It was a simple announcement, without a lot of details. Canada intends to open up a military operations hub at the Koln airport in Germany. No numbers were mentioned. No hints of just how small or extensive this would be.
Of course, right away.....folks asked why they couldn't be at one of the American sites to be decreased or shut-down, and there was no answer given. It would be the logical step.
I've been through the Koln aiport.....back in the mid-1990s. Before the wall came down, there were some plans to expand the airport and it might have become a significant airport in Germany. But once the the wall came down and the capital moved to Berlin.....that was the end of real passenger operations out of this airport. What they handle now.....a small passenger situation, and a major hub for UPS.
I thought it was a pretty decent airport. It had open space and was easy to get to...from the autobahn. I admit there aren't that many hotels around the airport, but I doubt if that many folks would sleep overnight near the airport. Don't go looking for a meal at the airport....you'd be better off taking the shuttle downtown and eating at more decent establishment.
If you looked at the airline list.....it's mostly all smaller airlines that come in, and probably get a pretty good deal on landing fees. Curiously....Ural Airlines will start up in April and run a Russian flight or two each day.
As for the Canadians......I'm guessing they had an empty building or two at the airport, and were willing to rent it out for a good cheap price for the Canadians. Numbers? I doubt that they ever have more than 500 Canadians permanently based around the area. It is a curious thing because the Iraq operation is decreasing and the Afghanistan mission is probably near an end. This would have been a great idea for five years ago. So I'm guessing there has to be some other objective in this deal. Maybe the Germans get basing rights in Canada (just a humble hint).
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