Lois Larson
Berlin, Germany's vibrant capital, offers multiple airport options for travellers. Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport (BER) is Berlin's new central airport, which opened in 2020, replacing the former airports Tegel and Schönefeld. Tegel Airport, formerly the largest airport in Berlin, was known for its efficient infrastructure and accessibility. Berlin Brandenburg Airport, located on the southern outskirts of Berlin, boasts direct flight connections to destinations worldwide and excellent public transport links to the city centre.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Berlin Brandenburg "Willy Brandt" Airport (BER) |
| Former Name | Berlin Tegel Airport "Otto Lilienthal" (IATA: TXL, ICAO: EDDT) |
| Location | Berlin-Brandenburg border in Schönefeld, Germany |
| Year Opened | 2020 |
| Transport Connections | Railway network, S-Bahn lines S45 and S9, regional trains (RE), Flughafen-Express (FEX), InterCity long-distance line |
| Terminals | 1, 2, and 5 (closed) |
| Airlines | easyJet, Ryanair, Condor, Sundair |
| Historical Significance | Berlin Blockade and Airlift of the Western Allies in 1948-1949 |
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What You'll Learn
Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has two parallel runways. With a spacing of 1,900 metres (6,200 ft), they allow simultaneous instrument approaches. Level 1 is intended for Schengen Area passengers (gates A01–A20, B01–B20), while Level 2 (gates C01–C19, D01–D17) is for non-Schengen passengers. Eight of the gates can accommodate wide-body aircraft, and one gate has been designed to accommodate the Airbus A380. The apron has sufficient space to allow installation of a dual jetway, allowing a quick boarding and disembarking process.
In November 2020, it was announced that Terminal 5 would be shut down temporarily due to low passenger volume in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2022, Terminal 5 was converted into a makeshift shelter to house refugees fleeing Ukraine. In November 2022, the airport authority confirmed that Terminal 5 would remain closed permanently.
The general aviation terminal is located in the northern part of BER. The closest stations to Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) are Flughafen Ber, which is a train station 12 minutes' walk away, and Flughafen Ber, a bus station 11 minutes' walk away.
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Tegel Airport (TXL)
Tegel Airport played a significant role in the history of Berlin. It was constructed during the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and symbolised West Berlin's economic recovery. The airport was a hub for Pan American Airways, connecting West Berlin to numerous destinations in Western Europe and even New York's JFK Airport for several years. In 2016, Tegel handled over 60% of Berlin's airline passenger traffic.
In terms of transportation, Tegel Airport was easily accessible via various modes. It had a direct connection to motorway A111, linking it to other major motorways. Additionally, BVG bus lines provided connections to the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Regional Express trains, and long-distance trains. The TXL express bus offered a convenient and affordable option to reach the city centre, with frequent departures throughout the day.
However, Tegel Airport faced some challenges. Its proximity to the city centre led to concerns about aircraft noise affecting nearby residences. Additionally, the short distance from the street to the aircraft limited the airport's extra income, as shops and restaurants had restricted space.
In 2020, Tegel Airport was replaced by the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and its operations were gradually transferred. The last flight from TXL departed on November 8, 2020, marking the end of its service as Berlin's primary airport. The grounds of the former airport are planned to be redeveloped into a new city quarter dedicated to scientific and industrial research, named Urban Tech Republic. While Tegel Airport's chapter as Berlin's main airport has closed, its impact on the city's aviation history remains significant.
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Schönefeld Airport
Berlin Schönefeld Airport (IATA: SXF, ICAO: EDDB, ETBS) was Berlin's secondary international airport. It was located 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Berlin, near the town of Schönefeld in the state of Brandenburg. It was the smaller of Berlin's two airports, serving as an operating base for easyJet and Ryanair. The airport handled 12.9 million passengers in 2017, serving mainly European metropolitan and leisure destinations.
Following German reunification in 1990, operating three separate airports became increasingly costly, leading the Berlin legislature to pursue plans for a single airport. Thus, it was decided to build Berlin Brandenburg Airport at the current site of Schönefeld Airport. On 25 October 2020, the Schönefeld name and IATA code ceased to exist, marking its closure as an independent airport. Its old terminal and one of its runways became part of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which opened in 2020 after nine years of delay.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has two parallel runways, allowing simultaneous instrument approaches. The airport features a mezzanine (Level Z) at gates A21–22 and B21 for additional pre-boarding security checks for high-risk flights. The airport also offers an airport lounge at the north end of the main pier, which is also open for passengers of alliance partners.
