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Fantastic photo memories of Munich Riem

12/5/2022

 
On May 16, 1992, Munich's Riem Airport closed after 53 years, to be replaced by the city's brand-new "Franz Joseph Strauss International Airport." In today's blog post, we revive Riem's memory with some amazing images from the period 1972-1992!
A 1980s airside view of Munich Riem Airport
A 1980s airside view of Riem Airport's terminal building, featuring a couple of Lufthansa classic jets. Many older Munich-based "Lufthanseaten" remember the characteristic airport with great affection.

Construction of Riem began in 1937. The airport was put in operation on October 25, 1939, when the first civilian flight , a Lufthansa Junkers Ju 52/3m arrived from Berlin.
A 1988 aerial view of Munich's Riem Airport
A 1988 aerial of Munich Riem, looking northeast. From this view it is apparent that the airport did not have any room to expand and the search for a new airport kicked off as early as 1963. 

​In 1969, runway 07R/25L was lengthened to its final length of 2,804 meters (9,199 feet).
A Pan Am 747 visits Munich Riem Airport in the 1970s
Pan Am Boeing 747-121 "Clipper Midnight Sun," photographed visting Riem sometime during the late 1970s/early 1980s.
A 1980s landside view of Munich's passenger terminal
A 1980s landside view of the passenger terminal. ​The building was designed by German architect Ernst Sagebiel, who also designed Berlin Tempelhof, Dresden, and Stuttgart, which were being built at the same time. 
The checkin area at Munich's Riem Airport
A 1970s view of the check-in area. How cool that back then you could open a window for some fresh air!
A 1970s aerial view of Munich Airport's terminal complex in mid-1970s
A mid-1970s aerial of Riem's terminal complex. In 1971, a DM 36 million expansion was completed, doubling the airport's capacity to 7 million annual passengers and readying the airport for the influx of visitors during the Summer Olympics of 1972.

​The expansion included six gates equipped with boarding bridges, which were still pretty much a rarity at airports in Europe at the time.
Concorde visiting Munich on August 10, 1983
British Airways Concorde with the registration G-BOAD during a visit to Riem on August 10, 1983. 
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Picture
An undated view of one of the gate holding lounges.
An aerial of Munich Riem Airport in 1972
An aerial taken on on 21 March 1973. This was the day of the European Champions' Cup quarter finals between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Bayern, which brought a large number of football charters to the airport. Visitors include a KLM DC-8 and DC-10. 
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A busy apron scene in the late 1980s. Visitors include a Boeing VC-137C United States Air Force aircraft, one of two customized Boeing 707s, which were specifically configured and maintained for use by the president of the United States. 
Picture
An airside view of the terminal building taken a few days after the closure of Riem. In 1991, its final full year of operation, 10.8 million passengers were handled.
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After closure, Riem was redeveloped into an office and convention area. This aerial view looks west toward Munich.
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Thankfully, Riem's air traffic control tower has been preserved and is now part of the corporate headquarters of Brainlab AG, a Munich-based technology company.

​The company rents out the tower as an event space. Better still, the tower cabin contains a bar. Now that's the way to do preservation, folks! For more information and images follow this link.
Bonus: It's movie time!
A cool 1992 video about Riem's history and closure. Also briefly covers the new airport. It's in German, but there's lots of cool footage! Credit: Flughafen München GmbH.
Another, longer 1992 documentary on Riem's history, closure, and the new airport. In German but well worth the footage! Credit: Flughafen München GmbH.
Did you travel through Riem Airport? What was the experience like? Share your impressions in the comments below!
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Kevan James link
14/5/2022 11:27:20

When I was very small, my Dad and I flew from LHR to MUC on a BEA Trident. With e night arrival, all I really recall is banking over the city centre for final approach with the city brightly lit.
By the way, the image of a Pan Am 747 is more likely to be late 1970s or early 1980s, as the livery worn was introduced in 1976.

Eleanor Marshall
14/5/2022 13:52:37

Great eye candy and info! Thanks for sharing.

Siegfried Lenz link
5/6/2022 15:17:44

I travelled through MUC a couple of times in GA aircraft and remember the classic look of the terminal. The topmost aerial shot nicely shows the oval perimeter of the original „omnidirectional“ airport.

Stefan Roehrich link
4/7/2022 10:10:55

I can give you the exact date for the mid-1970s apron overview including the KLM DC-10 and DC-8s: The photo was taken on 21 March 1973, the day of the European Champions' Cup quarter finals between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Bayern, which brought a large number of football charters to the airport.

Max Groot link
4/7/2022 13:45:25

Thank you, Stefan! I adjusted the text!


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