History

2009: 2009 Antares

The Hapag-Lloyd airborne cruise season is launched in January. Passengers may tour the world in the “Albert Ballin” private jet.

Cologne artist Gunter Demnig lays two memorial stones, known as “stumbling blocks”, directly in front of Terminal 2 in February 2009. They are in memory of Dr Kurt Adams and Carl Nickels, both of whom lived with their families in the former “Lilienthalblock” apartment buildings on the site of the current airport administration; the two men were victims of the Nazi regime.

Hamburg Airport once again opens its doors to interested visitors for the second national Logistics Day on 16 April. They can, for example, have a look in the cargo-handling hangars and the baggage cellar.

For the tenth year, between 80,000 and 120,000 bees make their home in the airport hives. The condition of vegetation at and near the airport is an indicator of air purity. Pollutants from plants are present in the nectar and pollen gathered by the bees and can later be seen in the honey produced. The result: the air at the airport is pure and the honey is perfect, every time.

The Airport in Miniature model show turns 50 on 1 May. There is a birthday celebration for all ages, with free presentations and apron tours, a Punch & Judy show and a make-up stand for the little ones and both sport and an engineering project – building a model Airbus A380 – for older children. With around 35,000 visitors each year, the Airport in Miniature model show is Hamburg Airport’s most popular attraction. Around 1.8 million visitors have been to the show since the very first presentation took place in 1959.

On 18 May, 2009 the Aviation Marketing team is amongst the winners of the Routes Marketing Award, recognising Hamburg Airport’s commitment to the development of new marketing tools.

On 7 July, Hamburg Airport hosts a world première: the German Aerospace Center (DLR) presents the world’s first manned aircraft powered exclusively by hydrogen cells, the Antares DLR-H2. More than 200 guests witness the test flight in the skies above the airport.

On 14 July, the Studien- und Fördergesellschaft der Schleswig-Holsteinischen Wirtschaft (“Schleswig-Holstein Business Association for Research and Funding”) presents the coveted “Economic Environmental Prize” to Hamburg Airport at a ceremony in Kiel Castle.

On 5 September, for training purposes, the A380 makes its second landing at Hamburg Airport.

The opening of the new P2-P4 parking deck means that passengers and those meeting them or bringing them to the airport have a total of around 12,000 parking spaces to choose from at Hamburg Airport, some 8,300 of which are in the immediate vicinity of the terminals. The parking deck expansion costs 23.5 million euros.

In October, the Airport Hotel “Radisson Blu” opens – just 100 metres from the terminals. The hotel has 266 rooms along with multifunctional meeting rooms, a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a fitness center with spa.

Emirates, the international airline based in Dubai, officially opens its First and Business Class Lounge at Hamburg Airport on 10 November. The 900-square metre facility is Germany’s largest Emirates Lounge, second only to the London lounge in the whole of Europe, offering holiday and business travellers a foretaste of Emirates’ multiple award-winning on-board service.

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