Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Berlin Brandenburg Airport

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|International airport serving Berlin, Germany}}
{{Redirect|Berlin International Airport|the previous airports of Berlin|List of airports in Berlin}}
{{About|the airport in Germany|the airport in New Hampshire, the United States|Berlin Regional Airport}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020|cs1-dates=l}}
{{Infobox airport
| nativename          = ''{{small|Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg <br />“Willy Brandt“}}''
| nativename-a        = 
| nativename-r        = 
| name                = Berlin Brandenburg Airport<br />"Willy Brandt"
| image               = BER Logo en.svg
| image-width         = 250
| image2              = Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1.jpg
| image2-width        = 250
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 9
| IATA                = BER
| ICAO                = EDDB
| WMO                 = 10385
| type                = Public
| owner-oper          = [[Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH|FBB GmbH]]
| city-served         = [[Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region]]
| opened              = {{start date and age|2020|10|31|df=yes|p=n|br=n}}<ref name="finaldate">{{cite news |title=BER: Luftfahrtbehörde erlaubt Inbetriebnahme am 31. Oktober |trans-title=BER: Aviation authority permits commissioning on 31 October |date=1 October 2020 |language=DE |url=https://www.berliner-kurier.de/berlin/ber-luftfahrtbehoerde-erlaubt-inbetriebnahme-am-31-oktober-li.108821 |work=Berliner Kurier |access-date=31 October 2020 }}</ref><ref name="license">{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/ber-31-12-2020/52871|language=de|title=BER soll am 31. Oktober 2020 öffnen|date=29 November 2019|website=airliners.de}}</ref>
| location            = [[Schönefeld]], [[Brandenburg]]
| hub                 = 
| focus_city          = {{bulletedlist|[[easyJet]]
|[[Eurowings]]
|[[Ryanair]]
|[[Sundair]]}}
| elevation-f         = 157
| coordinates         = {{coord|52|22|00|N|013|30|12|E|region:DE-BB|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label       = BER
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| metric-rwy          = Yes
| pushpin_map         = Germany#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location at the Berlin-Brandenburg border
| website             = {{URL|https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en.html|ber.berlin-airport.de}}
| r1-number           = 07L/25R
| r1-length-m         = 3600
| r2-number           = 07R/25L
| r2-length-m         = 4000
| r2-surface          = [[Concrete]]
| stat-year           = 2023
| stat1-header        = Passenger volume
| stat1-data          = 23,071,865 {{increase}} +16,3%
| stat2-header        = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data          = {{0|00,}}176,649 {{increase}} +7,5%
| stat3-header        = Cargo (metric tons)
| stat3-data          = {{0|00,0}}34,038 {{increase}} +7,0%
| footnotes           = '''Sources:''' <ref name="Traffic Report">{{cite web |url=https://corporate.berlin-airport.de/content/dam/corporate/en/unternehmen-presse/ber/verkehrsstatistik/2023/20241101_Traffic_Statistics_December.pdf |title=Traffic statistics BER |accessdate=15 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="aviation24.be">{{cite web |url=https://www.aviation24.be/airports/berlin/23-07-million-passengers-travelled-via-berlin-airport-last-year-16-steady-passenger-numbers-in-december/ |title=23.07 million passengers travelled via Berlin Airport last year (+16%) – Steady passenger numbers in December |date=8 January 2024 |accessdate=8 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
}}

'''Berlin Brandenburg Airport ''Willy Brandt''''' ({{lang-de|Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg „Willy Brandt“}}, {{Airport codes|BER|EDDB}}, {{IPA-de|beːʔeːˈʔɛɐ̯|-|De-BER.ogg}}) is an [[international airport]] in [[Schönefeld]], just south of the [[Germany|German]] capital and state of [[Berlin]], in the state of [[Brandenburg]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-48527308|title=The airport with half a million faults|first=Chris|last=Bowlby|work=BBC News|date=29 June 2019}}</ref> Named after the former [[Mayor of West Berlin|West Berlin mayor]] and [[Chancellor of Germany|West German chancellor]] [[Willy Brandt]], it is located {{convert|18|km|mi}} south-east of the city centre and serves as a base for [[Eurowings]], [[easyJet]] and [[Ryanair]]. It mostly has flights to European metropolitan and leisure destinations as well as a number of intercontinental services.

The new airport replaced [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof]], [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport|Schönefeld]], and [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Tegel]] airports, and became the single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding [[States of Germany|State]] of [[Brandenburg]], an area with 6&nbsp;million inhabitants. With projected annual passenger numbers of around 34&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/hauptstadtflughafen-berlin-ist-selbst-eine-ber-eroeffnung-im-jahr-2018-gefaehrdet/13499816.html| title=Ist selbst eine BER-Eröffnung im Jahr 2018 gefährdet?| date=26 April 2016| newspaper=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]| first=Thorsten| last=Metzner| trans-title=Is even a 2018 BER opening at risk?| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wicker |first=Günter |date=5 January 2019 |title=Am BER beginnt ein (weiteres) Jahr der Wahrheit |trans-title=A (further) year of truth begins at BER |url=https://www.aero.de/news-30635/BER-beginnt-ein-weiteres-Jahr-der-Wahrheit.html |access-date=5 January 2019 |work=aero |language=de}}</ref> Berlin Brandenburg Airport has become the [[List of the busiest airports in Germany|third busiest]] [[List of airports in Germany|airport in Germany]], surpassing [[Düsseldorf Airport]] and making it one of the [[List of the busiest airports in Europe|fifteen busiest]] in Europe.

At the time of opening, the airport had a theoretical capacity of 46&nbsp;million passengers per year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fabricius |first1=Michael |date=24 January 2020 |title=Die BER-Eröffnung lässt sich kaum noch verhindern |language=de |trans-title=The BER opening can hardly be prevented |work=welt |url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article205294181/Pannenflughafen-Die-BER-Eroeffnung-laesst-sich-kaum-noch-verhindern.html |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref> Terminal 1 accounts for 28&nbsp;million of this; Terminal 2, which did not open until 24 March 2022, having been delayed by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], accounts for 6&nbsp;million; and Terminal 5, the terminal buildings of the former Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, accounts for another 12&nbsp;million. Planned further expansion would bring the airport's total annual capacity to 58&nbsp;million passengers by 2035.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kurpjuweit |first=Klaus |date=30 August 2017 |title=Flughafenchef Lütke Daldrup will neuen Starttermin für Flughafen nach dem 24. Dezember nennen |trans-title=Airport boss Lütke Daldrup wants to name a new start date for the airport after December 24th |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/brandenburg/ber-eroffnung-warten-aufs-christkind-7125580.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313224836/https://www.pnn.de/brandenburg/ber-eroeffnung-warten-aufs-christkind/21324858.html |archive-date=13 March 2022 |access-date=19 September 2022 |work=Tagesspiegel PNN |language=de}}</ref>

The airport was originally planned to open in October 2011, five years after starting construction in 2006. The project encountered a series of successive delays due to poor construction planning, execution, management, and corruption. Berlin Brandenburg Airport finally received its operational license in May 2020,<ref name="license"/> and opened for commercial traffic on 31 October 2020, 14 years after construction started and 29 years after official planning was begun.<ref name="finaldate"/> Schönefeld's refurbished passenger facilities were incorporated as ''Terminal 5'' on 25 October 2020<ref name="SXFT5">{{Cite web |last1=FBB |last2=DMM |date=7 September 2020 |title=Berlin-Schönefeld ist am 25. Oktober 2020 Geschichte |trans-title=Berlin-Schoenefeld is history on October 25, 2020 |url=https://www.dmm.travel/nc/news/berlin-schoenefeld-ist-am-25-oktober-2020-geschichte/ |access-date=19 September 2022 |website=www.dmm.travel |language=de}}</ref><ref name="Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH">{{cite web |date=15 April 2016 |title=Construction work at Schönefeld Airport: Upgrading of federal highway B96a, car park P4 closed |url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2016/2016-04-15-construction-work-b96a/index.php |url-status=dead |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH |archive-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728033936/https://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2016/2016-04-15-construction-work-b96a/index.php }}</ref><ref name="Fahrun">{{cite news| url=http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article205441567/Altes-Terminal-in-Schoenefeld-bleibt-nach-BER-Start-offen.html| title=Altes Terminal in Schönefeld bleibt nach BER-Start offen| date=3 July 2015| trans-title=Old terminal in Schönefeld to remain open after BER start| language=de| access-date=26 April 2016| first=Joachim| last=Fahrun| newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]}}</ref> while all other airlines completed the transition from Tegel to Berlin Brandenburg Airport by 8 November 2020.<ref name="BERallocations">{{Cite web|last=Nowack|first=Timo|date=1 October 2020|title=Wann welche Airline zum BER wechselt|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/zeitplan-umzug-wann-welche-airline-zum-ber-wechselt|access-date=13 March 2023|website=aeroTELEGRAPH|language=de-CH}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|4}}

