Lübeck Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Germany}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox airport | name = Lübeck Airport | nativename = ''Flughafen Lübeck'' | nativename-a = | image =  | image-width = 200 | image2 = Aerial image of the Lübeck-Blankensee airport (view from the northwest).jpg | image2-width = 250 | IATA = LBC | ICAO = EDHL | type = Public | operator = Stöcker Flughafen GmbH & Co. KG | city-served = [[Lübeck]], [[Germany]] | location =  | hub = [[Air Alsie|Lübeck Air]] | elevation-f = 53 | elevation-m = 16 | website = [http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/ flughafen-luebeck.de] | coordinates = {{coord|53|48|19|N|010|43|09|E|region:DE|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Germany Schleswig-Holstein | pushpin_mapsize = 200 | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lübeck Airport | pushpin_label = '''EDHL''' | pushpin_label_position = bottom | built = | metric-rwy = y | r1-number = 07/25 | r1-length-f = 6,896 | r1-length-m = 2,102 | r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]] | stat-year = 2022 | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 82,590 {{increase}}+133,4% | stat2-header = Aircraft movements | stat2-data = 23,089 {{increase}}{{0|0}}-11,4% | stat3-header = Cargo (metric tons) | stat3-data = {{0|00,00}}0 {{steady}}{{0|00}}0,0% | footnotes = Sources: Statistics at ADV.,<ref name="adv_2022">{{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.aero |publisher=Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen e.V. |date=2023-02-13 |access-date=2023-02-17 |language=de |format=PDF; 919 KB}}</ref> [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] at [[Deutsche Flugsicherung|German air traffic control]].<ref name="AIP">{{cite web|url=https://aip.dfs.de/BasicIFR/pages/C00457.html|title=AIP VFR online|website=dfs.de|access-date=2023-02-21|publisher=DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH|language=en}}</ref> }}

'''Lübeck Airport''' {{airport codes|LBC|EDHL}} is a minor [[Germany|German]] [[airport]] located {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Lübeck]], the second-largest city in the state of [[Schleswig-Holstein]], and {{convert|54|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Hamburg]]. It is the secondary airport for the [[Hamburg Metropolitan Region]], after the much bigger [[Hamburg Airport]],<ref>[http://www.travel-library.com/airports/europe/germany/hamburg/hamburg_lubeck_airport.html Hamburg Lubeck Airport Guide – Hamburg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915005003/http://www.travel-library.com/airports/europe/germany/hamburg/hamburg_lubeck_airport.html |date=15 September 2008 }}. Travel-library.com. Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref> and is used for a limited number of international and some occasional charter flights. The airport was therefore sometimes called "''Hamburg Lübeck''" for marketing purposes.

==History== ===Early years=== [[File:Avro Lancaster - Lübeck - British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 BU5892.jpg|thumb|An [[Avro Lancaster]] during [[Operation Exodus (WWII operation)|"Operation Exodus"]] with British ex-POWs at Lübeck Airport in 1945]] [[File:Douglas_DC-3_-_Lübeck_-_D_044287_Berlin_Airlift.jpg|thumb|A [[Douglas DC-3]] operating out of Lübeck Airport during the [[Berlin Airlift]]]] [[File:Flughafen_Lübeck_-_panoramio_(1).jpg|thumb|Runway view]] [[File:HL Damals – Flughafen – 2023 – 1.jpg|thumb|Terminal exterior]] The construction of the airport began in 1916 and was completed in 1917 when it started its operations as a military [[airfield]]. At the end of [[World War I]] the airfield was shut down. In 1933 it was re-opened and extended by the [[Luftwaffe]]. During the [[Berlin Blockade]] after [[World War II]], the [[Royal Air Force]] flew coal to Berlin and refugees to West Germany using [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas Dakota]] aircraft.

