Editing Eindhoven Airport (section)

==History==
[[File:Luchthavengebouw-Welschap.jpg|thumb|The former airport building]]
===Early years===
The airport was founded in 1932 as a grass strip under the name ''Vliegveld Welschap'' (''Welschap Airfield''). In 1939, the airfield was acquired for use by the Air Force, as concerns over a military conflict with Germany increased. The airfield was quickly captured by German forces during the [[Battle of the Netherlands]] and re-used by them under the name ''Fliegerhorst Eindhoven''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/luchthavengebouw-meerhoven-ontsnapt-aan-een-voltreffer~aa210567/|title=Luchthavengebouw Meerhoven: Ontsnapt aan een voltreffer|website=www.ed.nl|language=nl|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref> The airfield was expanded and improved by the Germans, with three paved runways and numerous hangars and support buildings being constructed.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The airfield was captured by American [[paratrooper]]s during [[Operation Market Garden]]. Damage to the airfield was repaired and the airfield was re-used as an [[Advanced Landing Ground]] by both US and British forces under the designation B-78.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The airfield was returned to the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] in 1952. It was home to crews flying the [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|Republic F-84G Thunderjet]], [[Republic F-84F Thunderstreak]], [[Northrop F-5|Northrop NF-5A/B]], and finally the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon]]. 316 Squadron flew the F-16 and was inactivated in April 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f-16.net/units_article270.html|title=F-16 Units - RNlAF 316th squadron|website=www.f-16.net|language=en|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref>

===Development since the 1980s===
In 1984, a terminal building for civilian air traffic was constructed, based on a [[Leo de Bever]] design.<ref name=beeld>{{cite web |url=http://www.eindhoven-in-beeld.nl/picture/show/45657/Leo-de-Bever-Loed-de-Bever |title=Leo de Bever & Loed de Bever |language=nl |publisher=Eindhoven in beeld |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=23 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923234559/http://www.eindhoven-in-beeld.nl/picture/show/45657/Leo-de-Bever-Loed-de-Bever |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the end of the [[Cold War]], Eindhoven was transformed into a military transport base. Initially it was home to [[Fokker F-27#Variants|F27-300M Troopship]] aircraft. Over the years, [[Fokker 50]], [[Fokker 50|Fokker 60]], [[McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 Extender|McDonnell Douglas KDC-10]], [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] and [[Gulfstream IV]] aircraft were stationed at the air base. The Fokker and KDC-10 aircraft have now been retired.

On 15 July 1996, a [[Belgian Air Component|Belgian Air Force]] [[C-130H Hercules]] crashed at the airport – known as the "[[1996 Belgian Air Force Hercules accident|Hercules disaster]]" ({{langx|nl|Herculesramp}}). The plane caught fire and 34 people died in the intense heat. Communication problems within the emergency services meant that fire services were not aware that the C-130 carried many passengers, which likely caused more deaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zero-meridean.nl/c_eindhoven_150796.html|title=Hercules ramp Eindhoven|publisher=Zwaailichten disaster website|date=15 July 1996|access-date=22 February 2009|language=nl}}</ref>

On the civilian side, the airport has continued to grow and is now the second-largest airport in the Netherlands. To accommodate this, in early 2012 work to expand Eindhoven airport was started including the addition of a 120-room Tulip Inn Hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcap.eu/en/news/2011/construction_terminal_extension_and_hotel_eindhoven_airport_has_started|title=Construction terminal extension and hotel Eindhoven Airport has started|publisher=kcap.eu|date=19 December 2011|access-date=2013-01-21|language=nl}}</ref>

On 27 May 2017, a parking garage collapsed during construction. The cause of the collapse was determined to be a construction error; the floors were made of prefabricated concrete slabs, and the connection between the slabs did not meet safety requirements.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The reduced strength of the construction, in combination with the heat on that day, resulted in the partial collapse of the building. Nobody was injured or killed.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

In October 2018, [[Ryanair]] announced it would be closing its base at the airport on 5 November 2018.<ref name="closure">{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/71441-ryanair-to-shut-down-bremen-eindhoven-bases-in-mid-4q18|title=Ryanair to shut down Bremen, Eindhoven bases in mid-4Q18|access-date=3 October 2018|publisher=ch-aviation.com}}</ref> Construction of a 4 star [[Holiday Inn]] hotel was started in 2018; the hotel opened in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.airport-eindhoven.com/nieuws/nieuw-holliday-inn/|title=Nieuw 4-sterrenhotel Holliday Inn bij Eindhoven Airport|last=Staff Correspondent|date=2018-10-07|work=Eindhoven Airport|access-date=2018-10-16|language=nl-NL}}</ref>

In 2021, the airport announced a terminal extension will be built from 2025, expanding the terminal from {{convert|27300|sqm}} to {{convert|35000|sqm}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eindhoven Airport wil fors grotere terminal 'om meer kwaliteit te kunnen bieden'|url=https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/eindhoven-airport-wil-fors-grotere-terminal-om-meer-kwaliteit-te-kunnen-bieden~a95ca5f1/|access-date=2023-05-14 |website=ed.nl}}</ref>