Jazmin Li
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the primary airport serving Berlin, Germany. It officially commenced operations and began welcoming commercial flights on October 31, 2020. The airport currently serves approximately 54,000 passengers daily, making it the 25th busiest airport in Europe. However, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is not a hub airport for any airline, and the number of intercontinental flight options is limited. Berlin's air traffic has increased significantly since German reunification, with the city's airports handling 28 million passengers annually by 2014. This led to concerns about insufficient capacity and plans for expansion. Berlin's aviation history and the impact of post-World War II divisions have influenced the development of its airports, including the establishment of two major aviation hubs, FRA and MUC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for two airports | Berlin Brandenburg Airport was built to accommodate the increase in air traffic since German reunification. |
| Airport capacity | Berlin Brandenburg Airport was projected to have a capacity of 27 million passengers per year, with potential expansion to 45 million with two satellite concourses. |
| Construction issues | Poor workmanship, improper wiring, lack of thermal insulation, and improper exterior vents. |
| Impact on surrounding area | Removal of two villages and restricted highway access during the airport move. |
| Cost | Initial plans for Terminal T2 were €200 million, but costs were reduced to €100 million due to budget issues. |
| Opening date | Berlin Brandenburg Airport opened for commercial flights on October 31, 2020. |
| Passenger volume | The airport currently handles approximately 54,000 passengers daily, ranking as the 25th busiest airport in Europe. |
| Airlines | Ryanair, EasyJet, Eurowings, and Sundair are among the airlines serving Berlin Brandenburg Airport, with Lufthansa providing limited feeder flights. |
| Intercontinental options | Limited intercontinental options, with many passengers connecting through Frankfurt or Munich. |
| Hub status | Berlin is not a hub airport for any airline, unlike other major European capitals. |
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What You'll Learn
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport's construction was delayed due to poor workmanship
- Lufthansa's influence on German aviation and its treatment of Air Berlin
- Berlin's airports were not designed to sustain a hub
- The city's airports were to close once Berlin Brandenburg Airport opened
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport's capacity and expansion plans
Berlin Brandenburg Airport's construction was delayed due to poor workmanship
Berlin's Brandenburg Airport (BER) finally opened on 31 October 2020, 14 years after construction began and 29 years after planning was initiated. The project encountered a series of delays due to poor construction planning, execution, management, and corruption.
The project also faced challenges due to the insolvency of the general planner, Planungsgemeinschaft Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg International (pg bbi), and the dismissal of the Gerkan, Marg, and Partners architects. These issues, along with construction flaws and increased expenses for soundproofing nearby homes, contributed to the delays in the airport's opening.
The delays and cost overruns were a source of embarrassment for Berlin, with the project becoming a symbol of inept public administration and financial mismanagement. The initial cost estimate of €200 million proved to be vastly underestimated, with expenditures totaling €4.3 billion by 2012, nearly twice the original figure. By the time the airport opened, the total cost had risen to over €7 billion.
The opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport was highly anticipated, with the public broadcaster rbb planning 24 hours of live coverage. However, just before the initial opening date of 3 June 2012, inspectors reported around 120,000 defects, including fire safety issues, faulty wiring, automatic doors that didn't open, and sagging roofs. It took nine years and the efforts of several airport managers to address these issues and prepare the airport for its eventual opening.
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Lufthansa's influence on German aviation and its treatment of Air Berlin
Lufthansa, officially Deutsche Lufthansa AG, is a German aviation group that traces its history to 1926 when Deutsche Luft Hansa was formed in Berlin. Deutsche Luft Hansa was the flag carrier of Germany during the latter years of the Weimar Republic and throughout Nazi Germany. It played a significant role in the development of commercial aviation in Germany and was liquidated in 1951 due to its association with the Nazi regime during World War II. The modern Lufthansa, founded in 1953, acquired the name, logo, and legacy of Deutsche Luft Hansa, although there is no legal connection between the two.
Lufthansa has had a significant influence on German aviation. It is one of the largest airlines in Europe and the world, ranking second in Europe by passengers carried and fourth in the world by revenue. It is also one of the five founding members of Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance. Lufthansa has expanded through the addition of various subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including other airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Swiss International Airlines. The group also owns several aviation-related companies, such as Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Flight Training, and Lufthansa Systems.
In terms of Lufthansa's treatment of Air Berlin, in October 2017, Lufthansa took over 81 aircraft from the insolvent Air Berlin for a total purchase price of around 210 million euros. This acquisition was made as Air Berlin ceased operations on 28 October 2017. The two airlines were expected to share space at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which was initially planned to open in 2012 but faced significant delays due to construction issues and poor workmanship. The airport was projected to have a capacity of 27 million passengers per year, with potential expansion to accommodate up to 50 million passengers. Lufthansa played a role in the airport's opening, with a special Lufthansa flight scheduled as the first departure from the new airport.