Units; {{columns-list|colwidth=40em| * [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]] between 29 April and 26 June 1947 with the [[Gloster Meteor]] F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=23}} * [[No. 2 Squadron RAF]] between 22 November and 11 December 1947 with the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] PR 19{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=23}} * [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] initially between 5 January and 11 February 1948 with the [[Hawker Tempest]] V then between 9 August and 4 September 1948 with the [[de Havilland Vampire]] F.1{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=24}} * [[No. 4 Squadron RAF]] between 1 May and 28 August 1948 with a small rotation to Wahn for two months, using the [[de Havilland Mosquito]] FB.6{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=24}} * [[No. 10 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=27}} * [[No. 16 Squadron RAF]] between 3 and 24 November 1947 and then between 14 July and 7 August 1948 with the Tempest F.2{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}} * [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=30}} * [[No. 19 Squadron RAF]] between 2 May and 29 June 1946 with the Spitfire LF 16E{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=31}} * [[No. 23 Squadron RAF]] initially between 22 September and 4 October 1946 with the Mosquito NF.30 then between 29 August and 11 September 1947 and 11 March and 25 March 1948 with the Mosquito NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=32}} * [[No. 25 Squadron RAF]] multiple times between 6 October 1945 and 30 April 1948 with the Mosquito VI & NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=33}} * [[No. 26 Squadron RAF|No. 26 (South African) Squadron RAF]] initially between 7 September 1945 and 1 April 1946 with the Spitfire XI then between 11 February and 5 July 1948 with the Tempest F.2{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=33}} * [[No. 29 Squadron RAF]] at various times between 21 September 1945 and 14 May 1948 with the Mosquito XXX & NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=34}} * [[No. 30 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=35}} * [[No. 33 Squadron RAF]] between 5 January and 11 February 1948 with the Tempest F.2{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=36}} * [[No. 41 Squadron RAF]] initially between 6 September 1945 and 31 January 1946 with the Tempest V then between 29 June and 30 August 1946 with the Spitfire F.21{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=38}} * [[No. 46 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=40}} * [[No. 53 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=42}} * [[No. 56 Squadron RAF]] between 3 May and 23 June 1948 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}} * [[No. 62 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=44}} * [[No. 63 Squadron RAF]] initially between 3 September and 30 October 1946 with the Spitfire LF 16E then between 14 May and 29 June 1948 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}} * [[No. 66 Squadron RAF]] initially between 2 September and 2 November 1946 with the Spitfire LF 16E then between 5 September 1947 and 29 April 1948 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}} * [[No. 74 Squadron RAF]] between 1 July and 28 August 1947 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=48}} * [[No. 77 Squadron RAF]] detachment during the Berlin Airlift with the Dakota{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=48}} * [[No. 80 Squadron RAF]] between 2 and 29 April and 22 July and 24 August 1948 with the Spitfire F.24{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=49}} * [[No. 85 Squadron RAF]] initially between 20 October and 3 November 1946 with the Mosquito XXX then between 19 October and 1 November 1946 with the Mosquito NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=51}} * [[No. 91 Squadron RAF|No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron RAF]] between 29 June and 29 August 1946 with the Spitfire XXI{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}} * [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|No. 92 (East India) Squadron RAF]] between 31 August and 30 October 1947 and 10 March and 29 April 1948 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}} * [[No. 107 Squadron RAF]] between 8 and 30 March and 5 and 31 July 1948 with the Mosquito VI{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}} * [[No. 129 Squadron RAF|No. 129 (Mysore) Squadron RAF]] between 2 May and 28 June 1946 with the Spitfire IXE{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=59}} * [[No. 137 Squadron RAF]] between 11 July and 20 August 1945 with the [[Hawker Typhoon]] IB{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=60}} * [[No. 141 Squadron RAF]] initially between 21 September and 5 October 1946 then 12 to 26 September 1947 and 2 to 16 April 1948 with the Mosquito NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=61}} * [[No. 151 Squadron RAF]] between 3 January and 6 September 1946 with the Mosquito XXX{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=62}} * [[No. 174 Squadron RAF|No. 174 (Mauritius) Squadron RAF]] reformed here on 26 August 1945 with the Typhoon IB, before being disbanded on 7 September 1945{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=65}} * [[No. 181 Squadron RAF]] between 7 May and 7 July 1945 with the Typhoon IB{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=65}} * [[No. 182 Squadron RAF]] between 7 May and 11 July 1945 with the Typhoon IB{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=66}} * [[No. 219 Squadron RAF|No. 219 (Mysore) Squadron RAF]] between 