Luxembourg's Findel Airport: Planned expansion for more comfort!

Luxembourg's Findel Airport: Planned expansion for more comfort!

The Luxembourg government is planning a gradual expansion of Findel Airport, which has recently seen significant growth with over 5.1 million passengers in 2024, more than twice as many as a decade ago. CEO of lux-Airport, Alexander Flassak, emphasizes that the airport is congested at peak times, especially early in the morning, late in the morning and late in the evening. This situation has highlighted the need for comprehensive renovation measures and planned expansion projects. Parts of the terminal are currently being renovated, while additional passenger areas will be gradually added to meet increasing demand.

As Lessentiel reports, the expansion plans are still in progress. Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes emphasizes that the airport currently remains in the “level two” (Facilitated Airport) classification and there are no plans to switch to “level three” (Coordinated Airport). This change would limit flexibility in takeoff and landing times, which is particularly relevant for the growing general aviation sector, which already experiences longer waiting times.

Infrastructure development and sustainability

Findel Airport is the largest in the region and recorded almost five million passengers last year, which is around 15 times as many passengers as Saarbrücken Airport. The “Airport City” project envisages a comprehensive modernization and expansion of the airport, with investments of around 300 million euros in recent years and further investments planned. A central element of the expansion is the “Skypark Business Center”, which will offer over 65,000 square meters of office space and 10,000 square meters of commercial space and also include 1,500 parking spaces. The construction should be sustainable and climate-friendly.

The Luxembourg government aims to establish the airport as a modern gateway to the Grand Duchy. For this purpose, the runway was completely renovated, which took around 150 million euros. The renovation work was carried out at night in order not to disrupt ongoing flight operations. The aim of these investments is to modernize and improve the infrastructure for safe and comfortable flying. However, the expansion also has negative environmental consequences, as more than 2,500 night flights were recorded last year, almost twice as many as the previous year, even though there is a ban on night flights.

Challenges and future outlook

Flassak emphasizes that there are no further expansion plans beyond those currently planned. Newly founded airlines must be convinced that Findel Airport is their ideal location, as there are no subsidies for new airlines. Aviation industry decision makers have the opportunity to establish new connections, but they must also keep an eye on economic viability. An example of a current long-haul service is the weekly service to Zhengzhou, China, while the decision on new services ultimately rests with the airlines.

Overall, Findel Airport is at a crucial turning point in which both the challenges of increasing passengers and the demands of sustainable development must be considered. While the Luxembourg government is actively working on the expansion plans, it remains to be seen how these measures will be implemented in practice and accepted by the population and the stakeholders involved.