Erfurt–Weimar Airport

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{{Infobox airport

| name = Erfurt–Weimar Airport

| nativename = Flughafen Erfurt–Weimar

| image = Logo_Flughafen_Erfurt-Weimar.svg

| image-width = 150

| image2 = Luftbild_Flughafen_Erfurt.jpg

| image2-width = 250

| IATA = ERF

| ICAO = EDDE

| type = Public

| owner =

| operator = Flughafen Erfurt GmbH

| city-served = Erfurt and Weimar

| location = Erfurt, Germany

| focus_city =

| elevation-f = 1,036

| elevation-m = 316

| website = [http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/ Flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de]

| coordinates = {{coord|50|58|47|N|010|57|29|E|region:DE|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Germany Thuringia#Germany#Europe

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the airport in Thuringia

| pushpin_label = EDDE

| metric-rwy = Y

| r1-number = 10/28

| r1-length-m = 2,600

| r1-length-f = 8,530

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2022

| stat1-header = Passengers

| stat1-data = {{increase}} 137,779

| stat2-header = Aircraft movements

| stat2-data = {{decrease}} 6,048

| stat3-header = Freight (in tons)

| stat3-data = {{decrease}} 925

| footnotes = Source: Statistics, ADV{{cite web|url=https://www.adv.aero/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12.2022-ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |title=ADV Monthly Traffic Report 12/2022 |website=adv.org |publisher=Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen e.V. |date=2023-02-13 |access-date=2023-02-21}},
AIP at German air traffic control.{{cite web|url=https://aip.dfs.de/BasicIFR/pages/C00227.html|title=AIP VFR online|website=dfs.de|access-date=2023-02-21|publisher=DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH|language=en}}

}}

Erfurt–Weimar Airport{{cite web|title=Erfurt–Weimar Airport|url=http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/en/|website=Flughafen.erfurt.weimar.de|access-date=20 December 2011|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628151058/http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/en/|url-status=dead}} ({{langx|de|Flughafen Erfurt–Weimar}}, formerly Erfurt Airport, {{airport codes|ERF|EDDE|p=n}}) serves Erfurt, the capital of the German state of Thuringia, and the nearby city of Weimar, both of which form the largest part of the state's central metropolitan area. The airport is {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} west of Erfurt city center and is mainly used for seasonal charter flights to European leisure destinations.

History

=Foundation and early years=

The first Erfurt airport was built in the mid-1920s at Roter Berg in the north of the city, later also known as Erfurt-North. At the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, this site was taken over by the Luftwaffe, thus ending passenger traffic. With the end of the war in 1945, Erfurt-North was closed, but in 1956, the pre-military organisation Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik resumed glider operations here. In 1974, the airfield was finally closed in order to build the residential area Roter Berg on the site.Zapf, Jürgen: "Flugplätze der Luftwaffe 1934-1945, Band 3 Thüringen", VDM Heinz Nickel 2003

The foundation for today's Erfurt–Weimar Airport was laid in 1935, when a new air base was built by the Luftwaffe west of Erfurt near Bindersleben. In 1945 the air base was taken over by the Red Army, which stationed an alert unit with MiG-15 fighter planes here in the 1950s. Around 1957 the airfield was handed over to the East German authorities who extended it and built a 2000 m long concrete runway. In the following years the airfield was used by the East German Lufthansa and later by Interflug for domestic flights until these were discontinued in 1980. In addition, there were individual connections to socialist countries, especially to Budapest in Hungary. Erfurt was also a base for Interflug’s agricultural aviation with the Erfurt district squadron stationed here.Grenzdörfer, Joachim; Seifert, Karl-Dieter: "Geschichte der ostdeutschen Verkehrsflughäfen", Bernard & Graefe Verlag Bonn 1997

=Development since 1990=

After German reunification, Erfurt Airport was further expanded and the runway was extended to 2600 m.

The airport's name was changed from Erfurt Airport in 2011,{{cite web|title=A new season. A new name.|url=http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/en/news/wir-starten-in-den-sommer.html|website=Flughafen.erfurt.weimar.de|access-date=20 December 2011|archive-date=22 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422090437/http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/en/news/wir-starten-in-den-sommer.html|url-status=dead}} it was felt that from a marketing point of view the addition of Weimar to the name would better sell the area due to its historic importance.