==History==
===Plans for a new Berlin Airport===
[[File:Tupolev Tu-134A-3, CCCP-65783, Aeroflot.jpg|thumb|right|A view of the apron of [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport]] (1990)]]
[[File:Map Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport SFX with planed BBI.png|thumb|Map showing the infrastructure of the Schönefeld area and the relationship between the new and old airports]]
After the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1989, and following [[German reunification]] in 1990, Berlin once again became the German federal capital; leaders made plans to recognise the city's increased importance by constructing a large commercial airport. The existing airports, [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Tegel Airport]], [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport|Schönefeld Airport]] and [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof Airport]], were ageing and becoming increasingly congested with rising passenger numbers. To ensure the economic viability of the project, they pursued the ''single airport concept'': the new airport would become the sole commercial airport for Berlin and Brandenburg. They planned to close Tegel, Schönefeld and Tempelhof upon opening the new airport, then ban commercial aviation from any other airport in Brandenburg.

On 2 May 1991, the ''[[Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH|Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen Holding GmbH]]'' (BBF) was founded, owned by the states of Berlin and Brandenburg (37% each) and the Federal Republic of Germany (the remaining 26%). [[Eberhard Diepgen]], Mayor of Berlin, became the first chairman of the supervisory board.  The holding company announced on 20 June 1993 that [[Sperenberg Airfield]], [[Jüterbog Airfield]] and the area south of Schönefeld Airport, where the evaluation of the locations Sperenberg, Jüterbog East, Jüterbog West, Tietzow, Michelsdorf, Borkheide and Schönefeld South was carried out according to five criteria with different weighting. Each site was advocated by various factions in the ensuing political discussion.<ref name="timeline">{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-ber-die-akte-schoenefeld-1989-bis-1996/5916252.html| work=Der Tagesspiegel| title=Die Akte Schönefeld – 1989 bis 1996| date=2 December 2011| first=Gerd| last=Appenzeller| language=de| trans-title=The Schönefeld Act – 1989–1996}}</ref> With regard to [[land-use planning]] and [[noise pollution]], rural Sperenberg and Jüterbog were considered more suitable for construction of a large airport. Economic considerations favoured an airport located near the city centre, with existing road and rail links (as is the case with Schönefeld).<ref name="timeline"/><ref>{{cite book| title=Missed Opportunities: The Restructuring of Berlin's Airport System and the City's Position in International Airline Networks| last1=Alberts| first1=Heike C.| last2=Bowen| first2=John T. Jr.| last3=Cidell| first3=Julie L.| url=https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/54558/FinalFinal.pdf?sequence=2| publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]| date=12 June 2008}}</ref>

On 28 May 1996, Mayor Diepgen, Minister-President of Brandenburg [[Manfred Stolpe]] and [[Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development|Federal Minister for Transport]] [[Matthias Wissmann]] committed to Schönefeld as the site for the new airport. This so-called ''consensus decision'' was later affirmed by the respective state legislatures.<ref name=consensus>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/verkehr/dokumentation-konsensbeschluss-zur-tempelhof-schliessung/876062.html| work=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]| title=Konsensbeschluss zur Tempelhof-Schließung| language=de| date=18 June 2007| trans-title=Consensus decision for the closure of Tempelhof}}</ref> The new airport would use some infrastructure, such as a runway, from the existing Schönefeld Airport.

===Failed privatisation===
Originally, BBF anticipated that the new airport would be owned and operated by a private investor. They called for proposals, which led to two bidding consortia emerging as serious contenders. One was led by [[Hochtief]] through its [[AviAlliance|Hochtief Airport]] subsidiary and included [[ABB]], [[Fraport]] and [[Landesbank Berlin Holding|Bankengesellschaft Berlin]] as partners.  The other consortium comprised [[IVG Immobilien|IVG]], [[Vienna Airport|Flughafen Wien AG]], Dorsch-Consult, [[Commerzbank]] and [[Caisse des dépôts et consignations|Caisse des Dépôts]]. On 19 September 1998, BBF announced that the Hochtief consortium were the successful bidder. This saw them granted exclusive authority to negotiate the terms and conditions for an acquisition of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport holding and the construction and operation of the new airport for 50 years.<ref name="welt">{{cite news| url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article630849/Hochtief-baut-in-Schoenefeld.html| work=[[Die Welt]]| title=Hochtief baut in Schönefeld| date=19 September 1998| last=Schümann| first=Timm| language=de| trans-title=Hochtief expands in Schönefeld}}</ref>

On 31 March 1999, BBF officially commissioned Hochtief and its partners to construct the new airport, causing IVG to file a lawsuit. The Brandenburg [[Oberlandesgericht]] acknowledged the concerns voiced by IVG. In its review, it found that in certain points the assessment of the applications had been biased towards Hochtief. This led to annulment of the [[Contract awarding|contract award]] on 3 August of that year.<ref name=neumann>{{cite news| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/warum-die-flughafen-privatisierung-1999-scheiterte--der-untersuchungsausschuss-beraet-heute-ueber-den-abschlussbericht-pleiten--pech-und-pannen-in-schoenefeld,10810590,10087618.html| title=Pleiten, Pech und Pannen in Schönefeld| work=[[Berliner Zeitung]]| first=Peter| last=Neumann| date=20 May 2003| language=de| trans-title=Bad luck and mishaps in Schonefeld}}</ref>

Hochtief Airport and IVG teamed up and created a plan for a joint bid on 10 November 2000 in an attempt to receive the contract to construct and operate the new airport.<ref name=hochtief10Nov>{{cite press release| url=http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/de/37110/rwe/presse-news/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilungen/?pmid=472| publisher=Hochtief| title=HOCHTIEF AirPort und IVG wollen Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg International gemeinsam realisieren| date=10 November 2000| language=de| trans-title=HOCHTIEF AirPort and IVG want to build Berlin Brandenburg International Airport jointly}}</ref> At the time BBF hoped that the planning approval could be completed in 2002, with the tentative opening in 2007.<ref name=handelsblatt>{{cite news| url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/archiv/hochtief-und-ivg-wollen-zusammen-am-flughafen-arbeiten-grossflughafen-berlin-nimmt-offenbar-kartell-huerde/2038650.html| work=[[Handelsblatt]]| title=Großflughafen Berlin nimmt offenbar Kartell-Hürde| date=2 February 2001| agency=Reuters| language=de| trans-title=Berlin airport apparently clears antitrust hurdle}}</ref>

When Hochtief/IVG submitted its bid in February 2002, the BBF board consisted of [[Manfred Stolpe]], who would become Federal Minister of Transportation; [[Klaus Wowereit]], who replaced Eberhard Diepgen as Mayor of Berlin and chair of the board; and [[Matthias Platzeck]], who replaced Stolpe as Minister-President of Brandenburg. The board determined that the proposal would not be practical and voted 22 May 2003 to scrap the privatisation plan.<ref name=allgemeine>{{cite news| title=Privatisierung von Hauptstadt-Flughafen gescheitert| url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/berlin-privatisierung-von-hauptstadt-flughafen-gescheitert-1104085.html| work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]| date=22 May 2003| language=de| trans-title=Privatisation of Capital Airport Failed}}</ref> Hochtief and IVG received approximately €50&nbsp;million compensation for their planning effort.

