Présentation
Strasbourg-Entzheim airport (AITA code: SXB • ICAO code: LFST), whose trade name is “Strasbourg international airport”, is a French airport located on the territory of the municipalities of Entzheim, Holtzheim and Duppigheim , west of Strasbourg, in the Bas-Rhin department, in the Grand Est region.
History
The first aerodrome in the Strasbourg metropolitan area was that of the Polygone at Neuhof. Its vocation being mainly military, the development of civil aviation in the aftermath of the First World War necessitated the development of a new airfield. The choice fell on the town of Entzheim to the south-west of Strasbourg. The new aerodrome was put into service in February 1923, it was then a quadrilateral of 900 meters by 750 with a grassed runway and taking place on fields belonging to the civil hospitals of Strasbourg. The site is located between the village of Entzheim and the Strasbourg - Saint-Dié railway line, close to Hangenbieten and Holtzheim.
The new Entzheim aerodrome is mainly operated by the Franco-Romanian Company. In 1925, the land (with an area of ??53 hectares) was equipped with a meteorological station and a TSF transmitter making night flights possible.
In 1931, the traffic was 1,186 passengers and 6 million postal letters. The airfield has an area of ??85 hectares while the runway is extended to 950 meters. Four hangars are also built on the site.
The development of air traffic meets the hostility of farmers near the airfield. The latter are notably supported by the mayor of the municipality of Entzheim at the time, Jacques Kieffer.
In 1939, the aerodrome occupied 120 hectares and included an air terminal as well as several hangars. However, all flights were suspended when World War II broke out.
In 1943, the Germans reopened the airfield and carried out some expansion work.
After the liberation of Strasbourg in November 1944, the airfield came under the control of the Allies. The runway is extended to 1,525 meters.
The site became civilian again in 1946, its operation was then entrusted to the Strasbourg and Bas-Rhin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.