Closure
On 23 December 1999, the U.S. and German governments agreed to close the facility. The last military passenger and cargo flights took place in late September 2005 and the base's formal closure ceremony took place on 10 October 2005, although the final handover to the German government did not occur until 30 December 2005.
Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases took over all of Rhein-Main's airlift functions. The Frankfurt Airport Authority has proceeded with plans to level nearly the entire base to build a third passenger terminal and other airport facilities.
As of January 2011 the only remaining buildings are:
(Main Base)
- Bldg: 692 - The old base hotel near the front gate (now owned by the Steigenberger Hotel Group and called the Esprix)
- Bldg: 140 - Former Enlisted Dorms, now office buildings
- Bldg: 259 - Sewage Treatment Plant. Has since been Upgraded and greatly expanded
- Bldg: 549 - Hangar, now used by Lufthansa Technik
(Gateway Gardens) As of June 2012 only 3 buildings remain: Building 602, 1 straight (Unknown), and the back gate guard house. All others were demolished to make room for a new office park and the new kitchen/depot for the LSG SkyChefs catering company, which commenced active service at the end of May 2008.
Read more about this topic: Rhein-Main Air Base