Despite its importance as a state capital and its central location within Germany, the airport features no domestic flights. The only route to Munich Airport offered by Cirrus Airlines ceased by March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/web/zgt/wirtschaft/detail/-/specific/Cirrus-Airline-will-Fluglinie-Erfurt-Muenchen-einstellen-1288250500|title=Cirrus-Airline will Fluglinie Erfurt - München einstellen|website=Theueringer-allgemeine.de|date=15 September 2011|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925071839/https://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/wirtschaft/cirrus-airline-will-fluglinie-erfurt-muenchen-einstellen-id218139991.html|url-status=dead}} However, the city became one of Germany's most important long distance railway hubs by 2017, when the newly constructed Munich-Berlin high-speed line met the Frankfurt-Dresden line at Erfurt main station. As a result, it is possible to reach Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich within two hours by rail from Erfurt, making domestic flights redundant.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ice-knoten.de/ueberblick/ |title=ICE-Knoten Erfurt: Überblick |access-date=2015-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402034334/http://www.ice-knoten.de/ueberblick |archive-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=dead }} After the shutdown of Germania in early 2019, the airport lost the vast majority of its routes.

Facilities

The airport consists of one passenger and one business terminal. The passenger terminal features two aircraft parking positions and four boarding gates on two levels, the upper ones are equipped with jet bridges. There are also some shops and restaurants, a visitors terrace as well as travel and rental car agencies inside the terminal.{{cite web|url=http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/lageplaene.html|title=An- und Abreise|website=Flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128012733/http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/lageplaene.html|url-status=dead}} The apron also features several additional bus-boarding stands for mid-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 737.

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Erfurt–Weimar Airport:{{cite web|url=https://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/reisen-aviation/flugplan.html#sommer-2021|title=flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de - Flight Schedule|website=Flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de|access-date=1 October 2021}}

{{Airport destination list

| Aegean Airlines | Seasonal charter: Heraklion{{cite web | url=https://aviation.direct/en/Charter-Aegean-takes-Heraklion-Erfurt | title=Charter: Aegean takes on Heraklion-Erfurt | date=14 February 2024 }}

| Air Cairo | Seasonal: Hurghada{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240823-smns25hrg|title=Air Cairo NS25 Hurghada – Germany Network Additions|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=23 August 2024|accessdate=25 March 2025|language=en}}

| Corendon Airlines | Antalya,{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221020-xcxrnw22|title=Corendon Airlines NW22 Scheduled Service Adjustment – 20OCT22|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=11 November 2024|language=en-ca}} Hurghada
Seasonal: Heraklion{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220406-xrns22|title=Corendon Airlines Europe NS22 Network Expansion|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=6 April 2022|accessdate=2 January 2025|language=en-ca}}

| Eurowings | Seasonal: Palma de Mallorca{{cite web | url=https://aviation.direct/sommer-2024-eurowings-nimmt-erfurt-palma-de-mallorca-auf | title=Sommer 2024: Eurowings nimmt Erfurt-Palma de Mallorca auf | date=25 October 2023 }}

| Fly Lili | Seasonal charter: Burgas{{cite web | url=https://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/reisen-aviation/news-single-view.html?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1756 | title=Im Sommer 2024 von Erfurt nach Bulgarien

}}

| Freebird Airlines | Seasonal: Antalya{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230821-fhsep23ayterf|title=Freebird Airlines Resumes Antalya – Erfurt Service From late-Sep 2023|website=AeroRoutes}}

| Pegasus Airlines | Seasonal: Antalya (begins 26 April 2025){{cite web |title=Pegasus NS25 Network Additions – 22DEC24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241227-pcns25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=27 December 2024}}

| SunExpress | Seasonal: Antalya{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240809-xqsep24erf|title=SunExpress Adds Antalya – Erfurt from late-Sep 2024|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=9 August 2024|accessdate=3 February 2025|language=en-ca}}

| Tailwind Airlines | Seasonal charter: Antalya{{Cite web|url=https://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/reisen-aviation/flugplan.html#sommer-2023|title=Flughafen Erfurt Weimar: Flugplan|website=www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de}}

}}

Statistics

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-M0702-0024, Erfurt, Flughafen, Tower, Flugzeug.jpg

