Airports Berlin Brandenburg officially starts operations

After several delays, Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER has officially started its regular passenger operations.

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport has opened its gates. After years of delays and problems, the first two aircraft – an easyJet and a Lufthansa A320neo – have landed at the airport for the first time. A day later, the back then newly built Southern runway has been used for the first time.

A small opening act celebrated the opening of Germany´s prestige object. EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren and Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, were welcomed by airport company Engelbert Lütke Daldrup. Also, Minister-President of the State of Brandenburg, Dietmar Woidke, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer MdB, and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the airport company, Rainer Bretschneider were present.

In the first day of regular operations, 3000 passengers took off or landed at the airport on 23 flights. More and more airlines are now switching from the old airport in Berlin-Tegel, for example Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Previous to the opening, the airport performed operational trials for more than six months and this opening is a huge relieve for all involved. Now, the city based Tegel airport will be closed in the coming days and operations will be centered at BER.

Berlin Brandenburg opening © Berlin Airports
Berlin Brandenburg opening © Berlin Airports

Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, CEO, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “With Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, eastern Germany can now rely on airport infrastructure that will serve as a solid basis for the coming decades. The people here in the German capital region had to wait a long time for this day.”

Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister-President of the State of Brandenburg: “I am delighted that BER is finally ready to start. I would like to thank everyone who gave their all on this final stretch. With the opening of the airport, the time has come to regain lost confidence. Now it is time to look ahead. BER will be a strong driver for economic growth and employment in the region and for the whole of eastern Germany.”

BER covers a total area of 1,470 hectares, has two terminals and two parallel runways and is now accessible by a motorway connection and a railway station.

Source © berlin-airport.de

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