We go inside Berlin’s new Brandenburg airport (Part 2)

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• HAM76 says:

  13 Nov13 November 06:06

  So basically, it took 14 years to build something like terminal 5 in LHR: Take an existing airport, add a new terminal building, plan another one to open later, add a loop to the existing trains, a new hotel, car parks, some art mounted to the ceilings and a lot of shops all with a modern architecture. Ok, they redesigned the runways, too….

• Andrew Skinner says:

  13 Nov13 November 06:48

  I was a regular traveller in and out of Tegel for best part of 30 years and although it had its frustrating points, it’s ‘compactness’ was part of its appeal over Schönefeld (hated!). In many respects, It will be a sadly missed old friend.

  • David says:

    13 Nov13 November 13:49

    Totally agree -will miss Tegal -a bit like an eccentric old uncle – fastest time from checkin to gate ever !

    • AndyGWP says:

      13 Nov13 November 14:41

      Indeed

      Although I’ve never risked it myself, it had that “turn up and fly” feel akin to what I imagine people like about LCY (which I’ve only really used once, so I could be wrong!)

      • Pete says:

        13 Nov13 November 17:00

        As long as you were in the security queue at TXL, the plane wouldn’t leave you behind! 🙂

• ChrisW says:

  13 Nov13 November 07:21

  Excellent review!

• JONF says:

  13 Nov13 November 07:23

  I remember attending a prestigious global airline conference in Berlin in December 2018, with a lot of senior airline attendees and a number of airline CEOs, sponsored by Berlin Brandenburg Airport (obviously they had hoped to be open they agreed to sponsor a global airline conference). During their obligatory presentation of the airport and why it was an upgrade on existing airport capacity servicing the city, incredibly they were already talking about Brandenburg version 2.0 and the improvements they would be making in order to bring the airport to the standard of other newly opened airports around the world – and they hadn’t even opened, nor could they commit then to an opening date – just staggering. What was even more embarrassing was that after this presentation, in a keynote speech the CEO of Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr stated in front of the delegates that the national carrier had absolutely no interest in opening a hub at BER, and would maintain FRA and MUC! You could hear a pin drop – and CEO of the airport looked absolutely gutted. At pretty much every travel event I have been to, Brandenburg is held up as an example of a political vanity project that was a disaster from start to finish.

  • Pete says:

    13 Nov13 November 09:16

    Could have been a different story had Air Berlin survived, perhaps… (And had the airport opened on time!)

• ChrisBCN says:

  13 Nov13 November 07:32

  Thanks for the great review!

  The airport looks awful though, outdated in so many ways. The architecture is naff, soft furnishings look dated – customer expectations have changed over the years and this was all designed for a different era.

• twoclicks says:

  13 Nov13 November 08:00

  I’m genuinely sorry about losing TXL. It was by far the most convenient airport — landing on a Friday night I once made it to a street party in Schöneberg in under 25 minutes after landing — only 17 minutes by taxi. Yes, it was a dull place, but it worked. And I honestly cannot think of any occasion I spent a huge amount of time queuing — I just checked and I made nearly 40 flights to TXL so I don’t think this was a one off impression. Compared to other convenience only airports, like, say LCY, I found it very efficient!

  • Doug M says:

    13 Nov13 November 08:32

    Agreed. TXL was a great airport. Easy access from the city. I’ll miss it. I guess your view on it depends on whether you want a place to catch a flight from, or a shopping mall with a runway attached.

  • Pete says:

    13 Nov13 November 08:36

    I get where you are coming from – and if you were flying with hand luggage only, were sat at the front of the plane and didn’t mind cutting it short before departure (or staying at the lounge until fairly last-minute), you are right. That also assumes flying BA, because most of the other TXL terminals managed to somehow be even worse than A. But I’d say for the majority of passengers it really wasn’t that great. I’d have loved if TXL could have stayed open for premium short-haul routes, perhaps just Terminal A, but not sure the cost would have been justifiable…

    • Doug M says:

      13 Nov13 November 12:08

      I was flying BA, and coming mostly as a tourist. I will seriously miss Tegel, and I can’t think of a single other airport I’d say that of. I loved the LCY service, two straight forward airports, the nice E190 2+2 seating.
      I thought the biggest factor against Tegel remaining in any form was the environmental concern of an airport in a built up area, rather than money.
      Anyway, nice review.

      • Bagoly says:

        14 Nov14 November 10:02

        Terminals B (long haul) and C at Tegel were no better than Schonefeld.
        And even in Terminal A I always seemed to get nightmare security – slow and rude.
        So I can’t see BER being any worse, although it is disappointing to hear that the security setup is too small.
        Qatar will presumably now use a jet bridge at last.

  • Craig Vassie says:

    13 Nov13 November 10:45

    TXL was one of my favourite airports. It was just so painless, and convenient. I’ve often arrived at the Intercontinental in under 30 minutes from landing., even with a checked bag. Into the Club Lounge, beer in hand, even before the BA tech crew!

    Sorry but I don’t see the “new” BER as progress.

• tony says:

  13 Nov13 November 08:03

  “it struck me that many readers may find my excitement at a new airport odd..”

  Not at all – a fascinating read even though I doubt i’ll ever use the place and just adding my +1 to the thanks.

• Dominic says:

  13 Nov13 November 08:13

  Thanks for the excellent review!

  Unfortunately for the airport, this just sums up what you get when you open an airport 9 years late, and 30 years after the decision to build it took place. Beijing Daxing, anyone?

  • Dave says:

    13 Nov13 November 08:53

    Flying there twice, really brilliant airport, can do a review if Rob wants it

    • Rob says:

      13 Nov13 November 09:06

      Daxing is a bit niche, I think.

      • Dave says:

        13 Nov13 November 11:10

        I went there just before Christmas 2019，and BA is one of the first airlines flying there and it is so empty (because China Eastern / Southern had not moved yet), you will have more stuff than passenger in the airport. It’s really niche and you have tourism group to see the airport! They have the Chinese pavilion at the end of each star legs, I think it is like star shape.
        I flew with BA first, but the lounge is small probably because the main one is not opened yet. A lot of toilets which are spotless clean probably because not a lot of flights

        • Josh says:

          13 Nov13 November 17:47

          Daxing is a spectacle and while the Airport Lounge was small, it was beautifully decorated and furnished I thought…far far better than usual Chinese airport lounges. They even had fairly decent food.

          The staff also seemed genuinely happy pleased and happy at the airport, unlike at Beijing Capital.

      • Dominic says:

        13 Nov13 November 12:25

        Yes, a bit niche – a build on a scale that only the Chinese could achieve in such a short timeframe, though!

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