Airports BER to open on 31. October next year

The supervisory board of the airport approved this proposal of the management in a meeting. This announcement is one of many the airport made regarding the opening day in the last years. Initially, the Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (FBB) announced that the airport will open in October 2011.

After several construction flaws and a catalogue of issues with the safety of the airport, the FBB had to postpone the opening of the airport several times. Now, a new date has been found. It however remains unclear, if the airport will actually stick to this plan or if new problems will occur until then.

Rainer Bretschneider, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH commented: "With today's announcement of the opening date, a new stage on the way to the commissioning of BER begins. The appointment also shows that the airport company is on the right track. Against this background, the Supervisory Board welcomed the naming of the specific relocation appointments as a success for the entire workforce of the airport company."

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, Chairman of the Board of Management of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH added: "The deadline is: BER opens on October 31, 2020. All work that is still to come at BER is being handled at full speed. There is still a lot to do in the next eleven months. The finished building must become a functioning airport."

One week after BER has actually opened its doors, on November 8, 2020, Berlin Tegel (TXL) will close for civil operations. In between this time, three large moving steps will be performed. Entire airlines like Lufthansa, easyJet or Eurowings will then have to move to the new airport.

The new date for the opening was made in close collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, which is the leading safety authority. Previously, the TÜV criticized the cable management and the opening was postponed therefore. Further examinations will be completed in the spring of 2020.

Regarding Terminal T2, the management board was able to report positive progress of construction. The installation of the baggage handling system and the technical building equipment has started. FBB stated, that the modular building envelope will be completed in a few weeks from now.

Additionally, the supervisory board has adopted the new economic plan for 2020, which sees the operating result being planned for EUR 86 million due to the one-time charge of BER commissioning.