Dortmund Airport

Dortmund Airport
source
Name	Dortmund Airport
IATA	DTM
ICAO	EDLW
Owner	Flughafen Dortmund GmbH
City-served	Ruhr
Location	Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
Elevation-f	425
Elevation-m	130
R1-number	06/24
R1-length-m	2,000
R1-length-f	6,562
R1-surface	Asphalt
Stat-year	2023
Stat1-header	Passengers
Stat1-data	2,700,000
Stat2-header	Aircraft movements
Stat2-data	42,000
Stat3-header	Cargo (metric tons)

Dortmund Airport. It is an international airport located in the eastern part of the city of Dortmund in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. As the third-largest airport in the Ruhr region after Düsseldorf Airport and Cologne Bonn Airport, it primarily functions as a base for low-cost carriers and leisure airlines, serving the densely populated metropolitan area. The airport is noted for its single runway and modern passenger terminal, facilitating connections across Europe and to Mediterranean holiday destinations.

History

The airfield's origins trace back to the 1920s, but significant development began after World War II when it was used by the Royal Air Force and later the United States Air Force during the Cold War. Commercial operations commenced in the 1970s, with the airport undergoing major expansion in the late 1990s, including the construction of a new terminal designed by the renowned architect Gerhard Spangenberg. A pivotal moment occurred in 2006 when the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair established a base, dramatically increasing passenger numbers and solidifying its role as a key hub for budget travel in the region. The airport has since navigated challenges such as the bankruptcy of Air Berlin and the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience within the competitive German aviation market.

Facilities

The passenger terminal is a single, streamlined building featuring modern amenities, including several check-in desks, security checkpoints, and a consolidated arrivals hall. Airside, passengers have access to a variety of duty-free shops, cafés, and restaurants, with viewing terraces offering sights of the apron and runway. The airport supports general aviation with a dedicated business aviation terminal and handling services provided by companies like MHS Aviation. Operational infrastructure includes a Category 7 fire station, advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS) capabilities, and extensive aircraft parking stands capable of accommodating Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series aircraft.

Airlines and destinations

The airport's route network is dominated by low-cost carriers, with Ryanair operating the most extensive schedule of flights to destinations across Europe, including London Stansted Airport, Dublin Airport, and Palma de Mallorca Airport. Other significant operators include Wizz Air, which connects to cities in Eastern Europe such as Budapest and Bucharest, and Corendon Airlines, focusing on leisure travel to the Canary Islands and Turkey. Seasonal charter flights are offered by airlines like SunExpress to popular holiday locations in Greece and Spain, catering to the strong regional demand for package holidays.

Statistics

Passenger traffic has shown consistent growth, recovering to approximately 2.7 million passengers in 2023 following the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport consistently ranks among the top 15 busiest in Germany by passenger volume, with the busiest routes typically being to Mediterranean leisure destinations and major European cities like London and Barcelona. Aircraft movements, which include both commercial and general aviation operations, totaled around 42,000 in the same year. Cargo operations are minimal, as the airport's business model is almost exclusively focused on passenger services.

Ground transportation

The airport is well-integrated into the local and regional transport network. A dedicated AirportExpress bus service, operated by Dortmunder Stadtwerke, provides a direct link to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, the city's main railway station, which is a major hub for Deutsche Bahn services including Intercity-Express (ICE) trains. Several local bus lines connect the terminal to surrounding districts like Wickede and Aplerbeck. For those traveling by car, the airport is directly accessible from the A45 motorway via the Dortmund-Aplerbeck junction, with extensive short-term and long-term parking facilities available on-site. Taxi services and car rental agencies such as Sixt and Europcar are also present at the terminal forecourt.

Category:Airports in Germany Category:Transport in Dortmund Category:Buildings and structures in North Rhine-Westphalia