History of the airport - Sønderborg Lufthavn
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HISTORY OF THE AIRPORT

2022

Air traffic is returning to normal after the prolonged corona pandemic. Great plans are being made for the future.

2021

  • The long-stay carpark is fenced in and camera surveillance is set up.
  • The airport is still severely affected by the corona pandemic, as flights have been suspended until May – after which, flights will have a reduced capacity and traffic schedule.
  • A new scanner is installed in the security area, making air travel even quicker and safer.
  • The airport changes ownership. A new company is established, which is jointly owned by the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation and Sønderborg Municipality. The company wins the tender to run the airport in the future.

2020

  • Sønderborg Municipality / the Airport acquires Sønderborg Aviation Center (SAC).
  • The corona pandemic dramatically reduces airport activity. The number of travellers drops to about 22,153. Authorities shut down all flights for set periods.

2019

The airport’s second busiest year with 74,157 passengers.

2016

Gislev Rejser is the first charter company to start sending passengers directly into the world from Sønderborg. The interest was overwhelming – the first year saw 16 chartered departures.

2013

In June 2013, the new local airline Alsie Express, based at Sønderborg Airport, establishes a route between Sønderborg and Copenhagen.

2012

  • Air Alsie erects a new building to extend hangar 1. The two-storey building of 500 m2 includes both storage and changing facilities.
  • In May 2012, Cimber Sterling goes bankrupt. Danish Air Transport (DAT) takes over the route to Copenhagen.
  • Skyways Technics takes over the bankrupt Cimber Sterling’s former service hangar.

2010

Sønderborg Airport sees a record number of passengers – with 79,490 people passing through the terminal.

2007

Karlog Air constructs a 240 m2 building with accommodation for their flight school students.

2006

  • Air Alsie expands its administration and customer facilities by 800 m2, 400 m2 of which are put to use. At the same time, they build another hangar of approx. 1,300 m2.
  • Sønderborg Airport develops a new hangar area and constructs a runway and apron areas. The carpark areas are also expanded and older gravel parking is asphalted.

2005

Sønderborg Airport constructs a 700 m2 building that houses combined training, office and accommodation facilities.

2004

Sønderborg Airport expands the apron with approx. 4,000 m2 of paved aircraft parking.

2003

Cimber Air expands its existing hangar with a workshop and storage facilities, a total of approx. 1,400 m2. Sønderborg Airport builds a new 17.46 m high control tower.

2001

Karlog Air builds a hangar.

2000

  • The runway is extended to 1,797 metres, and the terminal building undergoes a major rebuild/ renovation. Air Alsie expands its administration.
  • Alssund Flyveklub aviation club builds a hangar behind the fire station.

1997-98

The municipalities of Augustenborg, Nordborg, Sydals, Sundeved and Broager join as shareholders in the company. The ownership thus consists of six surrounding municipalities and South Jutland County.

1996

Meier Trading Aps builds a hangar.

1995

The mayor of Sønderborg, Ingolf Winzor, turns the first sod for a 518 m2 fire station.

1994

Air Alsie builds a 1,300 m2 hangar with associated workshop and administration.

1993

Sønderborg Municipality and South Jutland County take over the terminal building, the tower and airport operations. This meets the need to operate a public airport with space for several players.

1975

The runway is extended to 1,500 metres.

1969

Sønderborg Airport opens for scheduled flights, and the new airport is officially inaugurated. The runway stands at 1,200 metres.

1968

Construction of Sønderborg Airport on the Kær peninsula begins and the new runway is used for the first time at the end of the year. Cimber Air is responsible for the operation of Sønderborg Airport.

1966

A decision is made to construct a new airport on the Kær peninsula. The municipality and the county will be responsible for the construction costs of the runway, while Cimber Air will be responsible for the construction of the terminal building, tower and the necessary facilities.

1965

800 m of the total 900 m long track will be asphalted, so the ends of the runway are still only covered with grass.

1964

Europe’s perhaps most bizarre runway is ready for use. A 900 m long track, with asphalt on only the middle 450 m.

1961

Sønderborg Municipality builds a new 900 m runway.

1960

The apron at the aerodrome at Ellegården is asphalted and new hangars are built.

1957

Ingolf Nielsen starts offering taxi flights between Sønderborg and Copenhagen. At that time, SAS had a monopoly on all Danish domestic flights, so there could be no question of scheduled flights. However, Ingolf Nielsen flew with fairly regular departure times.

1950

Ingolf Nielsen buys Sønderjyllands Flyveselskab (Airline of South Jutland) and starts photo flying, etc. from Ellegården’s fields near Sønderborg.