The new Berlin airport is likely to open only in 2020

Berlin - The new Berlin airport Willy Brandt (BER), whose construction is plagued by prolonged problems, is unlikely to open before 2020. This was stated by the magazine Spiegel, which also noted that it is quite possible that the airport will have to operate at least initially without the main terminal, which has the most significant issues.

The air hub, whose construction began in 2006, was originally scheduled to open in October 2011, but since then the date has been repeatedly postponed, mainly due to deficiencies in fire protection. The costs of construction are also continuously rising. Just maintaining the airport, which is not operational, costs around 17 million euros (435 million crowns) each month.

The new expected date for the airport's opening is to be discussed by the supervisory board of the company responsible for operating Berlin's airports on Friday. People familiar with the situation are already talking about the fact that BER will not be able to open even in 2019, so it is necessary to consider the year 2020, possibly even the latter half of that year.

Even if the airport manages to open, the problems will not be over. Current estimates assume that the German capital will need to handle about 37 million passengers in 2020. However, BER, which is meant to replace the existing Tegel and Schönefeld airports, is expected to have a capacity of only around 28 million passengers per year.

It is thus possible that Tegel will have to remain at least partially operational. The several decades old airport, which no longer meets today's standards, will have its special operating permit expire at the end of 2019. The necessary modifications would require multi-million investments. Furthermore, the currently valid resolutions still foresee the closing of Tegel within six months after BER starts operations.