Brussels, 25/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 February, the European Commission decided not to raise any objections to the financial support the German authorities want to give to projects developing two airports, Münster/Osnabrück Airport (to enable it to offer new intercontinental connections and air cargo services) and Kassel-Calden Airfield (making it a regional airport for scheduled, charter, commercial and cargo traffic).
The development project for Münster/Osnabrück Airport is financed by the capital increases of the public shareholder of the airport operator worth €49 million and also an €11 million grant issued by Land North Rhine-Westphalia. The current runway will be extended from 2,170 metres to 3,000 metres in length, which will enable the airport to offer longer medium-haul flights and intercontinental connections as well as air cargo services.
The Land Hessen, the City of Kassel, the District of Kassel and the Municipality of Calden will provide €114 million to support the development programme of the Kassel-Calden Airfield, which will make the region of North Hessen, south-east Lower Saxony and Thüringen more easily accessible. The development project includes the extension of an existing runway and associated taxiways and aprons, a terminal for handling incoming and outgoing passengers and other necessary buildings and technical facilities. The revamped airport, which is expected to start operations in 2011, will also be able to take flights away from Frankfurt/Main Airport, which may face capacity and night flight restrictions in the future. (L.C./transl.rt)