If you are planning to visit Berlin, the capital of Germany, you might be wondering how to get there by air. The answer is simple: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). This airport is the newest and largest airport in Berlin, and it serves as a gateway to the city and the surrounding region. In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about BER, from its history and features to its services and facilities.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is located in Schönefeld, just south of Berlin, in the state of Brandenburg. It is named after Willy Brandt, a former mayor of West Berlin and chancellor of West Germany, who played a key role in the reunification of Germany. The airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 5. Terminal 1 is the main terminal, where most of the flights operate. It has a capacity of 28 million passengers per year. Terminal 2 is a smaller terminal that opened in March 2022, after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has a capacity of 6 million passengers per year. Terminal 5 is the former Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, which was integrated into BER as a low-cost terminal. It has a capacity of 12 million passengers per year.
The airport has two runways: one is 4,000 meters long and the other is 3,600 meters long. The airport can handle up to 46 million passengers per year, making it the third busiest airport in Germany and one of the fifteen busiest in Europe. The airport is also designed to be expanded in the future, with a potential capacity of 58 million passengers per year by 2035.
The airport offers a variety of services and facilities for travelers, such as restaurants, cafes, shops, lounges, VIP services, parking spaces, car rental, public transport connections, and free Wi-Fi. The airport also has a unique feature called BER RUNWAY, which allows passengers to reserve a time slot for free to access the security control and avoid long queues. The airport also has an official website (https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en.html) where you can find more information and tips about your travel.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is the result of a long and complex project that started in 1991 and ended in 2020. The project faced many challenges and delays due to poor planning, execution, management, and corruption. The original opening date was set for October 2011, but it was postponed several times until October 2020, when the airport finally opened for commercial traffic. The project cost more than €7 billion, more than three times the initial budget.
Despite the difficulties and controversies, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is now a modern and efficient airport that serves as a hub for many airlines and destinations. It is also a symbol of Berlin’s development and transformation as a global city. If you are looking for a convenient and comfortable way to fly to Berlin, you should definitely consider BER as your option.