Berlin Brandenburg Airport opened fully with the start of operations on its new second runway on November 4, clearing the way for the closure of Berlin Tegel.
The Berlin Brandenburg Airport, on the site of former East Berlin’s Schonefeld Airport, opened formally with the opening of a new main terminal on October 31.
The opening had been originally scheduled for 2012 but was repeatedly delayed.
The airport’s existing runway has been in operation throughout the delayed construction. But the new 4,000-metre southern runway, which runs parallel to the existing runway but almost two kilometres apart, will substantially increase capacity.
The runways can be operated independently and will allow arrivals and departures to operate in parallel.
Dirk Mahns, chief operating officer of German air navigation service provider DFS, said: “This makes November 4 the operational date for the opening of the new airport.”
The opening of the second runway means new, more complex flight approach and departure procedures are in place, with aircraft approaching the respective runways at differing heights.
DFS chief executive Klaus-Dieter Scheurle said: “The long period of uncertainty as to when the airport would open made planning difficult.”
Construction of Berlin Brandenburg terminal building began in July 2008, with costs budgeted at just over €2.8 billion and a planned opening in 2012.
By late 2012 the budget had grown by more than half to €4.3 billion, but the airport was nowhere near completion.
Initially delayed to 2013, the opening was pushed back to 2014, then to 2016 and 2017, when it became clear it would still not be ready so the planned closure of Tegel was postponed.
Berlin Brandenburg’s opening was subsequently pushed back to 2018, then 2019 and ultimately 2020.
The delays developed into a decade-long scandal marked by serious safety concerns, construction hold-ups, repeated changes of management, allegations of corruption, legal action and repeated appeals for money.
Inspectors uncovered flaws in the wiring and programming of the fire protection and alarm system and reported many examples of poor workmanship
The planners became insolvent. The architects were dismissed. The final bill is set to top €10 billion.
Berlin Tegel, formerly Berlin’s main airport and easyJet’s main base in Germany since the carrier took over Air Berlin’s former operation in the city in 2018, will finally close on Sunday November 8.