Lufthansa has faced some challenges and controversies over the years. Relations between the airline and its pilots have been tense at times, resulting in strikes and flight cancellations. The company has also faced financial difficulties, cutting thousands of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and restructuring to improve its operating profit. Additionally, as the successor to Deutsche Luft Hansa, Lufthansa has had to navigate the historical reappraisal of its predecessor's association with the Nazi regime and its involvement in war crimes.
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Berlin's airports were not designed to sustain a hub
Berlin Brandenburg Airport currently serves as a partial base for only four airlines: Ryanair (FR), EasyJet (U2), EW, and Sundair (SR). Of these, only two are German carriers, and none are considered premium traditional airlines. All of them primarily operate low-cost or charter flights to leisure destinations. The number of intercontinental options is slim, and many passengers have to connect in Frankfurt or Munich, which are short-haul flights that cause a lot of environmental damage.
There were strong political forces working against Berlin developing as a third national hub. Germany already has two hubs, which is unique in Europe. Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, has its primary hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), which is the country's largest airport. Lufthansa also has a hub at Munich Airport (MUC). The German government has been accused of ensuring that transfer traffic remains in western Germany.
Berlin's airports have also been plagued by construction issues and poor workmanship. The opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport was delayed numerous times, and the cost of construction exploded, doubling from the initially planned €200 million.
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The city's airports were to close once Berlin Brandenburg Airport opened
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) officially opened on 31 October 2020, after nearly 15 years of planning and construction. The airports in Tegel and Schönefeld were to close once Berlin Brandenburg Airport began operations.
Berlin's air traffic has increased significantly since German reunification, with the city's combined passenger volume rising from 7.9 million per year in 1991 to 28 million in 2014. The new airport was projected to have a capacity of 27 million passengers per year, with expansion plans in place to accommodate up to 50 million passengers annually.
The construction of Berlin Brandenburg Airport was not without issues, with inspectors uncovering poor workmanship, including problems with wiring and a lack of thermal insulation in cooling pipes. Despite these challenges, the airport eventually opened, and the original airports in Tegel and Schönefeld closed their doors, with a major logistics operation facilitating the move.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is currently a partial base for four airlines: Ryanair, EasyJet, Eurowings, and Sundair. However, it is not a hub airport for any airline, and intercontinental options are limited. Lufthansa, one of Germany's major airlines, operates only a few daily feeder flights connecting BER to their hubs. This has resulted in some disappointment regarding the airport's ability to compete with other large commercial aviation hubs in Europe.
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Berlin Brandenburg Airport's capacity and expansion plans
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), also known as Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg "Willy Brandt", is the primary international airport serving Berlin, Germany's capital city. The airport was designed to replace the older Tegel and Schönefeld airports and consolidate air traffic in the region. Berlin Brandenburg Airport finally opened its doors on October 31, 2020, after years of delay and construction setbacks.
The airport has plans for future developments to enhance its operations and overall passenger experience. It intends to gradually expand its capacity to accommodate the increasing air traffic in the region. The airport may be expanded by up to two satellite concourses, bringing the terminal capacity to 45 million with runways capable of accommodating 50 million passengers per year. Plans for future expansion aim to boost the airport's annual capacity to 58 million passengers by 2035, further solidifying its position as a central aviation hub in Europe.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport combines state-of-the-art facilities with a strategic location, ensuring a comfortable and efficient travel experience. The airport offers a wide range of facilities and services to ensure a smooth travel experience for passengers. Various transportation options are available, including trains, buses, taxis, and car rentals. The airport is well-connected to the city centre and surrounding areas. Passengers can also enjoy a variety of shops, boutiques, and restaurants offering both local and international brands and cuisines.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport serves as a hub for domestic and international flights, providing convenient connections to destinations worldwide. It operates as a base for prominent airlines including Condor, easyJet, Eurowings, Ryanair, and Sundair. It offers extensive flights to European metropolitan and leisure destinations, along with several intercontinental routes. However, unlike other big European capitals, it is not a hub airport for any airline, and the number of intercontinental options is slim. Many passengers have to connect in Frankfurt or Munich, which are short-haul flights that cause a lot of environmental damage.
The construction of Berlin Brandenburg Airport faced several challenges and delays. In 2012, Germany's Building Standards Authority refused to sanction the "partially automated" fire system in the main terminal building, and issues with the sprinkler system, smoke control, and fire alarm system persisted until at least 2017. Other problems included poor workmanship, such as issues with wiring and a lack of thermal insulation in cooling pipes. These issues contributed to the delayed opening of the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Berlin currently has one functioning airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which opened in 2020. Berlin used to have two airports, Tegel and Schönefeld, but these were replaced by Berlin Brandenburg Airport when it opened.
Air traffic in Berlin has increased significantly since German reunification. In 1991, the combined passenger volume of the city's airports was 7.9 million per year, and by 2014 this number had risen to 28 million.
Construction of the new airport began in 2006, and it was initially supposed to open in 2011. However, there were issues with poor workmanship, including problems with wiring and a lack of thermal insulation in cooling pipes. There were also political forces working against the development of Berlin as a third national hub.
