Rumored to have housed military aircraft factories in its underground basements, Tempelhof served as a German fighter base during World War II. It subsequently fell under American jurisdiction during the post-war, allied occupation, and played a major part in the Berlin Airlift resupply of a surrounded city from 1948 to 1949.
An American military airbase throughout the duration of the Cold War, Tempelhof was returned to the German government after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
On 6 November 2002, Luxair Flight 9642 crashed on final approach to Luxembourg on a flight from Tempelhof. 20 out of 22 passengers and crew perished.
After the presentation of the building permit for Schönefeld International Airport to become Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, Tempelhof will close (sometime in 2004). The airport currently only receives limited passenger service, as such, it will be closed when Berlin Brandenburg International Airport opens. The terminal is likely to be preserved, though.
The following regular airlines fly to Tempelhof International Airport: