Berlin Tegel Airport: A Sprawling Transport Hub

Berlin Tegel Airport, also known as Otto Lilienthal Airport, was once the main international airport in Berlin, Germany. Located just 8 kilometres from the city centre, Tegel Airport was the fourth-busiest airport in the country, serving over 24 million passengers and 65 airlines in 2019. The airport's unique hexagonal terminal building, designed in the 1970s, featured 14 jet bridges and 16 check-in counters. Despite its small size, the airport played a crucial role in connecting West Berlin to the world during the Cold War era. However, due to its cramped conditions and proximity to the city, Tegel Airport was replaced by the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2020, and it saw its last flight on 8 November 2020.

Berlin Tegel Airport's history

Berlin Tegel Airport, also known as Otto Lilienthal Airport, was the primary international airport of Berlin, Germany. The airport was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal and was the fourth busiest airport in Germany, serving over 24 million passengers in 2019. The site of the airport was originally part of the Jungfernheide forest, which served as a hunting ground for the Prussian nobility. During the 19th century, it was used as an artillery firing range.

In the early 20th century, the area became associated with aviation when the Royal Prussian Airship battalion was based there. Following World War I, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from having any armed aircraft, and all aviation industry was removed from the site. On September 27, 1930, Rudolf Nebel launched an experimental rocket testing and research facility on the site, known as Raketenschießplatz Tegel, which attracted eminent aerospace engineers, including German rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun. In 1937, the rocket pioneers left Tegel for the secret Peenemünde army research centre. During World War II, the area once again became a military training ground for Flak troops and was destroyed in Allied air raids.

After World War II, when West Berlin was under the control of the Allied forces, there were plans to convert the area into allotment gardens. However, the Berlin Blockade, which began on June 24, 1948, led to a realisation that an additional airfield was needed to bring in supplies. The French authorities in charge of the Tegel district ordered the construction of a 2,500-metre-long runway, the longest in Europe at the time. The first plane, a USAF Douglas C-54, landed in November 1948. After the blockade ended, Tegel became the Berlin base of the French Air Force.

Over the next two decades, with the increase in air traffic and the arrival of larger planes, the runways at Tempelhof became inadequate, and Tegel gradually became the main airport in Berlin. During the Cold War era, West Berlin's special legal status restricted air traffic to airlines headquartered in the United States, the United Kingdom, or France, and flight deck crew were required to hold passports from these countries. Tegel Airport served West German domestic routes and international destinations in Europe, the United States, and popular holiday resorts in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

In the 1970s, Tegel Airport underwent significant developments, with airlines such as Air France and Dan-Air establishing routes and services to and from the airport. The unique hexagonal design of the terminal building, constructed during this decade, became an iconic feature of the airport. Despite its significance, Tegel Airport faced challenges due to its congested and outdated infrastructure. The long-awaited opening of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2020 ultimately sealed Tegel Airport's fate, and it saw its last flight on November 8, 2020.

The closure of Tegel Airport marked the end of an era, evoking mixed emotions among Berliners. While some despised its cramped and outdated conditions, others cherished its charm and proximity to the city. The airport grounds are now being redeveloped into an eco-city, dubbed the Urban Tech Republic, with an emphasis on scientific and industrial research. The main building and tower will be retained as a repurposed landmark, and the site will strive to be net-zero energy, producing and consuming its own power.

The airport's unique design

Berlin Tegel Airport, named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal, was the primary international airport of Berlin, Germany. The airport, located eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of the city centre, was known for its unique design, which included a hexagonal main terminal building. This iconic design, selected through a competition, featured a two-level structure with circulation roads, drop-off and pick-up curbs, and short-term parking. The layout allowed for short walking distances of up to 30 metres (100 feet) from the aircraft to the terminal exit.

The terminal building, designed by Hamburg architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (GMP), was a significant departure from the linear gate concourses that were becoming the norm. The hexagon shape was chosen to facilitate a more efficient flow of passengers and aircraft. The terminal consisted of two parts: Terminal A, the hexagon-shaped ring concourse, and Terminal B, a converted former waiting area in a side wing of the main building. Terminal A had 14 jet bridges corresponding to 16 check-in counters, while Terminal B featured check-in counters B20–B39 and could accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.

Over the years, Berlin Tegel Airport underwent several expansions to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Terminal C was opened temporarily in May 2007 to relieve the other terminals operating at maximum capacity. Terminal D, a converted car park, opened in 2001 and was the only part of the airport that remained open 24 hours. In 2008, five additional aircraft stands were constructed, expanding the building by approximately 50% to handle an additional 1.5 million passengers annually. Despite these expansions, the airport faced challenges with capacity constraints, and a new airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, was eventually built to replace it.

