BER (airport)

BER (airport), also known as Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt, is a major international airport located in Schönefeld, near Berlin, the capital city of Germany. The airport serves as a hub for Lufthansa, EasyJet, and Ryanair, and is named after former Chancellor of Germany Willy Brandt. It is situated near the A113 highway and is connected to the Berlin S-Bahn network, providing easy access to the city center and surrounding areas, including Potsdam and Brandenburg an der Havel.

● Overview

The airport is operated by Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, a company owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Berlin, and the State of Brandenburg. The airport's construction was a major project, involving the collaboration of numerous companies, including Hochtief, Bosch, and Siemens. The airport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a modern air traffic control system and a baggage handling system designed by Logplan. The airport is also home to a Lufthansa maintenance base and a DHL logistics center, and is connected to the European Route E30 and the European Route E51.

● History

The history of the airport dates back to the 1930s, when it was used as a testing site for the German aircraft industry, including companies such as Junkers and Messerschmitt. During World War II, the airport was used by the Luftwaffe, and after the war, it was occupied by the Soviet Union and used as a military base. In the 1990s, the airport was renovated and expanded, with the addition of a new terminal building designed by gmp Architekten and a runway extension. The airport was officially opened on October 31, 2020, with a ceremony attended by Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, and Michael Müller, the Governing Mayor of Berlin.

● Facilities

The airport features a single terminal building, which is divided into three main areas: the check-in area, the security area, and the gates area. The terminal is equipped with a range of facilities, including shops, restaurants, and lounges, such as the Lufthansa Senator Lounge and the Emirates Lounge. The airport also features a parking garage with over 10,000 parking spaces, designed by Werner Sobek, and a car rental center, offering services from companies such as Sixt, Europcar, and Hertz. The airport is also connected to the Berlin U-Bahn network and the Berlin S-Bahn network, providing easy access to the city center and surrounding areas, including Kreuzberg and Neukölln.

● Airlines and destinations

The airport is served by a range of airlines, including Lufthansa, EasyJet, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, and Air Berlin. The airport offers flights to a range of destinations, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Munich, as well as long-haul flights to destinations such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. The airport is also a hub for cargo flights, with companies such as DHL and UPS operating from the airport. Other airlines that operate from the airport include Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines.

● Ground transport

The airport is connected to the Berlin S-Bahn network, with a train station located directly beneath the terminal building. The airport is also connected to the Berlin U-Bahn network, with a U-Bahn station located near the terminal building. The airport is also served by a range of bus services, including the Berlin Bus network and the FlixBus network, which connect the airport to the city center and surrounding areas, including Potsdam and Oranienburg. The airport is also accessible by car, with a range of parking options available, including a parking garage designed by Paulus Bau.

● Statistics

The airport handled over 20 million passengers in its first year of operation, making it one of the busiest airports in Europe. The airport is expected to handle up to 40 million passengers per year, with a range of expansion plans in place, including the construction of a new terminal building and the expansion of the runway system. The airport is also a major cargo hub, with over 100,000 tons of cargo handled per year, and is connected to the European Route E30 and the European Route E51. The airport is operated by Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, which is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Berlin, and the State of Brandenburg, and is a member of the Airports Council International Europe and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Category:Airports in Germany