Owais Crawford
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is an international airport in Schönefeld, Germany, serving as the third busiest airport in the country. Despite its status, the airport has faced significant setbacks and delays since its initial construction in 2006, missing its target inauguration date of October 30, 2011 by several years. Berlin Brandenburg Airport was designed to accommodate 27 million passengers annually, but it has struggled to attract traditional airlines and has only transported over 30 million passengers since its opening in 2020. The airport's history is marred by planning and execution issues, resulting in a series of negative press and concerns over disrespect towards its namesake, Willy Brandt.
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What You'll Learn
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport's U-shaped terminal building is designed by GMP architects
- Berlin's airport was initially set to open in 2011, but faced multiple delays
- The airport is named after former West Berlin mayor and chancellor, Willy Brandt
- Berlin's air passenger traffic decreased by 70% in 2020 due to the pandemic
- Berlin's first large airport, Tempelhof Airport, opened in 1923
Berlin Brandenburg Airport's U-shaped terminal building is designed by GMP architects
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is an international airport in Schönefeld, just south of Berlin and named after former West Berlin mayor and chancellor Willy Brandt. It is the third busiest airport in Germany, with a theoretical capacity of 46 million passengers per year. The airport replaced Tempelhof, Schönefeld, and Tegel airports, and became the only commercial airport serving Berlin and Brandenburg, an area with 6 million inhabitants.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport's U-shaped terminal building, named Terminal 1, was designed by GMP architects. The terminal is located between the two runways, creating a midfield airport above the underground train station. The terminal has four public levels, with the check-in area located in the public area at Level 1, featuring 118 counters organised in eight clusters, called check-in isles. By May 2015, two extensions were added to the main check-in area to avoid overcrowding.
The airport was designed to compete with the largest commercial aviation hubs in Europe, with a project cost of US$6.5 billion. It aimed to attract both premium and low-cost airlines, boosting the prosperity of the German capital. The airport has good transport links to Berlin and Brandenburg, with various regional and suburban railway lines connecting it to the city centre. The airport express (FEX) connects the airport to Berlin's Central Station twice every hour, with the whole trip taking approximately half an hour.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has had a troubled history, with numerous delays and negative publicity. There were initial concerns about insufficient capacity, and plans were made for expansion, including the addition of satellite concourses and a possible third runway. The airport was also criticised for its ongoing problems, which led to discussions about revoking its association with Willy Brandt, although no such measures have been taken.
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Berlin's airport was initially set to open in 2011, but faced multiple delays
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) was initially set to open in October 2011, five years after construction began in 2006. However, the project faced multiple delays, and the airport did not open until October 2020.
The delays were caused by various issues, including planning and execution problems, technical difficulties, and issues with the installation and inspection of fire protection systems. In addition, there were concerns about the use of non-metal wall plugs, which reportedly had to be replaced before the airport could begin operations.
The ongoing problems and negative publicity surrounding the airport led to discussions about revoking the airport's permission to bear the name of former West Berlin mayor and West German chancellor Willy Brandt. However, no such measure has been taken so far.
The airport was designed to compete with the largest commercial aviation hubs in Europe and boost the overall prosperity of the German capital. With a project cost of US$6.5 billion, it aimed to attract both premium and low-cost airlines. The U-shaped main terminal building, designed by gmp architects, sits between the two runways and has four public levels.
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The airport is named after former West Berlin mayor and chancellor, Willy Brandt
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is an international airport in Schönefeld, just south of Berlin, Germany. It is named after former West Berlin mayor and West German chancellor Willy Brandt. The airport replaced Tempelhof, Schönefeld, and Tegel airports, becoming the single commercial airport serving Berlin and Brandenburg, an area with 6 million inhabitants.
The airport was designed to handle 27 million passengers annually, with projected numbers of around 34 million, making it the third busiest airport in Germany. However, the airport has faced significant delays and setbacks, missing several opening dates over 30 years, and becoming a source of embarrassment and scandal.
Despite its ambitious design and cost of US$6.5 billion, the airport has not attracted a traditional airline base. The coronavirus pandemic further impacted its operations, with air passenger traffic in Berlin down by 70% in August 2020 compared to the previous year.
The airport's name honours Willy Brandt, recognising his contributions as the leader of the SPD from 1964 to 1987. Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit and Minister-President of Brandenburg Matthias Platzeck led the effort to name the airport after Brandt. Other suggested honorees included Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, Albert Einstein, Marlene Dietrich, Gustav Stresemann, and Otto Lilienthal.
