Berlin Airport delayed

Passengers to Berlin after 3 June, and who thought that they would be going to the new Brandenburg airport, should be aware that Tegel Airport is to remain the city’s main gateway until at least into the autumn.  Described as “technical problems” and thought to be fire safety issues, the new showpiece operation will not open on schedule.  No date has been confirmed for the change-over.

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, said: “This is a responsible decision.  In the interest of the tourism and convention destination Berlin, a launch of BER on a safe and comfortable basis is better than a possibly bumpy start, which impairs the arrival and departure of our guests.”

Matthias Platzek, head of the Brandenburg government, told the daily Tagesspiegel that the opening is now planned for the second part of August.

The delay creates additional costs of €15m per month.  “A big opening ceremony (with 10,000 guests) will not happen anymore.  We have no reason to celebrate,” he said.

In the meantime the existing Schönefeld, on the Brandenburg site, continues to serve a number of carriers including Condor, easyJet, El Al, Germanwings and Ryanair. http://preview.berlin-airport.de/en

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