| Interlaken Airport | |
| Nativename: | German: Flugplatz Interlaken |
| Icao: | LSMI |
| Type: | Former military airbase |
| City-Served: | Interlaken |
| Location: | Interlaken, Switzerland |
| Elevation-F: | 1893 |
| Elevation-M: | 577 |
| Coordinates: | 46.6764°N 7.8789°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Switzerland |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the airport in Switzerland |
| Pushpin Label: | LSMI |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| R1-Number: | 05/23 |
| R1-Length-F: | 5433 |
| R1-Length-M: | 1656 |
| R1-Surface: | Tarmac |
Interlaken Airport is a former military airbase in Interlaken, Switzerland.[1] The airbase is now closed to scheduled commercial flights.
From 1919, there was a civilian airfield at the site, which was closed during the economic crisis in 1930. The second airfield was built in 1940 during the Second World War as a Swiss Reduit airfield and opened in 1941. The Swiss Air Force operated all aircraft types up to the Northrop F-5 there and from 1947 operated the specialist department for the de Havilland Vampire aircraft.[2] From 1964 to 1967, Globe Air operated charter flights from London to Interlaken during the high season.[3] During the Cold War, Interlaken was used as operation base for Squadron 7 (Hunter) and as a maintenance facility for the aircraft until 1990.[4]
In 1971, Swiss Air Rescue formed a base at the airfield named Wilderswil. Initially based in the military buildings, in 1982 the air rescue moved to a new heliport in Gsteigwiler. However, in 2008 they returned to Interlaken airfield retaining the Wilderswil base name.[5]
In 2003, military use ceased and the airfield was sold.[6]
In 2003, Mystery Park was opened on the site as a theme park based around the author Erich von Däniken. The park closed in 2006, before being purchased by Jakob Dietiker for $13million and renamed Jungfrau Park.[7] [8]
In 2004, the site was considered a potential venue for a permanent motor racing circuit, however this did not materialise, notably as the Swiss government only lifted the ban on motorsport in the country in 2018 ahead of the Zurich ePrix.[9] [10] Motor racing has since taken place on the airfield, notably in 2019, the opening round of the Swiss Slalom motor racing series was held at Interlaken.[11] In summer 2023, an Alfa Romeo owners club meeting at the facility broke a national record for the most vehicles of the brand in one place.[12] [13]
Since 2005, the annual Greenfield music festival takes place at Interlaken.[14]
In 2007, Interlaken Airbase was used for the sixth round of the Red Bull Air Race.[15] It was also used for the 2024 Paragliding World Cup.[16]
In 2023, Matten bei Interlaken railway station opened on the site.[17] [18]