Former military airfield repurposed as regional Dutch airport.
Opened
1931
Location
Enschede, Netherlands
Twente Airport, designated with IATA code ENS and ICAO code EHTW, is located near Enschede in the eastern Netherlands, close to the German border. The airport occupies the site of the former Twente Air Base, a Dutch Royal Air Force facility that was decommissioned as a military base and subsequently developed for civil aviation use.
The airport has had a complex history in its transition from military to civilian operations, including periods of limited or suspended scheduled passenger services. It has been used for cargo operations, general aviation, and occasional charter flights. Various plans for expanding commercial passenger services have been proposed over the years, though the airport has faced challenges competing with nearby larger airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol and Düsseldorf.
Terminals
The airport has limited terminal infrastructure reflecting its regional and transitional status between military and full civil aviation operations.
Getting to & from
Enschede city center is accessible from the airport by road, with bus and taxi services available, though public transport connections are limited compared to major Dutch airports.
Airlines here
No major scheduled airline has maintained a consistent hub or base at Twente Airport in recent years due to fluctuating commercial operations.
Notable facts
- ›Originally built as a Royal Netherlands Air Force base in the early 1930s.
- ›The military ceased flight operations at Twente Air Base around 2008, paving the way for civil redevelopment.
- ›The airport is situated near the Dutch-German border in the Twente region.
- ›Scheduled commercial passenger services have been intermittent, with multiple operators attempting and discontinuing routes.
- ›The site covers a large area due to its origins as a full military airfield with long runways.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.