© Günter Wicker, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
After a record-breaking construction period of 14 years with delays caused by building scandals and costs going through the roof, the Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport officially opened on October 31, 2020.
Up to 46 million passengers per year could be taking off and landing in the three terminals 1, 2 and 5 – if it wasn’t for the coronavirus. The pandemic means that flight operations will initially only take place in Terminals 1 and 5. Terminal 1 alone has capacity for up to 28 million passengers. Terminal 5 is the former Schoenefeld Airport. It’s located a short distance from the main airport complex and is connected to Terminal 1 by S-Bahn and bus.
Despite low passenger numbers in 2020, the airport is looking optimistically to the future. The construction of Terminals 3 and 4 is scheduled to be finished by 2035, increasing the airport’s capacity to up to 58 million passengers.
The best place to get a good overview of Berlin’s new airport and at the same time experience a little wanderlust is on the visitors' terrace in Terminal 1. A ticket can be booked online for € 3. Also in Terminal 1, it's worth looking up at the ceiling to admire the huge red flying carpet made of metal mesh. The Magic Carpet, which was created by Californian artist Pae White, is one of five works of art that can be discovered at the airport depicting the theme “air-land.”
Facts & Figures – Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg
contact
Melli-Beese-Ring 1, 12529 Schönefeld,
airport info (24/7): 030/6091 6091 0,
ber.berlin-airport.de
getting there
›› trains: Airport Express RE 7, RB 14, RB 19, RB 22, S-Bahn S 9, S 45
›› buses: BSV, X7, 163, 164, 171, 263, 734, 735, 736, 738, 741, 742, N7, N60
›› by car: B 96A, A 113
facts & figures
›› abbreviation: BER
›› distance to city center: 24 km
›› area: 1.400 Hektar
›› maximium passengers per year: 46 Mio.
›› Terminals: 3
›› takes off and landing strips: 2
›› costs: ca. 7 Milliarden Euro
›› construction time: 2006-2020 (14 Jahre/years)
›› gates: 85
›› control tower height: 72 m
Besucherterrasse
The viewing area is great for young and old airplane fans.
Entry € 3.
›› on roof of Terminal 1, open: daily 09.00-22:00