17 November 1945 and 25 May 1946 with the Mosquito XXX{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=72}} * [[No. 222 Squadron RAF|No. 222 (Natal) Squadron RAF]] initially between 28 April and 26 June 1947 with the Meteor F.3 then between 1 May and 28 June 1948 with the Meteor F.4{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=73}} * [[No. 245 Squadron RAF|No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron RAF]] between 29 October 1946 and 30 August 1947 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=77}} * [[No. 247 Squadron RAF|No. 247 (China-British) Squadron RAF]] between 6 May and 20 August 1945{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=77}} * [[No. 257 Squadron RAF|No. 257 (Burma) Squadron RAF]] between 31 June and 28 August 1947 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=79}} * [[No. 263 Squadron RAF|No. 263 (Fellowship of the Bellows) Squadron RAF]] reformed here on 30 August 1945 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=80}} * [[No. 264 Squadron RAF|No. 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF]] with three separate deployments between 12 August 1946 and 30 April 1948 with the Mosquito NF.36{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=80}} * [[No. 266 Squadron RAF|No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF]] between 28 April and 26 June 1947 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=81}} * [[No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron|No. 307 (Lwow) Squadron RAF]] between 4 and 15 November 1945 and between 9 and 24 February 1946 with the Mosquito XXX{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=85}} * [[No. 486 Squadron RNZAF]] between 6 July and 7 September 1945 with the Tempest V{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=94}} * [[No. 504 Squadron RAF|No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAuxAF]] detachment during 1945 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=95}} * [[No. 616 Squadron RAF|No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAuxAF]] between 7 May and 30 August 1945 with the Meteor F.3{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=101}} * [[No. 659 Squadron RAF]] between 5 and 10 May 1945 with the [[Taylorcraft Auster]] AOP.5{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=103}} * [[List of Royal Air Force units & establishments#Armament practice and training units|Armament Practice Station, Lubeck]] was here between 1 May 1946 and 30 September 1948{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=66}} * [[List of RAF Regiment units#Wings|No. 1302 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7162614|title=1302 Mobile Wing, RAF Regiment, formed Hurn April 1944; moved to St Croix Grand Tonne|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 1304 Mobile Wing RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7162616|title=1304 Mobile Wing, RAF Regiment, Tangmere; moved to St Croix sur Mer, France June 1944|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[List of RAF Regiment units#Armoured Car Squadrons|No. 1 Armoured Car Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4101423|title=RAF Regiment: No 1 Armoured Car Squadron Qastina, Ramleh, Sundern, Lubeck and Luneburg|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 20 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 20 L.A.A. Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4101437|title=RAF Regiment: No 20 L.A.A. Squadron, Buckeburg, Lubeck, Sundern, and Gutersloh|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 51 (Rifle) Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4101451|title=RAF Regiment: No 51 (Rifle) Squadron, Luneburg, Uetersen, Lubeck and Fassberg|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[List of RAF Regiment units#001-200|No. 61 (Rifle) Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4101459|title= RAF Regiment: No 61 (Rifle) Squadron, Lubeck, Buckeburg and Wahn |publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2710 Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159218|title=2710 Squadron, RAF Regiment, Valley (UK). Moved to Llanbedr 20 June 1942|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2726 Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159234|title=2726 Squadron, RAF Regiment, formed Swinderby April 1942; moved to Hornchurch 2 June|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2734 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2734 Field Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159242|title=2734 Field Squadron RAF Regiment, Redhill (UK); became Anti Aircraft squadron 17 May 1943|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2781 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2781 Field Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159289|title=2781 Field Squadron RAF Regiment, Wyton (UK); moved to Redhill 27 March 1944|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2806 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2806 (Armoured) Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159314|title=2806 (Armoured) Squadron RAF Regiment|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2819 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2819 (Anti-Aircraft) Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159327|title=2819 (Anti-Aircraft) Squadron RAF Regiment. Formed at Chelveston (Northamptonshire)|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> * [[No. 2829 Squadron RAF Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7159337|title=2829 Squadron RAF Regiment. Moved around various UK stations including Ford, Coolham|publisher=UK National Archives|access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref> }}

