How a former military base became Romania's primary gateway to the world
In short: Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport began as a World War II Luftwaffe base before evolving into Romania's busiest aviation hub. Today, it handles over 17 million passengers annually, bridging the gap between its military origins and its modern role as the primary international gateway for the nation's capital city.
Originally established as a civil aviation and military training center, the site in Otopeni served as a strategic Luftwaffe airbase during World War II. By 1943, it was a principal base for German forces, featuring two concrete runways. Following the events of August 1944, the airfield was bombed by the USAAF and subsequently taken over by the Romanian military, serving as a major airbase for the Romanian Air Force until 1965.
The transition to a commercial facility began in 1965, driven by rising air traffic. Engineers extended the primary runway to 3,500 meters, making it one of the longest in Europe at the time. The airport officially opened to civilian traffic in 1969, with a dedicated passenger terminal following in April 1970. In 2004, the facility was renamed in honor of Henri Coandă, the Romanian pioneer who discovered the Coandă effect and built the Coandă-1910 aircraft.
Modern development has occurred in distinct phases. Phase I (1994–1998) introduced a new departures terminal and the 'Finger' concourse, while Phase III, initiated in 2009, significantly expanded gate capacity. Despite these upgrades, future growth remains a point of contention. While plans for a modular 'Henri Coandă 2' terminal were designed to handle 20 million passengers by 2030, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure declared in May 2023 that such expansion is currently unnecessary, a stance that has faced public criticism.
Today, the airport serves as the primary hub for TAROM and HiSky, connecting Bucharest to global destinations. It is integrated into the city's infrastructure via rail links, express bus lines, and taxi systems, with the M6 Metro line currently under construction. Despite its success, the airport's history includes tragic incidents, such as the 1995 crash of TAROM Flight 371, which claimed 60 lives.
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