Schwerin Parchim International Airport

The closure was due to prolonged economic failure and insolvency. The airport was acquired by the Chinese investor Jonathan Pang's company, LinkGlobal, in 2007 with ambitious plans to transform it into a major cargo hub between China and Europe. These plans never materialized due to a lack of investment and failure to attract significant, consistent air traffic. The airport accumulated substantial debt, leading to insolvency proceedings in 2019. The operator was ultimately unable to meet the financial and safety requirements to maintain an international airport license, leading to its revocation.

The site is no longer an airport. In 2023, following the insolvency, the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim jointly purchased the entire 850-hectare site. The area is now being actively redeveloped into a large-scale industrial and commercial park. The focus is on attracting manufacturing, logistics, and green technology companies to leverage the existing infrastructure (large open spaces, road connections) and create sustainable employment for the region.

The airport has a significant dual history:

1. **Military Airbase (1930s - 1993):** Originally built in the 1930s for the German Luftwaffe. After World War II, it became a major frontline airbase for the Soviet Air Forces stationed in East Germany. It was home to various fighter and fighter-bomber regiments, flying aircraft such as the MiG-23, MiG-27, and Su-17. Its long and robust runway (3,000 meters / 9,843 feet) is a legacy of this military past, designed to accommodate heavy military aircraft.

2. **Civilian Airport (1993 - 2023):** After German reunification and the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the site was converted for civilian use. It was officially known as Schwerin-Parchim International Airport (former IATA: SZW, ICAO: EDOP). Due to its 24/7 operating license and long runway, it was marketed as a cargo and logistics hub. Throughout its civilian life, it handled sporadic cargo flights (including for Antonov and Boeing 747s) and occasional passenger charter flights, but it never achieved the volume needed for financial viability.

There are no plans or prospects to reopen Schwerin-Parchim as an international airport. The purchase by the government was a strategic decision to end the 'ghost airport' chapter and pivot towards industrial development. While there have been discussions about potentially maintaining a small portion of the runway as a special landing site ('Sonderlandeplatz') for business or general aviation, the primary and official plan is for non-aviation commercial and industrial use. The era of the site as an international airport is considered definitively over.