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Berlin Brandenburg Airport's transport links
Berlin's current sole international airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" (BER), which opened in 2020. The airport is located just across the Berlin-Brandenburg border in Schönefeld.
Transport Links
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is well-connected to Berlin's public transportation system, with a network of bus and rail connections. The airport has its own slip road onto the A113 highway, which provides a direct and fast connection to downtown Berlin and the A10 Berlin motorway ring. The airport is also connected to the four-lane federal highway B96a, which runs parallel to the A113.
The airport station "Flughafen BER" is located directly under Terminal 1 on level U2, with Terminal 2 just a few minutes' walk away. The Airport Express (FEX) and regional trains run several times an hour between Berlin-Hauptbahnhof and the station "BER Terminal 1-2". The S-Bahn trains run every 20 minutes, connecting Terminals 1 and 2 to Terminal 5, the former Schönefeld Airport. The journey between Terminals 1/2 and 5 takes approximately eight minutes.
Several bus lines also run from Berlin Brandenburg Airport in various directions within Berlin and Brandenburg. The express buses X7 and X71 travel frequently between the underground station Rudow (terminus U7) and the airport, with a journey time of approximately 14 minutes. The express bus BER2 (Potsdam Central Station - BER Airport) also runs several times a day.
In addition to public transport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport can also be reached by taxi, intercity coach, bike, and car.
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Berlin's former airports
Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" (BER) is Berlin's current international airport. It opened in 2020 after nine years of delay and is located just across the Berlin-Brandenburg border in Schönefeld. Before this, Berlin had several airports in operation, including Berlin Tegel Airport "Otto Lilienthal" (TXL), Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF), and Berlin Tempelhof Airport (THF).
Berlin Tegel Airport "Otto Lilienthal" (IATA: TXL, ICAO: EDDT) was the former main airport of Berlin and, before that, West Berlin. It was built during the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and was a hub for Air Berlin until its collapse in 2017. Tegel Airport was Germany's fourth busiest airport, serving over 24 million passengers in 2019. The airport closed in 2020.
Berlin Schönefeld Airport (IATA: SXF, ICAO: EDDB), founded in 1934, was the airport for East Berlin during the Cold War. The old terminal and one of the runways became part of Berlin Brandenburg Airport when it opened in 2020, and Schönefeld Airport was closed.
Berlin Tempelhof Airport (IATA: THF, ICAO: EDDI) was an iconic airport that opened in 1923 and closed in 2008. It played a crucial role as West Berlin's lifeline during the Soviet Blockade. Today, the former airport site has been transformed into the city's biggest park.
Other former airfields in and around Berlin include RAF Gatow, Johannisthal Airfield, Flugplatz Brand, Flugplatz Oranienburg, Flugplatz Schönwalde, and Flugplatz Johannisthal. Some of these airfields date back to the early days of aviation, with Johannisthal Airfield, Germany's second airfield, opening in 1909.
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Frequently asked questions
Berlin Brandenburg "Willy Brandt" Airport (BER) is Berlin's sole international airport. It opened in 2020 and is located just across the Berlin-Brandenburg border in Schönefeld.
Berlin Tegel Airport "Otto Lilienthal" (TXL) was the former main airport of Berlin. It was built during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) was the airport for East Berlin during the Cold War and closed in 2020.
Berlin Tegel Airport was closed for civilian travel, but the northern part still exists as a military helipad. Berlin Schönefeld Airport's old terminal and one of its runways became part of Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has its own railway station, located directly under Terminal 1, which connects it to the city centre. It is served by S-Bahn lines S45 and S9, regional trains (RE), the dedicated Flughafen-Express (FEX), and an InterCity long-distance line between Dresden, Berlin, and Rostock.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is U-shaped and contains departure areas A, B (both Schengen), and C, D (non-Schengen). Terminal 2 is more basic and opened in 2022 to provide more capacity for low-cost and leisure flights.