===Development into a low-cost airport=== After the [[German reunification|re-unification of Germany]], the airport started to grow slightly when several airlines started flying to Lübeck. In 1997, the arrival terminal was re-constructed and extended.

[[Ryanair]] started to operate from the airport in 2000 with the first flights to [[London-Stansted]]. Ryanair's route system expanded over the years until 2009. [[Wizz Air]] started operations in 2006 with flights to Gdańsk, and later other eastern European destinations. Discussions about Ryanair opening a base at the airport were held since 2009 without results.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

[[Infratil]], an infrastructure investment company from [[New Zealand]] held a 90% shareholding from November 2005 until the end of October 2009, when it sold its shares back to the City of Lübeck.<ref>[http://www.infratil.com/content/view/1921/98/ Sale of Lübeck Airport] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625204233/http://www.infratil.com/content/view/1921/98/ |date=25 June 2009 }}</ref> The new principal operator, Flughafen Lübeck GmbH, had been searching for an investor since then, when in 2013 the airport was sold to a private investor.<ref name="update">[http://www.airliners.de/klage-gegen-flughafenausbau-in-luebeck-beschaeftigt-bald-gericht/31945 Klage gegen Flughafenausbau in Lübeck beschäftigt bald Gericht]. airliners.de. Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref>

In 2010, both the financial crisis and the eruption of the [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|Eyjafjallajökull]] in [[Iceland]] led to a general decrease in passenger numbers and destinations.

A new [[Instrument landing system|ILS CAT II]] system went operational in February 2014, allowing planes to operate at the airport in more difficult weather conditions.<ref>[http://www.airliners.de/ils-cat-ii-am-flughafen-luebeck-erfolgreich-in-betrieb-gegangen/31673 ILS CAT II am Flughafen Lübeck erfolgreich in Betrieb gegangen]. airliners.de. Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref> As of March 2014, there were four lawsuits active against a further expansion of the airport.<ref name="update"/>

===Bankruptcy=== On 23 April 2014 Lübeck Airport filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/pleite-flughafen-luebeck-beantragt-insolvenz_id_3794158.html Blankensee ist pleite: Nach Führungs-Chaos: Flughafen Lübeck insolvent – Wirtschafts-News – FOCUS Online – Nachrichten]. Focus.de (23 April 2014). Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref> A few days earlier it had been reported that the owner, which bought the airport in 2013, had pulled out again.<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.shz.de/schleswig-holstein/wirtschaft/bruchlandung-fuer-luebeck-id6330231.html Bruchlandung für Lübeck]. shz.de. Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref> The airport continued to operate while the liquidator reviewed possible strategies.<ref>[http://www.aero.de/news-19496/Insolvenzverwalter-haelt-Rettung-von-Flughafen-Luebeck-fuer-moeglich.html Luftfahrt-Nachrichten und -Community]. aero.de (25 April 2014). Retrieved on 23 May 2014.</ref> In July 2014, the bankrupt airport was sold to Chinese investor ''PuRen Germany GmbH'', a subsidiary of ''PuRen Group''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aero.de/news-19952/Neuer-Chef-des-Luebecker-Flughafens-peilt-eine-Million-Passagiere-an.html|title = Neuer Chef des Lübecker Flughafens peilt eine Million Passagiere an|date = 11 July 2014}}</ref>

In June 2014 [[Ryanair]] announced it would leave Lübeck Airport as of October 2014 due to the airport's uncertain future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hl-live.de/aktuell/textstart.php?id=92088|title = Text nicht mehr vorhanden}}</ref> Soon this date was revised to July 2014, when the year-round route to [[Bergamo]] as well as the seasonal services to [[Palma de Mallorca]] and [[Pisa]] ceased. Meanwhile, Ryanair announced it would start new routes from [[Hamburg Airport]] instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/ryanair-wechselt-von-luebeck-nach-hamburg/33056|title = Ryanair wechselt von Lübeck nach Hamburg}}</ref>

In September 2015, the airport's new owner, the German subsidiary of the Chinese ''PuRen Group'', also declared bankruptcy. The state of Schleswig-Holstein had already announced it would not invest in the airport. New investors were sought and operations would be maintained until further notice.<ref>[http://www.airliners.de/betrieb-flughafen-luebeck/36846 airliners.de - Betrieb am Flughafen Lübeck geht vorerst weiter] (German) 2 October 2015</ref> As of January 2016, the selection process for a new owner of the airport was still ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/zukunft-luebecker-flughafens-schwebe/37738|title=Zukunft des Lübecker Flughafens weiterhin in der Schwebe}}</ref>

