Hannover Airport

Hannover Airport is a customer friendly airport very well connected via road and train network and close to the capital of Lowe Saxony Hannover - only 12 km from downtown. Ways are quite short - e.g. from the car park in front of Terminal A to the gangway of the aircraft not more than 50 meters. It has 4 terminals (ABCD). Lufthansa uses terminal A and has a large and open gate area including a Senator and Business Lounge with excellent views of the apron and the southern runway. Terminal B is manly used by British and Russian airlines whereas Terminal C is operated by the local airline TUIfly and other charter and low cost airlines. Terminal D is not connected to the other three and is used by additional flights e.g. Royal Air Force. At this moment the airport is being expanded - the program "Hannover Airport Plus" will add a new shopping mall service area rent a car station large parking garage and enlarge the observation deck with an exposition of aviation. There are more than 15 restaurants bistros bars and bakeries. All in all Hannover is a nice airport to fly from and has a good and friendly service attitude of its employees.

3 Terminals (A&B built in in early 1970s C opened in 1999) are located next to eachother and are connected by passages. Walking distances are pretty short at this airport. 20 air bridges; bus transfers in use for regional flights using remote stands. Train station to downtown Hannover is located beneath terminal C. Different procedures for security controls and holding pax are in use depending on the terminal. Modern terminal C: Check in your baggage receive boarding pass and baggage slips make sure to use the correct immigration/security check point (usually the pax hold area is divided into Schengen/non-Schengen flights but actual use of pax hold area is flexible) after security screening show your baggage slips to the screener (only then your baggage will be loaded onto the aircraft) join the pax hold area serving multiple gates. Older Terminals A & B: Baggage (to be checked in with the airline) has to be screened before check-in. Most gates have their own (rather small) pax hold area - only gates 4 thru 6 used by Lufthansa use a common pax hold area. All bars and restaurants are run by the same company; only the bakery shop in terminal B is independent. Go to terminal C for some decent Fast Food. Also the two "Supermarkets" (more like "convenience stores") sell food and drinks. Parking is ample. Parking structures 1 & 2 (serving terminals A&B) become more expensive after a few days than the other structures; 15 EUR discount is given for all stays from 7 days onwards (discount cards usually are provided next to the paying machines). The viewing terrace is located between Terminals A and B on top of the connecting building. There is a modest entry fee (1 EUR for adults) good for same-day re-entry; no security checks. Views are limited to the southern runway plus gates 4 thru 9 but most other traffic will be in view while taxiiing. The remote aircraft stands and the northern runway are viewable at a distance only.

An unusual 'system' in my view. At Hannover you first clear your luggage with security before checking in. This is done in the middle of the terminal. You are then not supposed to leave this 'secure' area until you have checked your bags in. However this simply doesn't work and people are able to leave (eg to the toilets) with their hold luggage labelled as 'security checked' and then check in. Another novelty (to me anyway) is that you don't go airside until you actually enter the holding lounge for your gate. So each gate has it's own secondary security check & immigration desk. Worth not going airside until the last possible minute in my view. Other than that a pleasant enough location with a good observation deck. The lack of a 'clear air' policy (same throughout Germany) means smoke gets everywhere!

Hannover airport is a middle-sized airport in Northern Germany. It offers the facilities you can expect from an international airport. Ways are quite short. In general it´s not overcrowded ( this can change during international fairs) and well connected to the centre of Hannover by train. The airport-management should improve the restrooms.