Jazmin Li
Berlin Tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport, formerly Germany's fourth busiest airport, was abandoned on November 8, 2020. The airport, located in Tegel, Berlin, was known for its unique hexagonal terminal building and its role in connecting West Berlin to the world during the Cold War era. While it offered convenient access to aircraft, Tegel Airport faced challenges with crowding and security. Passengers have shared mixed experiences, with some praising the fast-track option and others criticizing the slow security checks, unfriendly staff, and inadequate facilities. The airport has since been replaced by Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Tegel, a section of the northern borough of Reinickendorf, eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of Berlin's city centre |
| Status | Abandoned as of November 8, 2020 |
| Former Status | Germany's fourth busiest airport; Berlin's primary international airport |
| Number of Terminals | 4 (Terminals A, B, C, and D) |
| Security | Each gate has its own security checkpoint |
| Security Staff | Reportedly unfriendly and slow |
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What You'll Learn
Berlin Tegel Airport closed in 2020
Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport was the primary international airport of Berlin, Germany. The airport was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal. It was situated in Tegel, a section of the northern borough of Reinickendorf, eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of the city centre of Berlin.
Berlin Tegel Airport ceased commercial flights in November 2020, with its official closure as an airfield occurring on May 4, 2021. The airport's final flight was an Air France service to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, on November 8, 2020. The opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in October 2020 prompted a gradual shift in operations, with airlines transitioning to BER, leading to Tegel's closure.
Berlin Tegel Airport played a crucial role in Berlin's history, especially during the Cold War era. The airport featured a unique hexagonal terminal design, which allowed passengers to walk directly from the aircraft to the terminal exit in just 30 meters, offering a convenient experience. Despite serving over 24 million passengers in 2019, the airport faced capacity and infrastructure issues due to its single terminal and ageing infrastructure.
The closure of Berlin Tegel Airport allowed for the redevelopment of the site, transforming it into a vibrant urban centre with businesses, educational institutions, and potential residential areas. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport offers modern facilities, efficient taxiway systems, multiple terminals, and a wide variety of services for passengers, including shops, restaurants, and service facilities. The airport also features a flexible taxiway system, multiple passenger boarding bridges, and numerous aircraft parking positions to support efficient operations.
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The airport was known for its unique hexagonal terminal
Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport was the primary international airport of Berlin, Germany. It was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal and was the fourth busiest airport in Germany, with over 24 million passengers in 2019. The airport served as a base for Eurowings, Ryanair, and EasyJet and offered flights to several European and intercontinental destinations.
Tegel Airport was known for its unique hexagonal terminal building, which was constructed in the 1960s. This design featured an open square in the middle, minimising walking distances to as short as 30 metres (100 feet) from the aircraft to the terminal exit. The hexagon shape was an iconic piece of design in "the new Berlin", showcasing the city's ambitious highway projects and Germany's first drive-in airport.
The hexagonal terminal, known as Terminal A, was the main building of the airport. It featured 14 jet bridges directly connected to the gates and primarily served major airlines and prestigious flights. Each gate had its own security checkpoint. Terminal A also had a parking area, taxi stands, and bus stops in its centre.
The airport originally planned to build a second hexagonal terminal adjacent to the first, but budgetary constraints and the decision to replace Tegel Airport with the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport halted these plans.
While the hexagonal design was celebrated for its retro feel and elegance, it faced challenges with expandability. The ambitious highways leading to the airport often experienced traffic congestion, impacting the airport's functionality. Despite these challenges, Tegel Airport held a special place in the hearts of many West Berlin residents, symbolising freedom and escape during the Cold War years.
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It was Germany's fourth busiest airport
Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport was Germany's fourth busiest airport, with over 24 million passengers in 2019. It was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal and was situated in Tegel, a section of the northern borough of Reinickendorf, eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of Berlin's city centre.
