|
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 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 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).  Pan Am Boeing 747-121 "Clipper Midnight Sun," photographed visting Riem sometime during the late 1970s/early 1980s.  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.  A 1970s view of the check-in area. How cool that back then you could open a window for some fresh air!  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.  British Airways Concorde with the registration G-BOAD during a visit to Riem on August 10, 1983. Want more stunning airport photos & stories?
Sign up to our newsletter below to know when new content goes online!  An undated view of one of the gate holding lounges.  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.  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.  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.  After closure, Riem was redeveloped into an office and convention area. This aerial view looks west toward Munich.  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! More airport articles: Click here Want more stunning airport photos & stories?
Sign up to our newsletter below to know when new content goes online!
9 Comments
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.
Eleanor Marshall
14/5/2022 13:52:37
Great eye candy and info! Thanks for sharing. 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. 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.
Jim Gagnon
6/8/2023 18:07:49
As a Pan Am JFK ATCC Tech Inpector I was assigned for the introduction of the 747 operation into Munich for the1972 Olympics.
Ryan Kenyon
31/12/2024 01:14:03
I flew into Riem during the summer of 1988. The terminal was reminiscent of a garage in a basement.
Dave Kirby
13/6/2025 08:45:23
I flew out of Munich Riem to Manchester several times back in the late 80s with Lufthansa on one of their fine B737s....a fine airport and flights. When I was young boy in the 1960s my grandfather took me to lunch at one of the airport restaurants.....their Hungarian goulasch was excellent.......My grandfather had connections and was able to show me around the tarmac and several parked airliners. It was heady stuff indeed for a youngster. Sorry to see it is all gone but the memories are great. Cheers from Dave K in Virginia Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
With a title inspired by the setting of the iconic 70s film "Airport", this blog is the ultimate destination for airport history fans.
Categories
All
About me
Marnix (Max) Groot Founder of AirportHistory.org. Max is an airport development expert and historian. |
RSS Feed