File:2011-05-18-flughafen-erfurt-by-RalfR-22.jpg

File:2011-05-18-flughafen-erfurt-by-RalfR-20.jpg

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; width:200px;" align="center" \|+
style="width:75px"\|	{{nowrap\|Passengers}}
2000 \| 481,573
2001 \| {{decrease}} 471,624
2002 \| {{decrease}} 445,504
2003 \| {{increase}} 464,681
2004 \| {{increase}} 526,241
2005 \| {{decrease}} 438,912
2006 \| {{decrease}} 356,378
2007 \| {{decrease}} 315,759
2008 \| {{decrease}} 308,228
2009 \| {{decrease}} 270,267
2010 \| {{increase}} 322,073
2011 \| {{decrease}} 280,913
2012 \| {{decrease}} 183,999
2013 \| {{increase}} 214,948
2014{{cite web\|url=http://www.flugrevue.de/zivilluftfahrt/airport/erfurt-weimar-waechst-und-spart/606330\|title=Plus 14 Prozent bei der Luftfracht: Erfurt-Weimar wächst – und spart\|website=Flugrevue.de\|date=16 January 2015\|access-date=13 August 2018\|archive-date=24 September 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034627/http://www.flugrevue.de/zivilluftfahrt/airport/erfurt-weimar-waechst-und-spart/606330\|url-status=dead}} \| {{increase}} 226,581
2015 \| {{increase}} 230,436
2016 \| {{increase}} 235,331
2017 \| {{increase}} 282,731
2018 \| {{decrease}} 262,530
2019 \| {{decrease}} 156,326
2020 \| {{decrease}} 27,542
2021 \| {{increase}} 71,665
2022 \| {{increase}} 137,779
2023 \| {{decrease}} 134,547
colspan="5" style="text-align:right;"\| ^{Source: ADV German Airports Association}{{Cite web \|title=Downloadbibliothek \|url=https://www.adv.aero/service/downloadbibliothek/ \|access-date=2023-02-21 \|website=Flughafenverband ADV \|language=de}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; width:200px;" align="center"

style="width:75px"|

2000

| 481,573

2001

| {{decrease}} 471,624

2002

| {{decrease}} 445,504

2003

| {{increase}} 464,681

2004

| {{increase}} 526,241

2005

| {{decrease}} 438,912

2006

| {{decrease}} 356,378

2007

| {{decrease}} 315,759

2008

| {{decrease}} 308,228

2009

| {{decrease}} 270,267

2010

| {{increase}} 322,073

2011

| {{decrease}} 280,913

2012

| {{decrease}} 183,999

2013

| {{increase}} 214,948

2014{{cite web|url=http://www.flugrevue.de/zivilluftfahrt/airport/erfurt-weimar-waechst-und-spart/606330|title=Plus 14 Prozent bei der Luftfracht: Erfurt-Weimar wächst – und spart|website=Flugrevue.de|date=16 January 2015|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034627/http://www.flugrevue.de/zivilluftfahrt/airport/erfurt-weimar-waechst-und-spart/606330|url-status=dead}}

| {{increase}} 226,581

2015

| {{increase}} 230,436

2016

| {{increase}} 235,331

2017

| {{increase}} 282,731

2018

| {{decrease}} 262,530

2019

| {{decrease}} 156,326

2020

| {{decrease}} 27,542

2021

| {{increase}} 71,665

2022

| {{increase}} 137,779

2023

| {{decrease}} 134,547

colspan="5" style="text-align:right;"| ^{Source: ADV German Airports Association}{{Cite web |title=Downloadbibliothek |url=https://www.adv.aero/service/downloadbibliothek/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Flughafenverband ADV |language=de}}

Ground transportation

=Car=

The airport can be reached via nearby A71 motorway (Erfurt-Bindersleben exit) which leads from Erfurt to Schweinfurt in Bavaria.{{cite web|url=http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/routenplanung.html|title=An- und Abreise|website=Flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128064733/http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/routenplanung.html|url-status=dead}}

=Tram=

Erfurt Tram line No. 4{{Cite web |url=http://evag-erfurt.de/ |title=Herzlich willkommen bei der EVAG |access-date=2005-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050703023459/http://www.evag-erfurt.de/ |archive-date=2005-07-03 |url-status=dead }} to the suburb of Bindersleben stops in front of the airport. The trams depart every 10–20 minutes and connect the airport with Erfurt's main train station via the city centre in about 20 minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/oeffentliche-verkehrsmittel.html|title=An- und Abreise|website=Flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128035731/http://www.flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de/flughafen/an-und-abreise/oeffentliche-verkehrsmittel.html|url-status=dead}}