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The original "Der Kanadier " was the weekly newspaper
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The continuing saga of what is to become of Lahr Airport
Lahr-Baden rivalry continues!
It's now six years since the Canadian Forces left Lahr and nearly seven since 1 ATU ceased air operations at CFB Lahr. Lahr Airport finally achieved its dream of hosting regular scheduled flights - but it was only temporary, for a six-week period from 17 July until 25 August 2000, as a part-substitute while Strasbourg runway was being repaired (see our previous editorial page).
Thus Lahr Airport had a chance to openly prove its potential capacities. Unfortunately, it didn't bring in any lasting business and so the arifield has once more returned to a quiet life with only a few small planes landing and taking off or trainee pilots of large planes practising "touch and go". Even the German Post flights, which used to bring and collect mail every evening, ceased at the end of October because the "Bundespost" changed its transport organization again. The latter is also a major financial loss for Lahr Airport because the mail constituted a main source of income.
Lahr's application for a freight terminal licence
Kurt Jäger, manager of Lahr Airport which is owned by a
consortium of local investors, is still trying to ensure its
survival. He has put in an official application to the provincial
government authorities in Stuttgart, for them to remove the aircraft
tonnage restriction and to approve the use of Lahr for air freight
transport. This is considered a good economic proposition because
Frankfurt airport is so over-crowded that it would like to outsource
much of its cargo traffic in favour of passenger capacity.
However, this application must also be debated and approved by all the community councils in Lahr's surrounding area and there is still a lot of opposition from many local residents who don't want to be disturbed by aircraft noise (especially while they are asleep, and they are afraid that air freight would mean night flights). They don't seem to care about the economic advantages of more local business and employment; quality of life is more important. Therefore most have voted against the application, but the final decision still has to be made in Stuttgart.
Baden Air Park bankrupt
Lahr also continues to be disadvantaged by the Baden-Württemberg
provincial government which has subsidized Baden Air Park up
until now (Lahr has not received any financial support so far).
Baden was favoured by having a two-year advance on Lahr (closing
down sooner). There were some scandals and book-keeping irregularities
at Baden Air Park and the company is now officially bankrupt.
However, it has continued to function and ran many passenger
services during the summer, especially passenger charter flights
to holiday destinations. This situation of Baden concentrating
on passengers and Lahr on cargo was a good compromise.
Yet the provincial government has invested so much in Baden that it is prepared to invest more. In fact it would prefer Baden Air Park to become a subsidiary of Stuttgart airport, also as an extention for freight services. It is even willing to improve Baden's runway - which is crazy because Lahr already has the best and the longest runway in S-W Germany, and is ready for use immediately!
Constant competition
Therefore the perennial rivalry between Lahr and Baden-Soellingen,
which has been in existence since even before the arrival of
the Canadian Forces in both places, once again raises its ugly
head! We'll keep you informed on the latest developments as they
occur...
Trisha Cornforth