===Public ownership and construction permit===
The new Berlin airport would be planned, owned and operated by BBF Holding. Shortly afterwards BBF Holding became ''Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH'' (FBB) and remained under the ownership of Berlin, Brandenburg and the federal government. On 13 August 2004, the Brandenburg state ministry for infrastructure and regional policy granted approval for the development of Schönefeld Airport into the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php?id=173010&_siteid=45 |title=Planfeststellungsbeschluss des Landes Brandenburg für den Ausbau des Flughafens Berlin-Brandenburg International |publisher=Government of Brandenburg |date=13 August 2004 |location=Potsdam |language=de |trans-title=Resolution for the spatial planning of BBI by the state of Brandenburg |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427204618/http://www.mir.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php?id=173010&_siteid=45 |archive-date=27 April 2009 }}</ref>

A legal battle ensued, as local residents filed lawsuits against the ministry's decision. The dispute ended 16 March 2006, when the [[Federal Administrative Court of Germany]] rejected the residents' arguments. The court imposed stipulations on flight operations at the new airport.<ref name=soar>{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/postcard-from-berlin-can-a-new-airport-make-this-city-soar-a-406321.html| work=[[Der Spiegel]]| title=Can a New Airport Make this City Soar?| date=16 March 2006}}</ref> The [[construction permit]] was granted only under the condition that once operational, the number of people living in the approach path would be lower compared to the situation surrounding the three existing airports – Tegel, Schönefeld and Tempelhof.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.brandenburg.de/cms/media.php/2239/PFSB_283-350.pdf |title=Planfeststellungsbeschluss zum BBI des Brandenburgischen Ministeriums für Infrastruktur und Raumordnung |publisher=Brandenburg Ministry for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning |date=13 August 2004 |pages=327–328, 355 |language=de |trans-title=Resolution of spatial planning for BBI|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326133524/http://www.mir.brandenburg.de/cms/media.php/2239/PFSB_283-350.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref> Therefore, it was mandatory for Tegel and Schönefeld to close (Tempelhof was already decommissioned in 2008) once Berlin's air traffic was concentrated at the new airport.<ref name=court>{{cite web| url=http://www.bverwg.de/entscheidungen/pdf/160306U4A1073.04.0.pdf| title=Urteil des Bundesverwaltungsgerichts BVerwG 4 A 1073.04| date=16 March 2006| location=Leipzig| page=86| language=de| trans-title=Ruling by the Federal Administrative Court of Germany, paragraph 193}}</ref>

===Financing===
By 2009, the construction cost was budgeted at €2.83&nbsp;billion. FBB raised the financing for the project by a credit raising of €2.4&nbsp;billion, a bank deposit of €430&nbsp;million by the FBB partners, and an additional €440&nbsp;million of equity capital provided by FBB.<ref name=neumann02>{{cite news| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/kosten-fuer-grossflughafen-steigen-um-160-millionen-euro--weil-mehr-passagiere-erwartet-werden-noch-nicht-gebaut-und-schon-teurer,10810590,10571740.html| work=Berliner Zeitung| last=Newmann| first=Peter| title=Noch nicht gebaut und schon teurer| date=7 October 2008| language=de| trans-title=Not yet built and already more expensive| access-date=14 January 2013| archive-date=4 August 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804171219/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/kosten-fuer-grossflughafen-steigen-um-160-millionen-euro--weil-mehr-passagiere-erwartet-werden-noch-nicht-gebaut-und-schon-teurer,10810590,10571740.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>

During construction, it became clear that the airport's costs would significantly increase as a result of initial underestimates, construction flaws, and increased expenses for soundproofing nearby homes. By 2012, the series of delays in opening was expected to lead to a number of lawsuits against FBB with the now defunct [[Air Berlin]] announcing its intentions of such a move.<ref name="spiegelNov12">{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/further-delays-possible-for-new-berlin-airport-a-866691.html| work=Der Spiegel| title=More Fire Safety Problems: Berlin Airport Faces Further Possible Delays| date=12 November 2012}}</ref>

By late 2012, expenditures for Berlin Brandenburg Airport totalled €4.3&nbsp;billion, almost twice the originally anticipated figure.<ref name="spiegelJan13">{{cite news |date=7 January 2013 |title=October Launch Scrapped: Berlin Airport Opening Delayed Yet Again |work=Der Spiegel |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/opening-of-berlin-airport-delayed-again-due-to-technical-problems-a-876103.html}}</ref>

It became clear in November 2015 that the financial concept of the airport was fundamentally flawed. The main purpose of the many stores planned at the airport was to serve passengers who were changing planes, assuming that Berlin would be a big international hub. It was acknowledged in 2015 that competition between the hubs was already too intense. [[Frankfurt Airport]] and [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] would resist losing passenger shares without a price war and that few if any airlines would abandon their hubs for Berlin. The only remaining potential airline for operating a hub was Air Berlin, which was in financial difficulties and did not plan to provide long-distance service.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.rbb-online.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2017/06/air-berlin-plant-vorerst-kein-umsteige-drehkreuz-in-berlin.html |title=Air Berlin plant vorerst kein Drehkreuz in Berlin| work=[[Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg]](RBB)| trans-title=Air Berlin is not planning a hub in Berlin| date=21 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/offiziell-provinz-flughafen-43279322.bild.html| title=BER wird jetzt offiziell Provinz-Flughafen—BER now officially province airport| trans-title=BER is now officially a provincial airport| date=5 November 2015| first=Olaf| last=Wedekind| work=[[Bild]]| language=de}}</ref>

German Railways [[Deutsche Bahn]] also sued for non-usage of the [[ghost station]] below the airport in 2012<ref>{{cite web |trans-title=Deutsche Bahn sues BER airport company for damages of 70 million euros |url= http://www.focus.de/finanzen/videos/zuege-im-geisterbahnhof-deutsche-bahn-verklagt-ber-flughafengesellschaft-auf-70-millionen-euro-schadenersatz_id_5054677.html |title= Deutsche Bahn verklagt BER-Flughafengesellschaft auf 70 Millionen Euro Schadenersatz |date= 1 November 2015 |work= [[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]]| language=de}}</ref> with the airport having to pay damages.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/ber-flughafengesellschaft-zahlt-deutscher-bahn-offenbar-fuenf-millionen-a-1090234.html| title=Pannen-Airport: Berliner Flughafen soll Millionen für ungenutzte Bahnhöfe zahlen| trans-title=Defective Airport: BER to pay millions for unused station| date=1 May 2016| work=Der Spiegel| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-strenge-ber-auflagen-woanders-sind-die-standard/13528310.html| title=Strenge BER-Auflagen? Woanders sind die Standard| trans-title=Rigid requirements for BER? They are standard elsewhere| first=Gerd| last=Appenzeller| date=2 May 2016| work=Der Tagesspiegel| language=de}}</ref>

In November 2015, auditors with the [[Brandenburg]] [[Comptroller]] concluded that financial control executed by [[Berlin]], [[Brandenburg]], and [[Germany]] over the airport as owners was insufficient and inefficient.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/1022720/| title=BER-Management wurde nicht unabhängig kontrolliert| trans-title=BER management was not independently controlled| first=Thorsten| last=Metzner| work=Der Tagesspiegel| date=9 November 2015| language=de}}</ref> The Comptroller published a 400-page report in February 2016 describing the flawed opening including several construction lapses. This led the BER boss to retaliate publicly against the comptroller on 27 February decrying the release of the numbers.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/ber-rache-anrechnungshof-44696656.bild.html| title=Veröffentlichung der Zahlen nicht rechtmäßig? BER-Chef rächt sich an Brandenburgs Rechnungshof |language=de |trans-title=Unlawful publication of figures? BER boss retaliates against comptroller |first=Michael |last=Sauerbier |work=Bild |date=25 February 2015}}</ref>

[[Soundproofing]] nearby homes will be €50{{nbsp}}million more expensive because of a verdict of the main administrative courts of the states of [[Berlin]] and [[Brandenburg]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/laermschutz-am-airport-kostet-noch-mal-mehr-45641834.bild.html| title=Lärmschutz am BER kostet bis zu 50 Mio. Euro mehr| trans-title=Soundproofing up to 50 million Euros more| first=Olaf| last=Wedekend| work=Bild| date=4 May 2016| language=de}}</ref> As of 5 May 2016, the court decided in favour of 25,500 plaintiffs. See also: [[Federal Administrative Court of Germany]]. The key directive of the verdict was that rooms must be provided with adequate ventilation if windows are closed for noise, and the airport authority must also determine how air inside the structures can be vented. The airport avoided liability claims against Imtech and other firms involved in the construction of the fire exhaust system.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/wirtschaftsticker/bams-ber-verzichtet-auf-haftungsansprueche-wegen-baumaengeln_id_5554984.html| title=BER verzichtet laut "BamS" auf Haftungsansprüche wegen Baumängeln| trans-title=BER avoids liability claims due to construction failures| date=22 May 2016| work=Focus| language=de}}</ref>