Due to the airport's ongoing issues and negative publicity, the Willy Brandt Foundation considered revoking the airport's permission to bear Brandt's name, concerned that the association might be disrespectful to his legacy. However, no such action has been taken, and the airport remains known as Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport.
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Berlin's air passenger traffic decreased by 70% in 2020 due to the pandemic
Berlin's air passenger traffic decreased by 70% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the implementation of strict travel restrictions and border closures. The Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport (BER), which became the single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg in 2020, was intended to compete with the largest commercial aviation hubs in Europe. However, the pandemic significantly impacted its operations and passenger numbers.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in air passenger traffic worldwide, and Berlin was not immune to this trend. With borders closed and strict controls on the movement of people, the need for air travel decreased significantly. This resulted in a 70% drop in passenger numbers at Berlin's airport, reflecting the broader impact on the aviation industry.
Berlin's airport has a capacity for around 34 million passengers annually, but the pandemic disrupted these projections. The airport serves an area with approximately six million inhabitants, yet it has struggled to attract traditional airlines to be based there. The pandemic exacerbated this challenge, with a significant reduction in flights and passengers during the peak of the pandemic in 2020.
The impact of the pandemic on Berlin's airport operations is consistent with the broader trends observed across Europe and Russia. A geographic study of passenger turnover dynamics during the pandemic revealed varying declines at large and medium-sized airports in 49 European countries, including Russia. The Moscow air hub, for example, experienced a 52% decline in passenger traffic due to a sharp decrease in international passengers.
The pandemic also influenced travel behaviour, with passengers opting for alternative modes of transportation. Studies conducted in Seoul, South Korea, found that public bicycle ride volumes increased during the pandemic, while the usage of buses and railways decreased. These changes in travel patterns further contributed to the reduced demand for air travel in Berlin and other cities.
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Berlin's air passenger traffic, resulting in a 70% decrease in 2020. The pandemic disrupted the aviation industry, causing a decline in flights and passengers, and influencing travel behaviour towards alternative modes of transportation. Berlin's airport felt the effects of these changes, impacting its operations and passenger numbers.
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Berlin's first large airport, Tempelhof Airport, opened in 1923
Berlin's first large airport, Tempelhof Airport, officially opened on 8 October 1923. The airport was constructed in response to the growing number of air passengers in Berlin and the substantial increase in motorised aircraft after World War I. The airport was located just three miles from the city centre, accommodating small piston-engine-driven airplanes.
Tempelhof Airport quickly gained prominence in Europe during the 1920s, alongside other major airports such as Paris-Le Bourget and Croydon Airport in the UK. The primary purpose of the airport was to handle flights operated by Deutsche Luft Hansa, which had a limited European network, including destinations like Zurich, Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart.
During World War II, civilian operations at Tempelhof were suspended, and Germany decided to relocate Luftwaffe flights to an airfield in Rangsdorf, south of Berlin. The airport was turned over to the United States Army 2nd Armored Division as part of the American occupation sector of Berlin. After the war, the airport was used by the US Air Force, and parts of it were released for civil use through German authorities. Civil air traffic officially resumed at Tempelhof in 1951, and it became Germany's biggest airport for several years.
Tempelhof Airport underwent several renovations and extensions over the years, including a significant reconstruction by the Nazi government in the mid-1930s. The airport was designed by architect Ernst Sagebiel, who created an elegantly curved new building over 1.2 kilometres in length with 9,000 rooms. The airport featured a distinctive canopy-style roof that could accommodate most contemporary airliners in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s.
In later years, Tempelhof Airport mostly served commuter flights to other parts of Germany and neighbouring countries. However, it had also received long-haul, wide-bodied airliners, such as the Boeing 747 and the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. Tempelhof Airport was replaced by the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which became the single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Berlin Airport, also known as Berlin Brandenburg Airport, is not small. It is the third busiest airport in Germany, with projected annual passenger numbers of around 34 million.
Berlin Airport was not designed to be small. It was designed to handle 27 million passengers a year, with the capacity to expand to meet extra demand.
Berlin Airport replaced Tempelhof, Schönefeld, and Tegel airports to become the single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding State of Brandenburg, an area with 6 million inhabitants.
Berlin Airport missed its deadline seven times over 30 years due to planning and execution issues, corruption, fire safety problems, and electrical faults.
Berlin Airport is named after former West Berlin mayor and West German chancellor Willy Brandt. Members of the SPD, which Brandt led from 1964 to 1987, led the effort to add his name to the airport.
