Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH. The company is a German airport operating company, established to manage and develop the capital region's major aviation infrastructure. It is best known for operating Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which replaced the city's historic airports Berlin Tegel Airport and Berlin Schönefeld Airport. The GmbH is owned by the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg along with the Federal government of Germany.

History

The company was founded on 27 January 1993, following the German reunification, to consolidate the fragmented airport system in the Berlin region. Initial plans focused on expanding the existing Berlin Schönefeld Airport into a major international hub, a project later named Berlin Brandenburg Airport. For decades, the city was served by iconic airports like Berlin Tegel Airport, built during the Berlin Blockade, and Berlin Tempelhof Airport, famous for the Berlin Airlift. The closure of Berlin Tempelhof Airport in 2008 marked a significant step in consolidating air traffic. The long-delayed opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2020, after numerous setbacks, became the central event in the company's modern history, overseen by executives like Engelbert Lütke Daldrup.

Corporate structure

The shareholders of the company are the Federal government of Germany, holding 26% of the shares, the state of Berlin with 37%, and the state of Brandenburg with 37%. This tripartite ownership structure reflects the airport's national significance and regional importance. The supervisory board includes representatives from these public entities, as well as employee representatives, in accordance with German co-determination laws. Day-to-day management is conducted by a multi-member executive board, which has seen leadership from figures like Prof. Dr. Dirk Kahlert and Aletta von Massenbach. The company's legal form as a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung provides a framework for its public-service mandate.

Operations and airports

The company's primary operational asset is Berlin Brandenburg Airport, located in Schönefeld in the state of Brandenburg. This facility serves as the main international gateway for the Berlin metropolitan area, handling flights from carriers such as Lufthansa, easyJet, and Ryanair. Following the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the company oversaw the closure of the city's other major airports; Berlin Tegel Airport ceased operations in November 2020, while Berlin Schönefeld Airport was fully integrated into the new terminal complex. The company manages all ground handling, terminal operations, and infrastructure maintenance at the site, which includes two passenger terminals and plans for a third.

Financial performance

The company's finances have been heavily impacted by the massive cost overruns and delays during the construction of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, with the final project cost exceeding €7 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe downturn in passenger traffic and revenue shortly after the airport's opening, necessitating financial support. The shareholder states of Berlin, Brandenburg, and the Federal government of Germany have provided capital injections and guarantees to ensure liquidity. Recovery in passenger numbers post-pandemic, alongside revenue from retail, parking, and real estate, are key to improving the company's balance sheet and repaying substantial loans from institutions like KfW.

Controversies and challenges

The company has been at the center of major controversies, primarily the catastrophic delay and technical failures in opening Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Issues with the fire protection system, orchestrated by the former head of planning Manfred Körtgen, led to multiple postponed opening dates, damaging the company's reputation. Investigations by the Berlin Court of Audit and a special committee of the Berlin House of Representatives uncovered planning errors and mismanagement. Further challenges include legal disputes with contractors, persistent noise pollution complaints from residents in Brandenburg, and operational difficulties during the integration of traffic from Berlin Tegel Airport.

Future developments

Future plans are focused on the expansion and optimization of Berlin Brandenburg Airport. A central project is the construction of a third terminal, dubbed Terminal 3, to accommodate forecasted growth in passenger numbers and potentially attract new long-haul carriers. The company is also investing in sustainability initiatives, such as expanding photovoltaic systems and transitioning ground vehicles to electric power, aligning with the environmental policies of the European Union. The long-term development plan, the "FBB Masterplan," envisions additional aircraft stands and enhanced rail connectivity, including better links to the Deutsche Bahn network and Berlin Hauptbahnhof.