Schwerin-Parchim – A German Storage Airport

A Chinese investor had big plans for a remote German airport when he bought it a few years ago. However Schwerin-Parchim International has not seen any regular traffic in a long time.

Yet the airport is a little-known storage location for some interesting aircraft.

Schwerin-Parchim is a former Luftwaffe base between Berlin and Hamburg, near the 24 motorway and the town of Parchim. It has a single runway and a small terminal building and car park.

Plans to create a free trade zone around the airport and direct passenger and cargo flights to China have not yet materialised (there were Air Cargo Germany flights in 2009-10).

On a recent visit, Erik Ritterbach found that the Chinese link had brought a selection of widebody Chinese airliners to be stored at the airport ahead of future work. They have all been placed on the German register, and are:

D-AAAL Airbus A340-541 464 / ex Air Canada
D-AAAR Airbus A340-642 577 / skyteam livery
D-AAAS Airbus A340-642 586 / expo livery
D-AAAU Airbus A340-642 468
D-AAAV Airbus A340-642 488
D-AAAZ Airbus A340-642 514

Erik reports that it’s easy to spot at Schwerin-Parchim by walking or driving around the roads leading to the airport.

There are also light aircraft based at the airport.

Thanks to Erik Ritterbach for these pictures.