1937, March 19th |
Luxembourg Government gets OK to build an airport at the site called ‘Findel’ outside Luxembourg City. |
1940-45 |
2nd World War stops first efforts. Site with reinforced grass RWY is used by US Forces. |
1946 |
A wooden barrack and stand are the first terminal and tower. |
1946 |
1032 aircraft operations, 1457 passengers, 1 ton of freight. |
1946-48 |
Construction of first solid terminal and technical building, without control tower. |
1948, January 16th |
First of 3 radio operators, later to be air traffic controllers, takes duty at Findel airport. |
1948, March 25th |
Luxembourg joins ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority) which was established in December 1944. |
1949 |
Construction of first aerodrome control tower. RWY measures 1160 x 40 m. Grass RWY still exists (500 x 100 m) |
1950, February 15th |
New control TWR goes operational. Main RWY has been increased to 2000 x 60 m (direction 240/060′). A secondary RWY is build (direction 200/020′, 1600 x 50 m) |
1950 |
3602 aircraft operations, 6525 passengers, 18 tons of freight. |
1951 |
Construction of main aircraft hangar and adjacent to it the fire brigade building and garages. |
1950s |
The different airport services (ATC, AIS, SIS, RAD + ELE, Police, Customs) are established under authority of airport commander. |
1954, April 1st |
24/24 hrs, 7/7 days operations start. T-VOR is introduced between the 2 RWY’s. |
1957 |
Main RWY 24/06 is increased to 2830 x 60 m. ILS (Instrument Landing System) is introduced RWY 24. |
1959, December 17th |
Foundation of LUXEMBOURG GUILD OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS GLCCA. |
1960, December 13th |
Luxembourg is founding member and joins EUROCONTROL. |
1960 |
14125 aircraft operations, 39689 passengers, 164 tons of freight. |
1961 |
Foundation of IFATCA (International Federation OF ATC Associations). Luxembourg GUILD is founding member. |
1963 |
First jet aircraft lands at Luxembourg airport. |
1964 |
Airport services are reorganized under state employee conditions. ATC service counts 9 people including 2 supervisors. |
1960s |
Primary radar (PSR) is introduced for Approach Control. The approach controller still sits in the TWR. |
1960s |
Terminal building is adapted frequently to increasing traffic and passenger numbers. |
1970 |
26035 aircraft operations, 471410 passengers, 2398 tons of freight. |
1970 |
EUROCONTROL Institute starts operation at Kirchberg near the airport with courses for air navigation services. |
1972-75 |
New bigger terminal building is constructed on the eastside of airport site. |
1975 |
Luxembourg Airport Administration is created. It sits in the ‘old terminal’. It represents all airport services. |
1978 |
A computer system for flight data is introduced. It is called Minilux. |
1978 |
46256 aircraft operations, 698235 passengers, 38673 tons of freight. |
1979-81 |
New primary radar (PSR) is introduced. Approach Control gets separate room inside terminal building. |
1982 |
First major aircraft crash (IL62/10 casualties) at the airport. ATC is not involved in causes. |
1984 |
Main RWY 24/06 is increased to its final 4000 x 60 m. ILS is upgraded to reduced visibility operations CAT II/III. |
1985, November 9th |
A terrorist bomb attack destroys ILS installations for RWY 24. |
1986 |
ATC GUILD induces first industrial action of controllers in Luxembourg. Traffic is interrupted. |
1989 |
New flight data processing (FDP) is introduced. Name: MARA. |
1989-92 |
Construction of new TWR (35 m) and technical facilities (BTO), separated from ‘old terminal’. A new CARGO center is built on far east side of airport. |
1993, April 17th |
New TWR goes operational. Secondary radar (SSR) is introduced, coupled with upgraded FDP system for data correlation. |
1993 |
65617 aircraft operations, 1106750 passengers, 175362 tons of freight. |
1994-95 |
Old and first TWR plus ‘old terminal’ annexes are destroyed. ‘Old terminal’ main building is converted into administration building. |
1999 |
FDP is upgraded to OLDI standard. |
2000 |
85511 aircraft operations, 1669484 passengers (top), 499911 tons of freight. |
2002, November 6th |
Second major crash (F50/20 casualties) at the airport. Enquiry results are pending. |
2002 |
Freight handling peaks at 578988 tons. |
2003 |
Luxembourg ATC Guild commemorates 100 years of powered flight and 10 years operation in new TWR/BTO. |
2008 |
New larger Terminal building opens. Mode-S Radar in operation and Luxembourg Airport Administration changes name to ‘Administration de la Navigation Aerienne’. Implementation of Safety and Quality management. |
2009 |
New Cargolux maintenance hangar for B747 type aircraft |
2014 |
Freight handling at 705,371 tons, passengers at 2.47 million |
2015 |
Luxembourg Airport has constructed a high-security zone far away from most airport activities in order to attract the business of transporting valuable goods such as art and jewels. |