8 oldest airports in the world

There are over 40,000 airports in the world today, but have you ever wondered where it all began? From grassy fields to bustling international hubs, aviation has come a long way since its early days. Here are 10 of the oldest airports around the world that played a key role in shaping global aviation.

College Park Airport in Maryland is the world’s oldest continuously operating airport. Founded by Wilbur Wright to train U.S. Army pilots, it became a pioneer site for military and civilian aviation. Commercial flights began in 1911, establishing it as a cradle of early flight innovation. Today, it's more of a historic site than a commercial hub, symbolizing over a century of aviation heritage.

Hamburg Airport is the second-oldest operating airport in the world. In 1911, it opened for early airships and eventually modern jets. For decades, it changed from a war base to an international airport. A massive renovation from 2001 to 2009 gave it new terminals and new amenities. Now, HAM is connected to more than 125 cities and receives millions of travelers every year.

Băneasa Airport is the oldest working airport in Eastern Europe. It was opened in 1912 along with a flight school by aviation pioneer George Bibescu. It operated as a hub for national carrier TAROM for decades. BBU continues to offer private and charter flights and play a niche role in Romanian aviation.

Bremen Airport started in 1913 as a fixed-wing air base. Disrupted by two world wars, it reopened for commercial purposes in 1920, with one of Europe's first international flights. Lufthansa contributed towards reviving the airport after WWII. BRE is now a mid-sized regional airport servicing close to 2 million passengers annually. It connects northern Germany to major cities.

Opened in 1916, Rome Ciampino Airport was Italy's main aviation center until 1960. It was the focus of early international and military flights. Ciampino converted to charters and private planes when Fiumicino opened. It now provides low-cost flights throughout Europe with 16 gates in one terminal.

Amsterdam Schiphol began as a military airport in 1916 and rapidly became one of Europe's busiest civilian airfields. Devastated in World War II, it was redeveloped to become the Netherlands' aviation center of excellence. Its single-terminal configuration with six runways makes it extremely efficient. Schiphol now handles more than 60 million international passengers each year.

Paris-Le Bourget was the capital city's principal airport until 1932. It gained international renown when Charles Lindbergh touched down here in 1927 after his transatlantic solo flight. Le Bourget transformed itself into a business aviation and convention center. Today it's the site of the Paris Air Show, the world's biggest aerospace exhibition.

Sydney Airport was opened in 1920 and is the Southern Hemisphere's oldest airport. Originally a gravel strip, it grew quickly and was renamed Charles Kingsford Smith Airport in 1936. It was an important link between Australia and the rest of the world, particularly once it opened its first international terminal in 1949. Today, it serves 40 million passengers a year.