Much to thank the frequent flyer

As a Langenhorn resident, Schmidt is almost a neighbour. But it’s not just geographical proximity that connects him with the airport. As early as 1952, when he is head of the transport office at Hamburg’s economy ministry, Schmidt recognises the airport’s economic significance. He brings the then state-owned »Lufthansa« to Hamburg, while the Senate invests millions into the expansion of the airport to turn it into a regional hub for flights to Scandinavia. To thank him for his efforts, the self-acknowledged frequent flyer Schmidt is appointed the board’s honorary chairman in 1991. And on the first anniversary of his death, the airport is renamed »Helmut Schmidt Hamburg Airport«. In terminal 2, there is now an exhibition about the history of the airport and Schmidt’s life.