Berlin's Schönefeld Airport: Size And Expansion Plans

Berlin Schönefeld Airport was the second-largest airport in Berlin, Germany, located 18km southeast of the city centre. It was the smaller of the two airports in Berlin, serving as a base for easyJet and Ryanair. The airport underwent extension work in 2016, with Terminal K extended by 600 square meters and the baggage area enlarged by 40%. Berlin Schönefeld officially ceased to exist on 25 October 2020, with large parts of its infrastructure being incorporated into the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which replaced the previous airport system in Berlin.

Berlin Schönefeld Airport's location

Berlin Schönefeld Airport was located 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Berlin, Germany. The airport was situated near the town of Schönefeld in the state of Brandenburg and bordered Berlin's southern boundary. As the secondary international airport of Berlin, Schönefeld Airport was part of the Berlin Airports system, which also included the now-closed Tegel and Tempelhof airports.

Schönefeld Airport was easily accessible via various transportation options. The airport could be reached by car through the nearby motorway A113, which connects to motorways A100 leading to Berlin's city center and A10, which circles Berlin and provides connections to all directions. For those using public transportation, Berlin Schönefeld was served by the S-Bahn lines S9 and S45, with the S9 line passing through Berlin Central Station. Additionally, local BVG bus lines 162 and 171 provided connections to Adlershof and Neukölln, respectively. The X7 bus service also linked the airport to the Berlin U-Bahn network at Rudow Station, and during the night, an underground replacement bus N7 was available.

The history of Berlin Schönefeld Airport is closely tied to the post-World War II era and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany. Following the war, a stipulation of the Four Power Agreement banned German carriers from participating in air transport to Berlin, allowing only American, British, French, and Soviet airlines access. Since Schönefeld Airport was located outside the city boundaries of Berlin, this restriction did not apply, and it became the major civil airport of East Germany and the only airport of the former East Berlin. Aircraft of the East German flag carrier Interflug used Schönefeld Airport, while West German Lufthansa was denied access to Tegel and Tempelhof airports.

Over the years, Berlin Schönefeld Airport underwent several changes and expansions. Terminal D was added in December 2005 to accommodate the growing passenger numbers, and in 2016, extension work further enhanced the airport's capacity. The airport served as a base for low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair, and Germanwings, contributing to a significant increase in passenger numbers. However, on October 25, 2020, the Schönefeld name and IATA code ceased to exist as it was incorporated into the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, becoming known as BER T5.

Transport to central Berlin

Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) is located 24 km southeast of central Berlin. When the city was divided by the Berlin Wall, it was the main airport in East Berlin.

By Train

The Airport Express is the quickest and cheapest way to get to central Berlin from Schönefeld. A train departs every 30 minutes to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, and the journey takes around 30 minutes. The train has several stops, including Spandau, Zoologischer Garten, Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstrasse, Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof, and Karlhorst. The S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 also run from the station "BER Airport" to Berlin city centre. However, only the S9 goes through Berlin Central Station.

By Bus

Local buses from Schönefeld to central Berlin are not recommended due to their slow speed and frequent stops before reaching the centre. However, the X7 bus service provides a connection to the Berlin U-Bahn network at Rudow Station. At night, the underground replacement bus N7 is available. The N7X supplements the early morning service on weekdays as an express bus from S+U Zoologischer Garten via Bundesallee, Schöneberg, and Tempelhof to BER Airport.

By Car

The airport can be reached via the nearby motorway A113 (Exit Schönefeld Süd), which is connected to motorways A100 leading to Berlin city centre and A10, which circles Berlin and connects to other destinations.

By Taxi

Taxis are available directly in front of Terminal 1 and cost about the same as an airport transfer service but are less comfortable.