Berlin Tegel Airport's unique design and architecture left a lasting impression on travellers, with some describing it as a "time warp" back to the 1970s. The airport's iconic hexagonal terminal and proximity to the city made it a beloved fixture in Berlin's aviation history, despite its cramped and outdated facilities. Although it has now been decommissioned, the airport's main building and tower will be retained as a landmark in the new development.

Airlines that used Tegel

Berlin Tegel Airport, also known as Otto Lilienthal Airport, was once the main international airport in Berlin. The airport has been serving the city and the world for many years and has been a central hub for travel to and from Berlin. The airport has seen many airlines come and go over the years, with some even establishing themselves as the leading charter airline at Tegel.

Air France was the first airline to commence regular commercial operations at Tegel on 2 January 1960. The airline shifted its entire Berlin operation to Tegel, previously operating from Tempelhof, as the runway at Tempelhof was too short for their new short-haul jet. Dan-Air, a British airline, also established itself as the third-biggest operator at Tegel Airport, ahead of Air France. Other airlines that used Tegel as their base include Modern Air, Aeroamerica, Air Berlin USA, and Laker Airways.

In addition to these, during the Cold War era (1945-1990), West Berlin's special legal status meant that all air traffic was restricted to airlines headquartered in the United States, the United Kingdom, or France. As a result, airlines such as Pan Am, British Airways, and its predecessor BEA, also operated from Tegel Airport.

In more recent times, Terminal C at Tegel Airport, which opened in 2007 as a temporary terminal, was primarily used by Air Berlin. Today, airlines such as Sundair, easyJet, Eurowings, and Ryanair use Tegel Airport as a primary or secondary hub.

Berlin Tegel Airport has seen a diverse range of airlines over the years, serving as a crucial gateway to Berlin and beyond. Despite its closure in 2020, with the last flight departing on November 8, the airport holds a special place in Berlin's aviation history.

The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport was designed to replace the city's three existing airports: Tempelhof, Schönefeld, and Tegel. Tempelhof Airport closed in 2008, Tegel Airport closed in 2020, and Schönefeld Airport was initially planned to remain operational until 2025, occupying one of the three terminals of Brandenburg Airport. Tegel Airport's unique hexagonal design, dating back to the 1970s, was iconic to Berlin, but the airport had become cramped and outdated.

The new airport has been hailed as a significant step forward for Berlin, offering modern facilities and improved infrastructure for travellers. It is adequately connected to the city centre and various other parts of Berlin. The airport currently has two terminals and two runways, with plans to construct two additional terminals and a satellite terminal in the future. With a projected annual passenger capacity of around 34-40 million, Berlin Brandenburg Airport has become the third busiest airport in Germany.

However, the airport has also faced challenges. It suffered from numerous delays, opening nine years later than initially planned. Additionally, it faced a financial crisis, with losses amounting to approximately $1.16 billion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has received complaints about lengthy check-in and security lines, confusing layouts, and poor bathroom conditions. Despite these issues, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is expected to become a major transportation hub for the German capital, providing connections to more long-haul destinations.

Tegel Airport's closure

Berlin Tegel Airport, also known as Otto Lilienthal Airport, was decommissioned as an airfield on 4 May 2021, after its last flight on 8 November 2020. The airport's closure was postponed several times due to delays in the opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which was initially expected to open in 2011.

Berlin Tegel Airport has played a significant role in Berlin's aviation history. It was established after World War II when the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, ordered a blockade in June 1948, which required an additional airfield to bring in supplies. The French authorities in charge of the Tegel district constructed a 2,500-metre runway, the longest in Europe at the time. Tegel Airport became the main international airport for the city in 1948 and has been a crucial hub for travel to and from Berlin.

Despite its importance, Tegel Airport faced criticism for its cramped and outdated facilities. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which opened on 31 October 2020, offers modern facilities and improved infrastructure for travellers. The closure of Tegel Airport allows for the consolidation of air traffic in Berlin, providing a single, larger airport capable of accommodating more passengers and improving the efficiency of operations.

The grounds of Tegel Airport are planned to be redeveloped into a new city quarter named Urban Tech Republic. The area will focus on scientific and industrial research, with the airport's main building and tower being retained as a landmark. The redevelopment aims to create up to 20,000 jobs and provide space for start-ups, research institutes, and housing in the northwest of Berlin.

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