The world's oldest airports

 

​We make a flying visit to the world's 12 oldest continuously operating airports...

12. Albany International

Founded: 1928

Annual passengers: 2,393,506 (2013)

While an airport was established in Albany, New York, in 1909, with early aviation pioneers such as Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh stopping there, the airport was moved to the current site in 1928.

11. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, US

Founded: 1920

Passengers: 36,582,854 (2015)

Visited by Howard Hughes on his round-the-world flight in 1938, Minneapolis-St. Paul is currently served by 17 airlines, with Delta being by far its biggest customer.

10. Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, Australia

Founded: 1920

Passengers: 39,656,000 (2014/15)

Established in 1920, with regular flights starting in 1924, Sydney Kingsford Smith remains the only major hub to serve the city and is the headquarters of Qantas.

9. Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France

Founded: 1919

Passengers: general aviation traffic only.

The French capital's only airport until work began on Paris-Orly in 1932, Le Bourget is where Hitler began his one and only tour of Paris in June 1940. It closed to international traffic in 1977 and regional traffic in 1980, but hosts the Paris Air Show every two years. Pictured here is Charles Lindbergh.

8. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, The Netherlands

Founded: 1916

Passengers: 58,284,864 (2015)

The busiest of the world's elderly airports, Amsterdam Schiphol was established as a military airbase in 1916 and has been used by civilian aircraft since 1920.

7. Rome Ciampino Airport, Italy

Founded: 1916

Passengers: 5,834,201 (2015)

Opened in 1916 and here seen welcoming Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, Ciampino suffered decades of stagnation following the opening of Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in 1960, but was revitalised by low-cost carriers. Ryanair now operates almost every service to and from the airport - Wizz Air the remainder.

6. Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

Founded: 1914

Passengers: 9,170,681 (2015)

A major US command hub during the Vietnam War, Don Mueang was closed for several months in 2011 due to flooding. 

5. Bremen Airport, Germany

Founded: 1913

Passengers: 2,660,754 (2015)

Early customers at Bremen included KLM, the world's oldest airline. It was used as an airbase by the US army from 1945 until 1949.

 

4. Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu Airport, Romania

Founded: 1912

Passengers: 12,925 (2013)

The hub for the airline TAROM during the communist period, Aurel Vlaicu is now solely used by charter flights and private jets.

3. Shoreham Airport, UK

Founded: 1911

Passengers: 452 (2014)

Britain's oldest continuously operating airport, found in Sussex, is now used solely by light aircraft. Note: the site of Blackpool Airport was first used for aviation in 1909, but soon became a racecourse and then a military hospital. Flights did not resume until the 1930s. 

2. Hamburg Airport, Germany

Founded: 1911

Passengers: 15,610,072 (2015)

Opened in January 1911, Hamburg Airport was used as a staging area during the Berlin Airlift in 1948.

 

1. College Park Airport, Maryland, US

Founded: 1909

Passengers: general aviation traffic only.

Known as "the cradle of aviation", this was where the first aeroplane - a Wright Type A biplane - was uncrated and assembled on October 7, 1909.