Financing for the entire airport appeared headed toward bankruptcy in June 2016 when the EU was unwilling to approve a pending request for €2.5{{nbsp}}billion bringing the project to €6.9{{nbsp}}billion. If the request was denied, the airport authority stated it would be bankrupt by August 2016.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thueringen24.de/welt/article207650647/BER-droht-im-Sommer-das-Geld-auszugehen.html |title=BER droht im Sommer das Geld auszugehen |trans-title=airport threatened by bankruptcy during summer |work=Thuringia24 |date=6 June 2017|language=de|author1=Dpa }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-Chef-uebt-sich-in-Optimismus-article17872566.html |title=Letzte Lösung Sprengen? BER-Chef übt sich in Optimismus|trans-title=last solution dynamite? BER head optimistic| date=6 June 2016| work=[[n-tv]]| language=de}}</ref> The EU permitted an additional €2.2{{nbsp}}billion on 3 August 2016.<ref name="tagesspiegel.de">{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/eu-erlaubt-finanzhilfe-fuer-flughafen-die-gute-milliardenteure-nachricht-fuer-den-ber/13964442.html| title=Die gute, milliardenteure Nachricht für den BER|trans-title=The good news worth billions for BER| date=3 August 2016| work=Der Tagesspiegel| language=de}}</ref> A €2.4&nbsp;billion loan was signed on 13 February 2017 containing €1.1&nbsp;billion for financing and €1.3&nbsp;billion to resolve old bad loans. The German federal government and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg guaranteed the debt.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-die-naechsten-ber-milliarden-koennen-fliessen/19381412.html| title=Die nächsten BER-Milliarden können fließen| trans-title=Now BER Millions Can Flow| date=13 February 2017| work=Der Tagesspiegel| language=de| last1=Metzner| first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

As of 2015, total costs amounted to €5.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/neuer-finanzbedarf-mehdorn-will-weitere-11-milliarden-fuer-pannenflughafen-2102758.html| title=Mehdorn will weitere 1,1 Milliarden für Pannenflughafen| date=10 April 2014| work=[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]]|language=de| trans-title=Mehdorn wants additional 1.1 billion for defective airport| access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/kolumnen/zippert_zappt/article141463129/Claus-Weselsky-soll-den-BER-zuende-bauen.html| title=Claus Weselsky soll den BER zuende bauen| first=Hans| last=Zippert| date=25 May 2015| trans-title=Claus Weselsky will finish the BER| work=[[N24 (Germany)|N24]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Bummel-BER-kann-noch-teurer-werden-article15165681.html |title=Most embarrassing airport in the world: BER Could Become More Expensive| work=N24| date=25 May 2015| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| date=25 May 2015| title=Bund schließt weitere Kostenrisiken beim BER nicht aus| trans-title=State does not rule out further cost risks with BER| url=http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/bund-schliesst-weitere-kostenrisiken-beim-ber-nicht-aus-2196326.html| url-status=dead| journal=Stern |location=Hamburg |issn=0039-1239 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525142612/http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/bund-schliesst-weitere-kostenrisiken-beim-ber-nicht-aus-2196326.html| archive-date=25 May 2015| quote=Derzeit gehe die Flughafengesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg (FBB) von rund 5,3 Milliarden Euro Gesamtkosten aus. ("Currently, the airport company Berlin-Brandenburg (FBB) expects approximately €5.3 billion total cost.")}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/hauptstadtflughafen/kleine-bundestagsanfrage-der-gruenen-zum-ber-hauptstadtflughafen-koennte-noch-teurer-werden,11546166,30778318.html| title=Hauptstadtflughafen könnte noch teurer warden| trans-title=Capital airport may become yet more expensive| date=25 May 2015| work=[[Berliner Zeitung]]| language=de}}</ref> Revised plans suggest additional costs amounting to an extra €2.19&nbsp;billion. As of 3 June 2015, Germany applied for an additional €2.5&nbsp;billion spending approval from the EU. This is in addition to the previous total of €4.3&nbsp;billion, bringing total costs to €6.8&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/noch-mehr-geld-fuer-den-ber-bundesverkehrministerium-gewaehrt-einsicht-in-eu-antrag/11861724.html| title=Bundesverkehrministerium gewährt Einsicht in EU-Antrag| trans-title=Federal Ministry of Transport granted insight into EU application| date=2 June 2015| first=Thorsten| last=Metzner| work=Der Tagesspiegel| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/eu-pruefverfahren-zum-ber-berlin-und-brandenburg-fordern-einsicht-in-antragspapiere/11849842.html| title=EU Pruefverfahren—Berlin und Brandenburg fordern Einsicht in Antragspapiere| trans-title=Berlin and Brandenburg require access to application| date=1 June 2016| first=Ulrich| last=Zawatka-Gerlach| work=Der Tagesspiegel| access-date=9 June 2015| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/976501/| title=Brandenburger Milliardenhilfe für BER| trans-title=Brandenburg's Billions in Aid for BER| first=Thorsten| last=Metzner| work=Der Tagesspiegel| date=13 June 2015}}</ref> The EU would only permit an additional €2.2&nbsp;billion, which it did on 3 August 2016.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/06/ber--geld-reicht-bis-2018.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701133949/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/06/ber--geld-reicht-bis-2018.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=1 July 2016| title=Kein Einspruch von der EU-Kommission erwartet| trans-title=No objection of EU commission expected: New billions for BER expected| date=30 June 2016| work=RBB| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.n-tv.de/politik/EU-deckelt-Zuschuesse-fuer-Flughafen-BER-article16579426.html| title=EU deckelt Zuschüsse für Flughafen BER| trans-title=EU covers grants for BER airport|date=16 December 2016| work=n-tv| language=de}}</ref><ref name="tagesspiegel.de"/> Although the airport has yet to open officials are planning a possible third runway for approximately €1&nbsp;billion and other new projects such as an additional terminal, expanded baggage system and another freight facility. The total additional spending would amount to €3.2&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-plant-weitere-Milliardenausgaben-article13886286.html|title=Fahnenmast und Brandt-Statue Weitere Milliardenausgaben für BER geplant| date=2 November 2014| work=n-tv| language=de| trans-title=Flag pole and Brandt statue BER plans for further additional spending}}</ref> The board warned of a further rise in costs because the airport will not open before 2017. The current time-cost frame is limited to 2016;<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/ber-aufsichtsrat-warnt-vor-noch-hoeheren-kosten-a-1008686.html| title=BER-Aufsichtsrat warnt vor noch höheren Kosten| trans-title=BER Supervisory Board warns against even higher costs| journal=[[Manager Magazin]]| date=16 December 2014| language=de}}</ref> the estimated cost of €6.9&nbsp;billion is current as of May 2016.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article155374698/Kratzt-der-BER-bald-an-der-Sieben-Milliarden-Grenze.html| title=Kratzt der BER bald an der Sieben-Milliarden-Grenze?| trans-title=Will BER break the 7bn mark soon?| date=16 May 2016| work=N24| language=de}}</ref> The airport company reportedly made the assurance to the [[European Investment Bank]] that the airport will open in September 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/immobilien/videos/zusage-an-investoren-geheimes-ber-eroeffnungsdatum-hauptstadtfughafen-soll-im-september-2019-starten_id_7596671.html|title=Geheimes BER-Eröffnungsdatum: Hauptstadtfughafen soll im September 2019 starten|trans-title=secret BER opening date: capital city airport supposed to start in 19 sep|work=focus|access-date=16 September 2017|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915144214/http://www.focus.de/immobilien/videos/zusage-an-investoren-geheimes-ber-eroeffnungsdatum-hauptstadtfughafen-soll-im-september-2019-starten_id_7596671.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Forecasts estimate the airport will not be ready to open until 2020. This required €500&nbsp;million refinancing to bridge the gap between 2019 and 2020.<ref name="focus">{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/pannenflughafen-macht-wieder-schlagzeilen-6-600-000-000-euro-verbraten-und-dem-ber-fehlt-schon-wieder-eine-halbe-milliarde_id_7861133.html|title=6.600.000.000 Euro verbraten – und dem BER fehlt schon wieder eine halbe Milliarde|trans-title=6.6 billion euros blown on BER – and another 500 million are needed|work=focus|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> The airport published a need for another billion euros up until 2020. Thus the three years of work from 2018 onwards will cost at least €900&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/finanzen/flughafen-in-berlin-ber-braucht-bis-zu-eine-milliarde-euro-mehr_id_8254756.html|title=Flughafen in Berlin: BER braucht bis zu eine Milliarde Euro mehr|trans-title=Ber needs an additional billion|work=focus|access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> The total cost of the airport will top €6.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1075479.noch-eine-milliarde.html |title=BER: Offenbar noch größerer Finanzbedarf am Hauptstadt-Airport|trans-title=Obviously even bigger financial demand at BER|work=neues deutschland nd|access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gratis-mmorpg.com/2018/01/18/berliner-flughafen-chef-mehrkosten-weniger-als-eine/|title=Berliner Flughafen-Chef: "Mehrkosten weniger als eine Milliarde" G/|access-date=18 January 2018}}</ref>

