About berlin airport: Berlin Brandenburg (BER) and traveller information

Introduction: Why berlin airport matters

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (Berlin Brandenburg „Willy Brandt“), commonly referred to as berlin airport or BER, is the central international gateway for the German capital and the surrounding State of Brandenburg. Serving a region of around 6 million inhabitants, BER consolidated Berlin’s commercial aviation after a long redevelopment period, making it a key transport hub for business, tourism and regional connectivity.

Main body: Location, history and facilities

Location and redevelopment

BER is located in Schönefeld, just south of Berlin, and reuses much of the underlying infrastructure of the former Schönefeld operations. Elements such as runways and, in the lead-up to BER’s opening, parts of the control tower were used by Schönefeld, illustrating a phased transition from the older site to the new airport.

Timeline and transition

The project has a lengthy history: official planning began 29 years before the airport opened, and construction took 14 years. Berlin Brandenburg Airport finally received its operational licence in May 2020 and opened for commercial traffic on 31 October 2020. With BER in operation, the airport replaced Tempelhof, Schönefeld and Tegel as Berlin’s commercial airports. Tempelhof had already closed in 2008, while Tegel and the previous Schönefeld arrangements ceased commercial operations in 2020.

Services and passenger experience

BER promotes passenger comfort and convenience. Travellers can park directly at the terminals, use dedicated BER lounges, or book VIP services. The airport also offers car hire options and parking services designed to simplify travel. Information on departures and arrivals, direct connections and travel tips can be found via the airport’s official channels, which highlight routes and destination guides from Seville and Copenhagen to New York.

Conclusion: Significance and outlook for travellers

As the single commercial airport serving Berlin and Brandenburg, berlin airport (BER) streamlines air services for a large metropolitan area and provides modern facilities intended to improve the passenger experience. For readers planning travel, practical steps include checking departures and arrivals before travel, considering on-site parking or car hire, and using the airport’s lounges or VIP services if required. As BER continues to settle into its role, it is likely to shape how residents and visitors connect to both domestic and international destinations from the German capital.