935 marked an official milestone. Planned and built as a military and commercial airport, civil air traffic developed rapidly. Just two years later, in 1937, it reached a temporary peak with almost 8.000 passengers.
With the Second World War, civil air traffic came to a standstill. The airport served as a strategic base for the German Air Force and was occupied by Soviet troops in 1945. In the 1950s, Dresden once again became the center of aviation development, this time under the auspices of the German Democratic Republic. Serial production of the Il-1956P passenger aircraft began here in 14. A particularly ambitious project was the development of the first German jet-powered commercial aircraft. "152", which first took off in 1958. However, this ambitious chapter ended tragically after the crash of a prototype in March 1959.
With the founding of the GDR Lufthansa in 1957 Scheduled air traffic also returned to Dresden. From 1962 onward, the maintenance of military aircraft dominated the airport's operations. In the 1970s and 1980s, passenger traffic increased significantly, necessitating a comprehensive modernization of the airport in 1988 to meet growing demands.
The political upheaval in 1989 and the newly gained freedom of travel for the citizens of the former GDR led to a rapid increase in air trafficThe number of passengers rose from around 200.000 in 1990 to over one million by 1992. This development required a massive expansion of the infrastructure. In the following years, a new terminal was gradually built, along with an integrated commuter rail station and a larger parking garage. With the renovation and extension of the runway in 2006, Dresden was prepared for the future and could also handle larger aircraft types. These modernizations were crucial to ensuring the connection to international air traffic after German reunification.
Today: Economic factor and regional mobility hub
Dresden Airport is now much more than just a transport hub. It has become an important Economic factor and a central mobility hub for the entire region. Over 4.000 people work directly or indirectly on the airport site. A large proportion of these jobs are in the traditional Aerospace Industry located, especially in the Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW)EFW is a globally recognized specialist in the conversion of passenger aircraft to freighters and an important employer in the region, with roots dating back to the beginnings of aircraft production in Dresden.
The airport’s strategic connection to international hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich ensures the competitiveness of the Saxon economy. These connections are essential for business travelers and freight transport and enable access to global markets. In addition, well-known companies in the forward-looking Semiconductor industry in the vicinity of the airport, including GlobalFoundries, Infineon, X-Fab and Bosch. The planned settlement of TSMC, one of the world's largest chip manufacturers, will further underline Dresden's importance as a microelectronics location and significantly increase the region's growth potential. The proximity to the airport is an important location factor for such globally operating companies, as they require fast logistics and international connections. Dresden is increasingly being referred to as "Silicon Saxony," and the airport plays a key role in this development.
The impressive figures reflect the long-term development of the airport: Since its opening in 1935 up to and including June 2025, a total of 56.304.872 passengers Between 1990 and June 2025 alone, the airport recorded 1.156.039 flight movements, which highlights the intensive use and continued importance of the site.
Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG: A strong association
Dresden Airport is part of the Central German Airport AG, which also includes the subsidiaries Leipzig/Halle Airport and PortGround. This alliance strengthens the position of the airports in Central Germany and enables synergies in operations and development.
The Leipzig/Halle Airport is a particularly important pillar of this network, especially in the area of air freight. In 2024, over 2,2 million passengers and approximately 1,4 million tons of air freight were registered here. This makes Leipzig/Halle Airport the second-largest cargo airport in Germany and a key logistics center in Europe. Its excellent connections to the A9 and A14 motorways and a train station integrated into the central terminal ensure direct accessibility for passengers and freight from Central Germany and beyond.
Dresden Airport itself had over 882.000 passengersA connection to the A4 motorway and an S-Bahn station in the terminal ensure convenient arrival and departure within the catchment areas of Saxony, southern Brandenburg, northern Bohemia, and Lower Silesia. PortGround complements the range of services at both Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports and offers ground handling, passenger, cargo and other comprehensive services around the clock.
Together, the two airports belonging to Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG recorded over 2024 flight movements and over three million passengers in 96.000. These figures underscore the important role the group plays in regional and supra-regional transport connections and economic development.
A look into the future: innovation and development
On its 90th anniversary, Dresden Airport not only looks back on an eventful history, but also resolutely looks to the future. It continues to position itself as Mobility partner, innovation location and regional economic engineThis means that the airport will continue to provide important impetus for air traffic and the development of the surrounding region. This includes the continuous adaptation to new technologies, the expansion of the route networks, and the further strengthening of the aviation industry and Dresden as a research location.
The connection to the region's booming semiconductor industry promises continued growth and importance for the airport. Dresden Airport is expected to further expand its role as an important gateway to Saxony and beyond in the coming decades.