As of 13 January 2018, the company requested an additional €2.8&nbsp;billion for extensions until 2030.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-500-millionen-euro-mehr-ber-ausbau-soll-nun-2-8-milliarden-kosten/20840032.html|title=500 Millionen Euro mehr – BER-Ausbau soll nun 2,8 Milliarden kosten|work=Tagesspiegel|date=12 January 2018|access-date=14 January 2018|last1=Maroldt|first1=Lorenz}}</ref> Taking that into account, the total cost comes to €9.4&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/1249127/|title=BER nimmt Anflug auf zehn Milliarden Euro|work=PNN|trans-title=BER nosediving towards 10bio|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-date=15 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001333/http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/1249127/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/hauptstadtflughafen-das-zehn-milliarden-euro-projekt/20843412.html|title=Das Zehn-Milliarden-Euro-Projekt |work=Tagesspiegel|trans-title=the 10 bio Euro project|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> with a total of €10.3&nbsp;billion if the €900&nbsp;million in overhead costs previously mentioned are factored in. An economical estimate determined the costs for the overheads at a conservative figure of €770&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/ber-milliarden-euro/43789|title=BER kostet wohl mehr als sieben Milliarden Euro |trans-title=Highly likely the BER will cost more than 7bio}}</ref> The airport is planning to borrow €400&nbsp;million.<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/verkehr/770-millionen-euro--neuer-flughafen-ber-braucht-noch-mehr-geld--29807442|title=770 Millionen Euro Neuer Flughafen BER braucht noch mehr Geld –|date=2 March 2018 |trans-title=770mio Euro new airport needs even more money |access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> Another issue arose when it became public that the airport head earns an annual salary of €500,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/umland/flughafen-boss-verdient-dreimal-so-viel-wie-der-ministerpraesident |title=Flughafen-Boss verdient dreimal so viel wie der Ministerpräsident |date=23 March 2018 |publisher=Axel Springer Infopool |access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> A new loan was granted by the German parliament on 30 June 2018 totalling €132 million. The other two owners, the states of Brandenburg and Berlin, will likely permit their shares of the loan as well, so the loan will total €500&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/BER-benoetigt-wohl-noch-mehr-Steuergeld-article20505806.html |title=BER benötigt wohl noch mehr Steuergeld|trans-title=BER likely to leech even more tax payer money}}</ref> The board postponed a decision concerning the loan until the end of August 2018, which leaves the entire finance planning in jeopardy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/finanzplan-ber-ausbau/45898|title=Finanzplan für BER-Ausbau unklar|trans-title=Finance plan is not clear|access-date=17 July 2018}}</ref> At the end of August 2018 Berlin's head of finance Matthias Kollatz remarked that the airport may face abrupt bankruptcy on 1 January 2019 if no immediate measures were be taken.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/hauptstadtflughafen-finanzsenator-kollatz-droht-mit-insolvenz-des-ber/22975564.html|title=Finanzsenator Kollatz droht mit Insolvenz des BER|website=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=30 August 2018|language=de|last1=Maroldt|first1=Lorenz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1099450.hauptstadtflughafen-zappenduster-am-ber.html|title=Zappenduster am BER|trans-title=pitchfork dark at BER|access-date=8 September 2018}}</ref> The financial head resigned from the holding company of Berlin's airports at the end of September 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article200779046/Finanzchefin-der-Berliner-Flughaefen-hoert-vorzeitig-auf.html |title=Finanzchefin der Berliner Flughäfen hört vorzeitig auf|work=[[Die Welt]] |agency=dpa |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=1 April 2020 }}</ref> According to projections the airport is in dire need of additional €508&nbsp;million from 2021 onwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article227839001/Flughafen-BER-braucht-nach-2021-frisches-Geld.html|title=Flughafen BER braucht nach 2021 frisches Gled|date=6 December 2019|trans-title=airport BER needs fresh money after 2021 – Remaining funds will only suffice just after the opening – Federals stop plans for new govt terminal|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref> There seems to be another need for financial support from authorities for the next 2 years as of 29 April 2020 amounting to €1.8&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-ist-ein-akuter-Sanierungsfall-article21747471.html|title=BER ist ein "akuter Sanierungsfall"|first=n-tv|last=NACHRICHTEN|website=n-tv.de}}</ref> A new study claimed that the net worth of the current building is far lower than the credited €4.866&nbsp;billion and it is to be settled at €3&nbsp;billion less.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/corona-ist-nicht-die-ursache-milliardengrab-ber-flughafen-ist-endlich-fertig-jetzt-droht-ihm-die-insolvenz_id_11937457.html|title=Milliardengrab BER endlich fertig - aber Flughafengesellschaft droht jetzt Insolvenz|first=FOCUS|last=Online|website=FOCUS Online}}</ref> The financial gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to be at €300&nbsp;million for Tegel and Schönefeld combined, thus the new airport will be in need for financial support for years to come.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-ber-koennte-noch-mehrere-jahre-finanzhilfe-brauchen-a-ee994aea-4dce-4c1b-bae9-79565a342b05|title=Hauptstadtflughafen BER könnte noch mehrere Jahre Finanzhilfe brauchen|first=DER|last=SPIEGEL|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=18 May 2020}}</ref> The annual manager report of 2019 of BER's operating firm was criticised by Linkspartei as extremely short and intransparent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Kritik-an-Geschaeftsbericht-von-BER-Betreiber-article21817138.html|title=Kritik an Geschäftsbericht von BER-Betreiber|trans-title= Criticism concerning the annual manager report of 2019 of BER's operating firm|access-date =1 June 2020}}</ref> Cash flow concerns amount to a dire need of €1.5&nbsp;billion as of immediate in 20 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/flughafen-ber-pannenflughafen-braucht-wohl-weitere-1-5-milliarden-euro_id_12091816.html|title=Einnahmen schöngerechnet? Pannenflughafen BER braucht wohl weitere 1,5 Milliarden Euro|trans-title=income falsified? airport needs additional 1.5bio€|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref>

On 13 July 2020, prosecutors filed a complaint on suspicion of falsifying the balance sheet. The financial auditors for FBB were the same as for the now insolvent [[Wirecard]] company, raising doubts about the validity of the audits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article229517032/Flughafen-im-Visier-der-Strafverfolger.html|title=Flughafen im Visier der Strafverfolger|date=14 July 2020|access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> The plan to generate profits starting in 2023/2024 has been overturned by the COVID-19 pandemic according to airport head {{ill|Engelbert Lütke-Daldrup|de|vertical-align=sup}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/luetke-daldrup-finanzplanung-ber/56689|title=Lütke-Daldrup: Finanzplanung für BER funktioniert nicht mehr |trans-title=financial plans will not work out|work=airliners|access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>

There seems to be a demand of €375&nbsp;million for 2021 to cover current costs for BER, the parent company announced on 9 October 2020. An additional €552&nbsp;million are needed as a stabilization for missing passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-braucht-weitere-halbe-Milliarde-article22090324.html |title=BER braucht weitere halbe Milliarde |work=n-tv |access-date=9 October 2020 }}</ref>