The airport's history

Berlin Schönefeld Airport (IATA: SXF, ICAO: EDDB, ETBS) was the secondary international airport of Berlin, Germany, located 18 km (11 mi) southeast of the capital. It was the smaller of the two airports in Berlin, serving as an operating base for easyJet and Ryanair. In 2017, the airport handled 12.9 million passengers, mainly from European metropolitan and leisure destinations.

The airport was the major civil airport of East Germany (GDR) and the only airport of the former East Berlin. In 1946, the Soviet Air Forces moved from Johannisthal Air Field to Schönefeld, including the civil airline Aeroflot. The following year, the Soviet Military Administration in Germany approved the construction of a civilian airport at the site. A stipulation of the Four Power Agreement following World War II banned German carriers from participating in air transport to Berlin, restricting access to American, British, French, and Soviet airlines. Since Schönefeld was located outside the city boundaries of Berlin, East German flag carrier Interflug could use the airport, while West German Lufthansa was denied access to Tegel or Tempelhof airports.

In 1972, an Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft of Interflug crashed near Königs Wusterhausen shortly after takeoff, killing all 156 passengers and crew on board. Five years later, in 1977, a Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft of Interflug crashed upon landing at Schönefeld Airport due to a falsely configured autopilot.

In 1990, following German reunification, operating three separate airports became cost-prohibitive, leading the Berlin legislature to pursue plans for a single airport. This resulted in the construction of Berlin Brandenburg Airport at the current site of Schönefeld Airport, which opened in 2020. On 25 October 2020, the Schönefeld name and IATA code ceased to exist, marking its closure as an independent airport.

Passenger capacity

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) opened on 31 October 2020, replacing Tempelhof, Schönefeld, and Tegel airports. The new airport is the single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding State of Brandenburg, an area with 6 million inhabitants.

At the time of its opening, Berlin Brandenburg Airport had a theoretical capacity of 46 million passengers per year. Terminal 1 accounts for 28 million of this; Terminal 2, which opened on 24 March 2022, accounts for 6 million; and Terminal 5, the former terminal buildings of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, accounts for another 12 million.

Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, which ceased to exist as an independent airport on 25 October 2020, saw a major increase in passenger numbers in recent years. In 2017, the airport handled 12.9 million passengers, serving mainly European metropolitan and leisure destinations. In 2015, the airport served 6.6 million passengers. The increase in passenger numbers was due to the opening of bases for both easyJet and Germanwings.

To accommodate the growing number of passengers, extension work at Schönefeld Airport was completed in 2016. Terminal K was extended by approximately 600 square metres, and the baggage area was enlarged by 40%. Terminal M2, a new arrival terminal built west of Terminal M, spans almost 3,800 square metres and features three baggage carousels. Despite these additions to the infrastructure, the airport operated near full capacity as of November 2016.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport's terminals

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has two terminal buildings currently in operation: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1 is the largest and main terminal of the new Berlin Airport, designed in the form of the letter U. It is centrally located between the runways and has a wide range of shops, catering and service facilities. The train station "Flughafen BER" is located directly below Terminal 1, which can also be reached by car via the B96a federal highway or the A113 freeway. Terminal 2 serves low-cost airlines and is located within walking distance of Terminal 1. It can be reached on foot in just a few minutes and offers a selection of shops, restaurants and service facilities. However, Terminal 2 does not have its own driveway for vehicles, so passengers are advised to use the short-term parking facilities of Terminal 1.

Terminal 5, the old Schönefeld Airport, is also part of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport. It is located about 10 minutes away from Terminals 1 and 2 and sprawls across two levels, splitting over 5 areas. Area K houses the check-in points and some departure gates, while arrivals are handled on the ground level of areas L and M. Terminal 5 offers a wide range of amenities and services, including shops, dining options, travel agencies, banks, ATMs, and currency exchange offices.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is expected to become one of the busiest and most important airports in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. The airport is easily accessible by car and public transport, with parking lots and a train station located directly below Terminal 1. With two additional terminals planned for the future, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is well-positioned to accommodate the growing aviation needs of the region.

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