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Opening DELAYED Berlin's New Brandenburg AirportAirport operators announced that the planned June 3rd opening will be delayed due to fire safety problems. A new date is expected to be
announced this fall. According to
Bloomberg.com tests have not yet been completed on a system that removes smoke in case of a fire.
The new airport was originally sceduled to open in 2011.
airberlin, one of the major airlines expected to use the new airport has expressed great disappointment.
The airline had planned all its infrastructural measures and flight schedules for 3rd June this year at the new airport Berlin Brandenburg.
It is likely that Lufthansa Airline will also be affected.
Passengers at the new airport will find everything ranging from domestic and European to intercontinental flights under one roof in the
central terminal.
The new airport is named after Willy Brandt, one of the most beloved and respected statesman of all time. A former mayor of West-Berlin and German
chancellor, Brandt was one of the leading voices on the political left calling for reunification of the two German states. He is considered to be the
perfect namesake for an airport that aims to re-establish Berlin's legacy as the portal between East and West.
Featuring six floors, the building will initially have enough space to handle up to 27 million passengers per year, 10% more than the soon-to-be-closed
former airports of Tegel and Schönefeld throughput combined. However, expansion modules at the new airport - code BER will allow the structure to
eventually accommodate up to 45 million passengers.
The new hub airport is not only ultra-efficient, its design will appeal to architecture aficionados around the world. Von Gerkan, Marg and Partners
Architects (gmp), the firm responsible for the design of the new airport, dispensed of all fussiness in BER's layout and design. The architecture is
all about clarity and clean, geometric lines, channeling the timeless beauty of the 1926 Bauhaus in Dessau.
Convenience and Environmental SensitivityConvenience is key at the new hub. To ensure the quickest and most convenient commute into the city and beyond, trains will leave from the train station just underneath the main terminal every 15 minutes. Travel time to Berlin's city center will be less than half an hour at a cost of around just 3 Euros. If visitors choose to travel by car, they will have around 10,000 parking spaces at their disposal, located right in front of the terminal. Additionally, a newly constructed network of access roads and highways will allow travelers to reach Berlin's city center in around 25 minutes. And good to know: Berlins new airport BER will even have it's own cycle path to and from the city. Environmental concerns were at the top of the developers list from the very beginning. The planners employed a range of eco-friendly measures to ensure the new airport's sustainability: Flora and fauna at the construction site were protected and heat and energy recycling systems were incorporated into the design from the get-go.Lufthansa and airberlinWith the opening on June 3, Germany's two major airlines, Lufthansa and airberlin, will extend their flight operations from Berlin and open new routes from many European destinations as well as the U.S. (Los Angeles).Yes, There are ToursArchitecture fans and airport buffs who would like to follow the final stages of construction can participate in guided tours or take a fascinating look behind the scenes of the existing Schönefeld airport with the help of a live airport webcam (for reservations and additional information, see Berlin-Airport.de In addition, an info tower, standing 105 feet tall, will offer an outstanding view of what is currently the biggest and most exciting construction site in the Berlin region. Currently, Frankfurt is the transportation (as well as financial) center in Germany. But there will be a new kid in town. |