===Naming===
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F057884-0009, Willy Brandt.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The airport is named after Nobel Peace Laureate [[Willy Brandt]], former [[Mayor of Berlin|Mayor]] of [[West Berlin]] and [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)|Chancellor of West Germany]].]]
During much of the planning and construction phase the new airport was known as '''Berlin Brandenburg International Airport''', abbreviated '''BBI.''' It was then discovered that the [[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA code]] '''BBI''' already referred to [[Biju Patnaik Airport]] (also known as Bhubaneswar Airport) in India. When the planned opening date of 2 June 2012 drew nearer the FBB launched a marketing campaign introducing the '''BER''' branding, reflecting the new [[International Air Transport Association airport code|airport code]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Building Berlin's new airport is a race against time | first = Sabine | last = Kinkartz | others = Editor: Sam Edmonds | publisher = Deutsche Welle | date = 16 July 2011| url = http://www.dw.com/en/building-berlins-new-airport-is-a-race-against-time/a-15156483 }}</ref>

In 2007, the FBB board decided that Berlin Brandenburg Airport would be given a second name, honouring a person with a distinctive link to the city of Berlin.<ref name="airportname">{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-name-game-what-should-berlin-call-its-airport-a-512277.html| work=Der Spiegel| title=The Name Game: What Should Berlin Call Its Airport?| date=18 October 2007}}</ref> On 11 December 2009, the decision was made in favour of [[Willy Brandt]].<ref name=beiklerkurpjuweit>{{cite news| first1=S.| last1=Beikler| first2=K.| last2=Kurpjuweit| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/Verkehr-BBI-Willy-Brandt-Berliner-Flughaefen;art18614,2973414| title=Berlin bekommt einen Kanzlerflughafen| newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online| date=12 December 2009| location=Berlin| language=de| trans-title=Berlin gets a chancellor airport}}</ref> The [[Nobel Peace Prize|Nobel Peace]] laureate of 1971 served as mayor of [[West Berlin]] from 1957 to 1966 and as [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)|West German chancellor]] from 1969 to 1974. Berlin mayor [[Klaus Wowereit]] and Minister-President of Brandenburg [[Matthias Platzeck]], both members of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] (which Brandt led from 1964 to 1987) led the effort to add Brandt's name to the airport.

Other suggested honorees included [[Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg]], [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Marlene Dietrich]] (suggested by members of the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]]), [[Gustav Stresemann]] (nominated by the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]]), and [[Otto Lilienthal]] (advocated by the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green Party]]).<ref name="airportname" />

As a result of the ongoing problems affecting the airport and the continuous negative publicity it got in the German and international press, the {{interlanguage link|Bundeskanzler-Willy-Brandt-Stiftung|de|lt=Willy Brandt Foundation}} considered revoking the airport's permission to bear the former chancellor's name. This is due to concerns that an ongoing association might be considered disrespectful towards his legacy. However, no such measure has been taken so far.<ref name="Spiegel2013">{{Citation|title=Berlin's Blighted Airport May Need a New Name|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=15 January 2013|publisher=Spiegel Online|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/report-casts-doubt-on-berlin-airport-being-named-after-willy-brandt-a-877647.html}}</ref>

==Terminals==
[[File:BER Terminals.png|thumb|Terminal layout including the newly added Terminal 2 as well as the now closed Terminal 5, the former Schönefeld Airport]]
[[File:120513-BER-Flugbrücken.JPG|thumb|The main pier of Terminal 1]]
[[File:Berlin_brandenburg_airport_terminal_1_-_3.jpg|thumb|The main hall of Terminal 1]]

===Terminal 1===
The U-shaped main terminal building of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, named '''Terminal 1''' and consisting of sections '''A''', '''B (01-25)''', '''C''' and '''D''', was designed by [[Gerkan, Marg and Partners|gmp]] architects. They are the same company that designed the hexagonal Terminal A at [[Tegel Airport]], which opened in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vellinga |first=Petra |date=3 July 2016 |title=Flughafen Tegel mit der Klassik NIKE gewürdigt |trans-title=Tegel Airport honored with the classic NIKE |url=https://www.bda-berlin.de/2016/07/flughafen-tegel-mit-der-klassik-nike-gewuerdigt/ |access-date=2 September 2020 |website=BDA |language=de}}</ref> At BER, the terminal sits between the two runways, creating a so-called ''midfield airport'' above the underground train station. The terminal has four public levels, designated 0, 1, 2 and 3.

The [[Airport check-in|check-in area]] is located in the public area at Level 1 and houses 118 counters organised in eight clusters, called ''check-in isles''. Planners anticipate that a significant number of passengers will use the more than 100 self check-in machines that will be installed. Additionally, by May 2015, two extensions had been added to both sides of the main check-in area, containing 12 more check-in counters and eight security lanes each to avoid overcrowding of the main hall.<ref>{{cite web |last=<!-- not listed --> |date=2 June 2015 |title=Pavillons am neuen Hauptstadtflughafen BER sind fertig |trans-title=Pavilions at the new capital airport BER are ready |url=https://www.airliners.de/pavillons-hauptstadtflughafen-ber/35849 |access-date=17 May 2016 |website=airliners.de |language=de}}</ref>

The airside area will be accessible only to ticketed and [[Airport security|screened]] passengers. [[Securitas (Swedish security company)|Securitas Germany]] will staff the 35 screening stations. BER is equipped with 25 [[jet bridge]]s with another 85 aircraft stands on the apron. The boarding and arrival areas are divided into three piers with the main pier {{convert|715|m|ft|sigfig=3}} long, and the north and south piers at {{convert|350|m|ft|sigfig=3}} each. The main pier contains 16 jet-bridges; all but one have two levels, thus, separating arriving and departing passengers. Level 1 is intended for [[Schengen Area]] passengers (gates A01–A20, B01–B20), while Level 2 (gates C01–C19, D01–D17) is for non-Schengen passengers.<ref name="presskit"/>{{rp|8–10}}  Eight of the gates can accommodate [[wide-body aircraft]], and one gate has been designed to accommodate the [[Airbus A380]]. The apron has sufficient space to allow installation of a dual jetway allowing a quick boarding and disembarking process. A mezzanine (Level Z) at gates A21–22 and B21 allows for additional pre-boarding security checks for high-risk flights to the United States and [[Israel]]. Lufthansa operates an [[airport lounge]] at the north end of the main pier (gate B20), which will also be open for passengers of the respective [[airline alliance|alliance partners]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en/cafes-shops-service/sgs-poi/903-lufthansa-lounge-berlin.html |title=Lufthansa Lounge Berlin Business Lounge|publisher=berlin-airport.de|access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> An airport-operated lounge is located at the south end of the main pier (gate A20), which is contracted by most of the non-Star Alliance carriers operating from T1.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en/cafes-shops-service/sgs-poi/901-lounge-tempelhof.html |title=Lounge Tempelhof|publisher=berlin-airport.de|access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref>

The south pier was reserved for near-exclusive use of defunct [[Air Berlin]] and its [[Oneworld]] partners. The south terminal contains nine single-storey jet bridges (gates A30–A38). The north pier features a more minimalist design compared to the other two piers. This is to meet the demands of [[low-cost carrier]]s and has no jetbridges but boarding gates (B30–45) with direct apron access.

Major operators at Terminal 1 are [[easyJet]], the [[Lufthansa Group]], [[Air France]], [[British Airways]], [[Turkish Airlines]], [[United Airlines]] and [[Qatar Airways]], amongst others.<ref name="airlinelocations">{{Cite web|title=Wie sich die Fluggesellschaften am BER neu sortieren|url=https://www.airliners.de/wie-fluggesellschaften-ber/58022|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref>

===Terminal 2===
Plans for a separate low-cost airline terminal costing €200&nbsp;million were released in March 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-bekommt-Billigflieger-Terminal-article17150971.html|title=Noch mehr Bau am Bau|language=de|trans-title=Still more construction within the construction-BER gets discount terminal-Plans for the capital airport are being revised again-now, a further terminal for discount airlines is supposed to be built}}</ref> Construction for the now-named '''Terminal 2''' with section '''B (30–45)''' (which was originally constructed as part of Terminal 1) began in 2018 and finished in time in September 2020 to provide further capacity especially for low-cost carriers. Terminal 2 is constructed as a more basic-departures-and-arrivals facility next to the Terminal 1 main building, directly connected with its northern pier to gain more check-in capacity while sharing the same airside areas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stoffels|first=Felix|date=31 July 2019|title=Das Billigflugterminal des BER nimmt Form an|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/das-billigflugterminal-des-ber-nimmt-form-an|access-date=13 March 2023|website=aeroTELEGRAPH|language=de-CH}}</ref>