In March 2016, [[Wizz Air]] announced that it would cease all operations to and from Lübeck by 15 April 2016, leaving the airport without any scheduled passenger services. The routes to [[Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport|Gdańsk]], [[Kyiv Zhuliany International Airport|Kyiv–Zhulyany]] and [[Skopje "Alexander the Great" Airport|Skopje]] were relocated to [[Hamburg Airport]],<ref name="wizzleaves">[http://www.aerotelegraph.com/wizzair-startet-fluege-ab-hamburg-laesst-luebeck-fallen-insolvenz-pleite aerotelegraph.com - "Lübeck loses all scheduled flights"] 17 March 2016</ref> while the flights to [[Riga]] as well as the newly established route to [[Sofia]] ceased without replacement. The last scheduled commercial flight, a Wizz Air service to Sofia, left Lübeck at 20:05 local time on 15 April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aero.de/news-23893/Letzter-Linienflug-ab-Luebeck-startet-heute.html|title=Letzter Linienflug ab Lübeck startet heute|date=15 April 2016}}</ref>

===Resumption of operations=== In January 2020, Lübeck Airport announced plans to start a [[Virtual airline (economics)|virtual airline]], with scheduled flights to Stuttgart and Munich from 1 June 2020. For this purpose, an [[ATR 72-500]] was purchased, to be flown under the [[Lübeck Air]] brand and was then operated by [[Air Alsie]]. Flights eventually began on 17 August 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>[https://www.airliners.de/luebeck-air-atr-72-500-flugbetrieb-mitte-august/56598 airliners.de] (German) 22 July 2020</ref>

In March 2023, Lübeck Air announced it would end its ATR flights and seek to start jet operations with another airline. They also published a revised route network focusing on more leisure destinations, ending the route to [[Stuttgart Airport]].<ref>[https://aviation.direct/flughafen-luebeck-verschafft-sich-und-luebeck-air-einen-neuen-fokus aviation.direct] (German) 9 March 2023</ref> In September 2023, Lübeck Air announced the suspension of all flights for the upcoming winter season, leaving Lübeck Airport without scheduled operations.<ref>[https://www.airliners.de/luebeck-air-stellt-flugbetrieb-uebergehend/70770 airliners.de - "Lübeck Air temporarily suspends flight operations"] (German) 28 September 2023</ref> Later, Lübeck Air then confirmed it would not resume its own operations for the foreseeable future, depending on cooperation with other airlines from Lübeck Airport for 2024 instead.<ref>[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/luebeck-air-verlaengert-winterschlaf-in-den-sommer aerotelegraph.com] (German) 28 December 2023</ref>

In 2024, [[Ryanair]] announced it would return to Lübeck after a ten-year hiatus, inaugurating scheduled flights to [[London]], [[Málaga]] and [[Palma de Mallorca]] in 2025.<ref>[https://www.airliners.de/ryanair-kehrt-luebeck-ueck/78095 airliners.de - "Ryanair returns to Lübeck"] (German) 6 December 2024</ref>

==Facilities== Lübeck Airport features one small terminal building, containing check-in facilities, a shop and some restaurants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/shops-gastronomie.html |title=Shops / Gastronomie - Flughafen Lübeck |access-date=2013-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007230706/http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/shops-gastronomie.html |archive-date=7 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The apron features three stands for walk-boarding, which are suitable for mid-sized aircraft such as the [[Airbus A320]], as well as some stands for smaller [[general aviation]] aircraft.

