Kiel-Holtenau Airport — Kiel, Germany

Kiel-Holtenau Airport (KEL) serves Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany, situated near the entrance to the Kiel Canal, one of the world's busiest artificial waterways connecting the North Sea and Baltic Sea. KEL primarily supports general aviation, business flights, and flight training rather than large-scale scheduled commercial service, reflecting the more limited demand for a dedicated commercial airport given Kiel's proximity to Hamburg Airport. The airport has a long aviation history dating back to the early twentieth century and has been used at various points for both civilian and military purposes. Kiel itself is known for its maritime industry, sailing traditions including the Kieler Woche regatta, and naval shipbuilding, and KEL serves as a convenient regional access point for business travelers connected to these sectors.