Originally [[Eurowings]] was supposed to operate their Berlin base out of Terminal 2.<ref name="TST2"/> However, the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] kept the facility closed, as the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial air transport|capacity was not needed]] for the foreseeable future.<ref name="TST2">{{Cite news|title=Sparmaßnahmen am Hauptstadtflughafen: Das BER-Terminal 2 ist betriebsbereit – und bleibt geschlossen|language=de-DE|work=Der Tagesspiegel Online|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/das-ber-terminal-2-ist-betriebsbereit--und-bleibt-geschlossen-5082217.html|access-date=13 March 2023|issn=1865-2263}}</ref> Until then, all flights were handled in Terminal 1.<ref name="airlinelocations"/>

In November 2021 it had been announced that Terminal 2 was planned to be opened by April 2022 to relieve Terminal 1 as demand for aviation has picked up; thus, Terminal 1 had capacity issues.<ref>[https://www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2021/11/ber-terminalzwei-oeffnung-scheuer-berlin-brandenburg.html rbb24.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525024820/https://www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2021/11/ber-terminalzwei-oeffnung-scheuer-berlin-brandenburg.html |date=25 May 2022 }} (German) 11 November 2021</ref> Terminal 2 was opened on 24 March 2022 with [[Ryanair]] as the primary tenant, but in the same year in November [[Wizz Air]] has also moved its operations to the new terminal, while the original intended user of the facility Eurowings remained in Terminal 1.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pireci|first=Granit|date=11 March 2022|title=BER eröffnet das Terminal 2: Ryanair wird Hauptnutzer|url=https://aviation.direct/ber-eroeffnet-das-terminal-2-ryanair-wird-hauptnutzer|access-date=13 March 2023|website=Aviation.Direct|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Airlines and destinations |url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en/flying/airlines.html |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=rw |language=en}}</ref>

===Former Terminal 5===
'''Terminal 5''' was made up of the former terminal facilities of old [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport]], which were refurbished and renamed from sections A, B, C, and D to '''K''', '''L''', '''Q''', and '''M''', respectively. In 2019, it was decided to leave the old facilities operational to provide more capacity for the expected passenger volume.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://berlinspectator.com/2019/11/29/berlin-new-ber-airport-to-open-on-october-31st-2020/|language=en|title=Berlin: New 'BER Airport' to Open on October 31st, 2020|date=9 December 2019|website=berlinspectator.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=15 December 2017|title=Berlin's new airport to finally open in October 2020|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-airport-berlin-idUSL8N1OD27P|access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> The old tarmac at Schönefeld, which was refurbished and upgraded, was also used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Aufsichtsrat-billigt-BER-Erweiterung-article20036423.html|title=Starttermin weiter offenAufsichtsrat billigt BERErweiterung|trans-title=Starting date still open – board agrees on BER expansion}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/service/berlin-flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-raeumt-kapazitaetsprobleme-ein-a-1167847.html|title=Berliner PannenprojektFlughafen BER könnte schnell an Grenzen stoßen|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=16 September 2017|trans-title=Berlin's flub project: Ber close to overflow??|last1=Traufetter|first1=Gerald}}</ref> Terminal 5, which was located on the north side of the airport, was connected with the central areas of the airport (Terminals 1 and 2) solely landside by the S-Bahn and public transit buses between the new airport station and [[Schönefeld (bei Berlin) station|the old station that formerly served Schönefeld Airport]].<ref>[https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/orientierung/unsereterminalst1,t2undt5.html#:~:text=Mit%20dem%20Zug%20erreicht%20man,zu%20den%20Parkfl%C3%A4chen%20am%20T5.&text=Das%20Terminal%205%20verf%C3%BCgt%20%C3%BCber%20f%C3%BCnf%20Bereiche. berlin-airport – Our Terminals T1, T2 and T5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101033511/https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/orientierung/unsereterminalst1,t2undt5.html#:~:text=Mit%20dem%20Zug%20erreicht%20man,zu%20den%20Parkfl%C3%A4chen%20am%20T5.&text=Das%20Terminal%205%20verf%C3%BCgt%20%C3%BCber%20f%C3%BCnf%20Bereiche. |date=1 November 2020 }} retrieved 4 October 2020</ref>

Terminal 5 was scheduled to be operated until the inauguration of the planned Terminal 3 by 2030.<ref name="terminal3">{{Cite web|title=Aus Schönefeld wird BER-"Terminal 5"|url=https://www.airliners.de/aus-schoenefeld-ber-terminal/57771|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref> In November 2020, it was announced that Terminal 5 would be shut down temporarily for low passenger volume in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with all flights relocating to the main Terminal 1.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Temporäres Aus für BER-Terminal 5: Alter Flughafen Schönefeld schließt im März 2021|language=de-DE|work=Der Tagesspiegel Online|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/alter-flughafen-schonefeld-schliesst-im-marz-2021-4213216.html|access-date=13 March 2023|issn=1865-2263}}</ref> The terminal was closed until further notice on 22 February 2021<ref name=march-covid-passenger-shortage>{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/corona-flaute-am-ber-fluggastzahl-in-berlin-erreicht-neuen-tiefstand-li.143673|title=Corona-Flaute am BER: Fluggastzahl in Berlin erreicht neuen Tiefstand|date=3 March 2021 |language=de|access-date=3 March 2021|publisher=Berliner Zeitung}}</ref> and was, at the time of closure, not expected to reopen again.<ref name=march-covid-passenger-shortage />

In January 2021, a vaccination center had opened at Terminal 5 to administer [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2021/2021-01-11-impfzentrum/index.php|title = Media portal}}</ref> The vaccination center also remained open after the closure of the terminal to flights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/news/schliessung-t5.html|title=Terminal 5 vorübergehend geschlossen|website=rw|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114160101/https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/news/schliessung-t5.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2022, Terminal 5 was converted into a makeshift shelter to house [[2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis|refugees fleeing Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-refugees-berlin-train-station-edb2091066361e30c80d0a4ab5bc342a |title=Berlin train station turns into refugee town for Ukrainians |last=Grieshaber |first=Kirsten |website=Associated Press |date=17 March 2022 |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref>

In November 2022, the airport authority confirmed that Terminal 5 will remain closed permanently.<ref>[https://www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2022/11/berlin-brandenburg-flughafen-ber-terminal-fuenf.html rbb24.de] 18 November 2022</ref>

==Airport overview==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = EDDB BER Layout.png
| width1 = 200
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Map_Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport.png
| width2 = 185
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Current and planned layout of the airport, November 2020
}}

===Runways===
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has two parallel runways. With a spacing of {{convert|1900|m|ft|sigfig=2}}, they allow simultaneous [[instrument approach]]es.

The northern runway of BER is the southern runway of the old Schönefeld Airport and has been in use since the 1960s. To adapt it for the new airport, it has been renovated and lengthened from {{convert|3000|to|3600|m|ft|sigfig=2}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2007/2007-10-12-closure-south-runway/index.php| title=Closure of the south runway at Schoenefeld| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| date=12 October 2007}}</ref> The newly built southern runway has a length of {{convert|4000|m|ft|sigfig=2}} and was officially commissioned on 31 May 2012. Blackouts of the runway [[beacon]] of the southern runway led to investigations concerning air traffic safety.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-schoenefeld-stromausfall-am-ber-jetzt-prueft-die-luftfahrtbehoerde/12306420.html|title=Stromausfall am BER – jetzt prüft die Luftfahrtbehörde|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=11 September 2015|access-date=12 September 2015|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

BER covers 1,470 [[hectare]]s (3,632 acres) of land.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.berlin-airport.de/en/company-media/ber/flughafenanlagen.html|title=Berlin Airport Portrait|accessdate= October 13, 2023}}</ref>

===Air traffic control===
[[File:Berlin brandenburg airport tower.jpg|thumb|right|Air traffic control tower]]
The [[Deutsche Flugsicherung]] is responsible for [[air traffic control]] and [[Airport apron|apron control]] at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. At {{convert|72|m|ft|sigfig=2}}, the control tower is the third highest in Germany (only surpassed by [[Munich Airport]] and [[Düsseldorf Airport]]). On 25 March 2012, the new tower opened replacing the former facility at Schönefeld.<ref name=toweropening>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0uiXm0qKCk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/L0uiXm0qKCk| archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live| title=Opening of the BER control tower| publisher=youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Technical control (power supply and IT) went into operation on 16 March 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.austrianwings.info/2018/03/technische-leitstelle-am-ber-erfolgreich-in-betrieb-genommen/| title=Technische Leitstelle am BER erfolgreich in Betrieb genommen|work=Austrian Wings| date=16 March 2018}}.</ref>

===Cargo and general aviation===
The initial module of the midfield cargo facilities has a capacity of {{convert|60|e3t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of cargo per year. With the completion of all planned expansions this could handle up to {{convert|600|e3t|e9lb|abbr=off}} per year. The [[general aviation]] terminal is located in the northern part of BER.