==Airlines and destinations==  The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights at Lübeck Airport:<ref>[https://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/flugpl%C3%A4ne.html flughafen-luebeck.de - Schedules] (German) 8 September 2021</ref>

{{airport-dest-list  | [[Corendon Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]]<ref>{{Cite web | title=Corendon fliegt im Herbst von LÃ¼beck nach Antalya {{!}} aeroTELEGRAPH | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/ticker/corendon-fliegt-im-herbst-von-luebeck-nach-antalya/ms53hrz | access-date=2025-10-04 | website=www.aerotelegraph.com | date=29 January 2025 }}</ref>  | [[Ryanair]]<ref>[https://www.airliners.de/ryanair-kehrt-luebeck-ueck/78095 airliners.de - "Ryanair returns to Lübeck"] (German) 6 December 2024</ref> | [[Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]],<ref name="aeroroutes_250306-frns25">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250306-frns25|title=Ryanair NS25 Network Additions – 02MAR25|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=6 March 2025|accessdate=25 March 2025|language=en}}</ref> [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]],<ref name="aeroroutes_250306-frns25"/> [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]]<ref name="aeroroutes_250306-frns25"/>  | Skyhub PAD (operated by [[DAT (airline)|DAT]]) | [[Munich Airport|Munich]] (ends 9 June 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skyhub PAD stellt Betrieb ein - keine Flüge mehr zwischen Paderborn/Lippstadt und München|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/airlines/skyhub-pad-stellt-betrieb-ein-keine-fluege-mehr-zwischen-paderbornlippstadt-und/m6grk4z |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=aerotelegraph.com |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DAT verbindet ab Ende April Lübeck mit München|url=https://www.airliners.de/skyhub-pad-verbindet-april-luebeck-muenchen/86254 |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=airliners.de |language=de}}</ref>  }}

==Statistics==  {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" align="center" |+ |- ! style="width:75px"| !! {{nowrap|Passengers}} |- !2000 | 184,622 |- !2001 | {{increase}} 231,094 |- !2002 | {{increase}} 270,188 |- !2003 | {{increase}} 539,580 |- !2004 | {{increase}} 598,777 |- !2005 | {{increase}} 715,731 |- !2006 | {{decrease}} 677,638 |- !2007 | {{decrease}} 612,858 |- !2008 | {{decrease}} 534,509 |- !2009 | {{increase}} 688,302 |- !2010 | {{decrease}} 537,835 |- !2011 | {{decrease}} 344,068 |- !2012 | {{increase}} 359,974 |- !2013 | {{increase}} 367,252 |- !2014 | {{decrease}} 168,593 |- | colspan=5 align="right"| ''Source: ADV'',<ref>[http://www.adv.aero adv.aero]</ref> ''Lübeck Airport''<ref name="flughafen-luebeck.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/images/02-unternehmen/06-zahlen_fakten_daten/02-monatsstatistik/ab2000.pdf |title=Flughafen Lübeck - Jahresstatistiken 2000-2013 |access-date=2014-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013855/http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/images/02-unternehmen/06-zahlen_fakten_daten/02-monatsstatistik/ab2000.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> |}

==Ground transportation== [[File:Lübeck Flughafen.jpg|thumb|[[Lübeck-Flughafen station|Lübeck Airport station]] with a local train towards [[Kiel]]]] Lübeck Airport can be reached via motorways [[Bundesautobahn 1|A1]] which leads towards [[Hamburg]] and [[Bundesautobahn 20|A20]] which runs to the east through [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] (exit ''Lübeck-Süd''). The local bus line 6 runs every 30 minutes and connects the airport with Lübeck's main bus station ("ZOB"). Regional trains run every hour between [[Kiel]] and [[Lüneburg]], stopping at the airport's own station ''[[Lübeck-Flughafen station|Lübeck-Flughafen]]'' on the single-track non-electrified [[Lübeck–Lüneburg railway]]. Those trains also serve [[Lübeck Hauptbahnhof|Lübeck main station]]. Connecting trains are available at Lübeck Hauptbahnhof or in [[Büchen]] to Hamburg and other destinations.

==See also== * [[Transport in Germany]] * [[List of airports in Germany]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= [[Shrewsbury]] |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=Ray|last2=Hamlin|first2=John|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 |year=2007 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location=[[Tonbridge]], UK|isbn=978-0851-3036-59}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * [http://www.flughafen-luebeck.de/ Official website] * {{NWS-current|EDHL}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022111254/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=LBC Accident history for LBC] at [[Aviation Safety Network]]

[[Category:Transport in Lübeck]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Lübeck]] [[Category:Airports in Schleswig-Holstein]]