Eindhoven Airbase

Eindhoven Airport is an international airport located west of Eindhoven, Netherlands. In terms of the number of served passengers, it is the second largest airport in the Netherlands, with 6.8 million passengers in 2023. The airport is used by both civilian and military traffic.

History

Early years

The airport was founded in 1932 as a grass strip under the name ''Vliegveld Welschap'' (''Welschap Airfield''). In 1939, the airfield was acquired for use by the Air Force, as concerns over a military conflict with Germany increased. The airfield was quickly captured by German forces during the Battle of the Netherlands and re-used by them under the name ''Fliegerhorst Eindhoven''. The airfield was expanded and improved by the Germans, with three paved runways and numerous hangars and support buildings being constructed.

The airfield was captured by American paratroopers during Operation Market Garden. Damage to the airfield was repaired and the airfield was re-used as an Advanced Landing Ground by both US and British forces under the designation B-78.

The airfield was returned to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1952. It was home to crews flying the Republic F-84G Thunderjet, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Northrop NF-5A/B, and finally the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. 316 Squadron flew the F-16 and was inactivated in April 1994.

Development since the 1980s

In 1984, a terminal building for civilian air traffic was constructed, based on a Leo de Bever design. After the end of the Cold War, Eindhoven was transformed into a military transport base. Initially it was home to F27-300M Troopship aircraft. Over the years, Fokker 50, Fokker 60, McDonnell Douglas KDC-10, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Gulfstream IV aircraft were stationed at the air base. The Fokker and KDC-10 aircraft have now been retired.

On 15 July 1996, a Belgian Air Force C-130H Hercules crashed at the airport – known as the " Hercules disaster" (). The plane caught fire and 34 people died in the intense heat. Communication problems within the emergency services meant that fire services were not aware that the C-130 carried many passengers, which likely caused more deaths.

On the civilian side, the airport has continued to grow and is now the second-largest airport in the Netherlands. To accommodate this, in early 2012 work to expand Eindhoven airport was started including the addition of a 120-room Tulip Inn Hotel.

On 27 May 2017, a parking garage collapsed during construction. The cause of the collapse was determined to be a construction error; the floors were made of prefabricated concrete slabs, and the connection between the slabs did not meet safety requirements. The reduced strength of the construction, in combination with the heat on that day, resulted in the partial collapse of the building. Nobody was injured or killed.

In October 2018, Ryanair announced it would be closing its base at the airport on 5 November 2018. Construction of a 4 star Holiday Inn hotel was started in 2018; the hotel opened in 2019.

In 2021, the airport announced a terminal extension will be built from 2025, expanding the terminal from to .

Facilities

Passenger facilities include: exchange office, lost property office, luggage lockers, baby changing area, health centre, and various shops such as Rituals, AH to GO, Victoria's Secret, and tax free shops: Travel Plaza and Travel luxury; and also a new Business Lounge: Aspire by Swissport
Eindhoven Airport also has a variety of restaurants, bars and cafes, such as: Upstairs (the Tulip Inn Hotel bar), La Place, The Bar (a flagship of Bavaria beer), McDonalds and Starbucks (both before and after the security check).

The airport also has a business centre. There are 1,500 parking spaces for long and short term parking.

Military

* 334 Squadron with Airbus A330-MRTT & Gulfstream G650

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