Flughafen Leipzig 1989-1994

The political and economic changes that occurred after autumn 1989 resulted in the breaking-up of the state-owned airline INTERFLUG, which had also been responsible for the operation of all civil airports in the GDR until then. Thus, Flughafen Leipzig GmbH was founded on 17 September 1990, with the Treuhandanstalt (a holding company in charge of the privatisation of all formerly state-owned companies in the GDR) as the sole shareholder. The new company had to ensure reliable operation of the airport from the first day and had to cope with the enormous structural changes that had resulted from the upheaval in the economy.

In particular the lack of advanced planning, which is a prerequisite for rapid investments in the airport installations, soon turned into a hindrance. Colleagues from Western Germany came to help in this situation: Munich, Hanover and Frankfurt airports provided technical equipment. Moreover, a Munich-based team assisted in creating a multi-stage master plan for the future development of the airport, which was presented after just four months in February 1991.

After the regional and local authorities had been constituted in 1990, the company - now called Flughafen Leipzig/Halle GmbH - could be taken over by Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the towns of Leipzig, Halle and Schkeuditz and the districts Leipziger Land and Delitzsch. At the same time, extensive construction work was carried out in the existing Terminal A, including a thorough renovation and the construction of an annexe.

In 1992, the runway was redeveloped and the northern parallel runway was expanded under the difficult conditions of ongoing operation. A 1.4km noise barrier was built to protect the village of Kursdorf. The access roads to the airport were improved and new car parks were built. At the end of 1992, the one millionth passenger of the year was welcomed. Just two years later, in 1994, the number of passengers had almost doubled.

Timeline

• 2 March 1990: A partnership agreement is signed by Hanover and Leipzig airports.
• 2 April 1991: The airport is integrated into the night airmail network.  
• 1 April 1992: A joint management is appointed for Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports.
• 27/28 October 1992: The airport becomes a hub of the night airmail network.
• 3 December 1992: The airport has more than a million passengers in one year for the first time.
• 4 February 1994: A Cat IIIb instrument landing system for the main landing direction is put into operation.
• 20 December 1994: The 100-millionth passenger is welcomed on behalf of all German commercial/civil airports.