The airport served as a base for Eurowings, Ryanair, and easyJet, and offered flights to several European metropolitan and leisure destinations, as well as some intercontinental routes. It featured five terminals (A to E) and serviced major international airlines such as British Airways, Air France, Alitalia, and United Airlines. The airport was notable for its hexagonal main terminal building, which made walking distances as short as 30 metres (100 feet).
Tegel Airport played a significant role in the region, with over 20 million passengers annually. It provided all the usual services, shops, restaurants, and bars expected at a major European facility. This included free WiFi, tourist information, ATMs, luggage wrapping, and more. The airport also had a car rental service, with desks located on the lower floor near Terminal E and car park P2.
The airport's history dates back to the Cold War era, when all air traffic through the Allied air corridors linking West Berlin with West Germany was restricted to airlines from the victorious powers of World War II, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. During this period, the majority of Tegel's regular commercial flights served West German domestic routes, hub airports in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and popular holiday resorts in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
In 2020, Tegel Airport was replaced by Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which became the single commercial airport serving Berlin and Brandenburg. The new airport features a U-shaped main terminal designed by gmp architects, the same company that designed Tegel Airport's Terminal A.
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Tegel Airport security staff have been criticised for their poor attitude
Tegel Airport, Berlin's primary international airport, has been criticised for its poor facilities, tiny duty-free shopping, insane overpricing, and disorganised security checks. The security staff at Tegel Airport have been criticised for their poor attitude, with reports of a lack of urgency, unhelpfulness, and rudeness.
One passenger described the staff's "couldn't give a ...." attitude, where it seemed more important for the staff to gossip among themselves than to assist passengers. The passenger also mentioned that the gate staff were held up for nearly 10 minutes due to the slow security process, resulting in delays in boarding. Another passenger with non-verbal autism shared a positive experience, praising the security staff for their kindness and helpfulness.
The airport's unique design, with each gate having its own security checkpoint, contributes to the disorganised security checks. This layout makes it challenging for passengers to navigate and can result in long queues. Additionally, passengers have reported issues with baggage handling, with some experiencing missing or delayed baggage and unhelpful responses from staff when seeking assistance.
Tegel Airport's security staff have also been described as "bullying" and "downright rude." One reviewer mentioned that the staff insisted on a one-bag-per-person policy, even when passengers had paid for two bags. The reviewer also noted that passengers were queued outside the airport, and the departures lounge was extremely small, contributing to a poor overall experience.
The airport's management has been criticised for allowing such conditions to persist, with one reviewer calling it a "shhole." The security staff's poor attitude and the airport's organisational issues have led to a negative perception of Tegel Airport, with some considering it one of the worst airports in Europe.
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Passengers have reported long waits at security
One passenger reported that the security staff seemed unbothered by the long lines, with a "couldn't give a ..." attitude. They also noted that the staff were chatting amongst themselves instead of focusing on processing passengers. Another passenger reported that the security staff were very unfriendly, yelling at them and deliberately stopping the scanner to make them miss their flight.
The airport's layout may also contribute to the long waits. One passenger noted that there was little space to walk with baggage, and the tiny departure area had insufficient seating and space for the boarding queue. Additionally, every two gates had its own departure area, resulting in snaking queues into the public area during boarding.
To avoid long waits at security, passengers can consider pre-reserving a time to go through security, although this option is currently only available at six airports in Europe. Alternatively, passengers can check the airport's website for current or expected wait times at different checkpoints and plan accordingly. It is also worth noting that not all security checkpoints are equally busy, so asking about lines at another entrance may save time.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Tegel Airport was abandoned on November 8, 2020. It was formerly Germany’s fourth busiest airport.
Each gate has its own check-in, security, customs desk, and luggage carousel.
The security experience at Tegel Airport has been described as slow and inefficient, with long lines and unhelpful staff.
Yes, there is a small security check before entering the observation deck.
Tegel Airport is unusual in that it is only about flying and does not focus on shopping, entertainment, or eating. There are, however, some shops and restaurants, as well as an observation deck.
