Black Forest Airport

Space of Time	Development
1913	Opening as an airfield for Zeppelin
1928	Designated as International Zeppelin airfield. Later used as military airfield.
1945	French Military occupation of Lahr.
1946	Lahr becomes base for 1. Airforce Division, 1. CATAC (Commandement Aérien Tactique). Headquarters for the Commandement General of the French Airforce in Germany.
1952	Base for NATO Fighter aircrafts.
1967	France leaves NATO. French troops withdrawn. Replaced by Canadian Starfighter Squadron formally based at MArville, France. Headquarters and Garrison town for the Canadian NATO troops.
1970	Canadian 4th. Mechanised Brigade stationed in Lahr. Logistic support for Canadian troops in Europe
1990	Political and governmental changes in Eastern Europe.
1993	Plans developed for civil use of airbase.
1994	Canadian troops withdrawn
1995	Last of Canadian Forces leave. Conversion and civil use of military property begins.
1996	Founding of the airfield company: Flugplatz Lahr GmbH
1997	Development of Industrial and Business park by the city of Lahr and Friesenheim Region. Permission given for development of industrial areas Raum Lahr 1 (West) Rheinstrasse Nord (Ost).
1998	Viability of the areas and first companies established.
1999	Lahr bids for the production and manufacture of the Airbus A380.
2000	Strasbourg Airport closed for renovations for 40 days. Lahr Airport served as an alternate landing strip for 1/3 of Strasbourg Airport air traffic, with 25 000 passengers passing through.
2001	The British company, Wiggins Group plc. becomes majority shareholder of the Flugplatz Lahr GmbH. Establishment of the Black Forest Airport Lahr GmbH.
2002	Application for General Airport Licence in December
2002	Black Forest Airport Lahr achieves the status of „Special Cargo Airport“
2004	Decision of the Regierungspräsidium as licensing authority NOT to allow BFAL to be a General Civil Airport
2004	Black Forest Airport Lahr GmbH supported by PlaneStation Group plc as parent company submits action against the decision of the licensing authority.
2005	28. February:The Higher Administrative Court Baden-Württemberg held today, that the refusal by the Regierungspräsidium Freiburg of the petition to grant a general airport licence for Lahr was illegal and is revoked. Moreover, the Court held that the Regierungspräsidium Freiburg is obligated to decide again Black Forest Airport Lahr Gmbh´s petition based on the Court´s opinion as laid out in the written judgement ( Case No.8 S 2004/04 )
2005	29. April: An administrative appeal has been given to the Federal Admistrative Court in Leipzig by the Gouvernement of Baden-Württemberg because the Higher Admistrative Court Baden-Württemberg excluded an appeal against their decision.
2005	New Investor: after the bankrupcy of PlaneStation Group plc, England, the Australian Investment Group Babcock&Brown take over 99,7 % shares of Black Forest Airport Lahr.
2005	30. November: Babcock&Brown introduce their future plans to the public, together with Europa-Park. Black Forest Airport should operate as “incoming airport” that attracts passengers with charter offers that include entrance and stay at Europa-Park.
2006	08. January: First charter flight from Vienna (A320) is a complete success. Guests from Austria are witnesses of the flawless cooperation between Europa-Park and Black Forest Airport.
2006	19. January: Application for a restricted license at Regierungspräsidium Freiburg. Content: License to operate Charter flights with passengers for Europa-Park.
2006	09. June: Football World Cup, “A time to make friends”. The Dutch national football team stays in Hinterzarten (Parkhotel Adler) and uses Black Forest Airport Lahr to travel to their match locations.
2006	16. June: Special License for Black Forest Airport Lahr is granted by Regierungspräsidium Freiburg. Charter flights for passengers with destination Europa-Park, Rust, can be handled at Black Forest Airport Lahr.
2007	Juli : Passenger aircraft from London, Manchester and Vienna arrive with guests for Europa-Park, Europe's biggest theme park, arrive four times a week during holiday season