Munich-Riem Airport (Flughafen München-Riem) served as the main air gateway to the Bavarian capital for 53 years, from 1939 to 1992.

By the mid-1930s, Munich's old Oberwiesenfeld airfield had become overwhelmed and lacked room for expansion. Lufthansa's first civilian flight from Berlin landed here on October 25, 1939.

During the war, the airport was used as a Luftwaffe base. By April 1945, as a result of Allied bombing, almost 70% of the complex was destroyed.

After the war, the devastated airport came under the control of the American administration.

By 1949, a new, modern concrete runway (1,900 meters) was built here, opening Munich to international civilian flights. In 1958, the runway was extended to 2,600 meters to accommodate the first jetliners.

The airport was modernized for the 1972 Olympic Games. However, by the 1980s, due to its proximity to residential areas and the presence of only one full-fledged runway, Munich-Riem had exhausted its capacity, becoming one of the most congested airports in Europe.

Closure and "Operation Million" (1992)

On the night of May 16-17, 1992, a unique airport relocation operation took place.

In just a few hours, all ground services, equipment, and transport were moved to the site of the brand new, gigantic Munich Airport, Franz-Josef-Strauss.

At precisely midnight, Munich-Riem ceased receiving and departing flights forever.

Munich-Riem Today

• Today, the former airfield is completely unrecognizable. The area has been transformed into the modern district of Messestadt Riem. The site of the runways is now home to the vast landscaped park Riemer Park with an artificial lake.
• The former passenger areas are now occupied by Munich's largest exhibition complex (Messe München), as well as residential areas and shopping centers.
• What remains? The original control tower of the airport and the Wappenhalle (Hall of Coats of Arms) have been carefully preserved as architectural monuments and are now integrated into modern office buildings.