===Airport tourism facilities===
The ''Infotower'' was a {{convert|32|m|ft|adj=on}} observation tower located adjacent to the northern cargo terminal that included a museum and a gift shop. It was closed and demolished in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.n-tv.de/panorama/BER-laesst-Infotower-abreissen-article17888956.html |title=BER lässt Infotower abreißen [BER has ''Infotower'' demolished] |date=8 June 2016}}</ref> FBB also offers guided tours of the airport which have grown in popularity since the delayed opening.<ref name=infotower>{{cite web|title=Infotower |publisher=Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH |url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/travellers/the-excitement-of-airports/infotower/ |access-date=29 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124421/http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/travellers/the-excitement-of-airports/infotower/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref><ref name=nyt20140410>{{cite news| first=Chris| last=Cottrell| title=In a Land of On-Time Arrivals, a Tour of Anything But| work=The New York Times| page=A9| date=10 April 2014| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/world/europe/berlins-over-budget-behind-schedule-airport-becomes-an-attraction.html }}</ref>

===Aircraft maintenance===
The two large hangars at BER were to be used by Lufthansa and Air Berlin respectively. However, Air Berlin have ceased operations as of 28 October 2017. Both provide enough space for maintenance work on four to five [[narrow-body aircraft]].<ref name=hangar>{{cite web |url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/03/2011-03-21-airberlin-Germania-Harder---Partner-and-Berlin-Airports-celebrate-laying-of-foundation-stone-for-first-maintenance-hangar-at-BBI |title=airberlin, Germania, Harder & Partner and Berlin Airports celebrate laying of foundation stone for first maintenance hangar at BBI |publisher=Airberlin.com |date=21 March 2011 |access-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110170316/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/03/2011-03-21-airberlin-Germania-Harder---Partner-and-Berlin-Airports-celebrate-laying-of-foundation-stone-for-first-maintenance-hangar-at-BBI |archive-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name=airliners>{{cite web| title=Lufthansa Technik: Spatenstich für BER-Wartungshalle| url=http://www.airliners.de/verkehr/infrastruktur/lufthansa-technik-spatenstich-fuer-ber-wartungshalle/24453| publisher=airliners.de| date=21 June 2011| language=de| trans-title=Lufthansa Technik: Groundbreaking for BER maintenance hangar}}</ref>

===Government use===
The [[Executive Transport Wing (German Air Force)|Executive Transport Wing]] of the [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|German Defence Ministry]] (''Flugbereitschaft''), responsible for government flights, will move large parts of its operations to Berlin Brandenburg Airport from its still-current base at [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] near Germany's former capital [[Bonn]]. It operates a fleet of [[Bombardier Global Express]], [[Airbus A319]], [[Airbus A321]], [[Airbus A340-300]] and [[Airbus A350-900]] VIP-configured aircraft.<ref name=airfleets>{{cite web| url=http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/German%20Air%20Force.htm| title=List of civilian aircraft types operated by German Luftwaffe| publisher=airfleets.net| access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> However Cologne/Bonn will remain the home base of the government fleet for the time being.<ref name="govterm"/>

The [[Institute for Federal Real Estate (Germany)|Institute for Federal Real Estate]] has been planning to construct a terminal on the northern edge of the airport for use by government officials and to welcome foreign dignitaries during [[state visit]]s. The former Terminal A of Schönefeld Airport was planned to serve as an interim terminal until the new building was to be finished.<ref name=ulrichpaul>{{cite news| title=Bauverzögerung führt zu Mehrkosten| last=Paul| first=Ulrich| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/hauptstadtflughafen/regierungsterminal-bauverzoegerung-fuehrt-zu-mehrkosten,11546166,15234454.html| date=14 May 2012| work=Berliner Zeitung| language=de| trans-title=Construction delay leads to additional costs}}</ref><ref name=schoelkopf>{{cite news| first=Katrin| last=Schoelkopf| title=Warum die Bundesregierung umweltschädlich ist| url=http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article734255/Warum_die_Bundesregierung_umweltschaedlich_ist.html| work=Berliner Morgenpost| date=27 July 2008| language=de| trans-title=Why the Federal Government is harmful to the environment}}</ref> However, in March 2016 the management of the airport terminated the contract with the German government that guaranteed usage of Terminal A of Schönefeld Airport upon the completion of BER for the area to be used for a different purpose. The termination was disputed between airport officials and the German [[Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/berliner-flughaefen/schon-wieder-stress-um-ber-44797784.bild.html |date=4 March 2016 |language=de| title=Bundesminister Dobrindt attackiert neuen Chef: Schon wieder Stress um Pannenflughafen BER |trans-title=Dobrindt attacks Mühlenfeld: Renewed stress for Defective Airport BER}}</ref>

Mühlenfeld suggested a provisional ramp area west of Schönefeld's main terminal as a replacement solution and construction site for an interim government terminal at the end of February 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Streit-um-Regierungsterminal-verschaerft-sich-article17075731.html|language=de| title=BER-Drama und kein Ende Streit um Regierungsterminal verschärft sich|trans-title=battle for govt terminal escalating}}</ref> This then supposed interim government terminal was finished at a cost of around €70&nbsp;million while the permanent government terminal was planned to begin operations around 2025, at a cost of additionally around €344&nbsp;million, which left its completion in doubt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Bund-rueckt-von-BER-Regierungsterminal-ab-article21271655.html|title=Bund rückt von BER-Regierungsterminal ab|work=n-tv|trans-title=German federal eventually budged away from the new terminal|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, the German government cancelled all plans to construct a more representative facility until at least 2030.<ref>[https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/12/ber-bund-stoppt-regierungsterminal-.html rbb24.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018151340/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/12/ber-bund-stoppt-regierungsterminal-.html |date=18 October 2020 }} (German) 5 December 2019</ref>

The government terminal was inaugurated and put in use on 21 October 2020.<ref name="govterm">[https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/berlin-brandenburg-flughafen-ber-bundeswehr-luftwaffe-regierungsterminal.html rbb24.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109185113/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/berlin-brandenburg-flughafen-ber-bundeswehr-luftwaffe-regierungsterminal.html |date=9 November 2021 }} (German) 21 October 2020</ref>

===Operating hours===
Noise abatement regulations in the airport's operating licence prohibit takeoffs and landings between 00:00 and 05:00. The [[Federal Administrative Court of Germany]] rejected a lawsuit by residents to extend this night flight ban from 23:00 to 06:00 on 13 October 2011. It was also ruled that affected residents should be provided with additional noise insulation.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=20 November 2015|title=Effective Delivery of Large Infrastructure Projects|journal=OECD Public Governance Reviews|pages=43|doi=10.1787/9789264248335-en|isbn=9789264248328|issn=2219-0414}}</ref>

===Major operators===
Until its demise, [[Air Berlin]] had planned to move its primary [[airline hub|hub]] from Tegel to Berlin Brandenburg. As a member of the [[Oneworld]] [[airline alliance]], Air Berlin required airport facilities capable of meeting the demands of its connecting passengers that Tegel could not provide. However, Air Berlin filed for [[insolvency]] on 15 August 2017 and large parts of it were bought by [[Lufthansa]], Germany's largest airline, ahead of its collapse on the 27th of that month.<ref name="n-tv.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Endlich-ein-Lichtblick-fuer-Air-Berlin-article20079787.html|title=Gut für Personal und Passagiere-Endlich ein Lichtblick für Air Berlin|trans-title= good for personnel and passengers -Finally some glow of light – |access-date=12 October 2017}}</ref> The airport leadership declared in September 2017 that the bankruptcy of Air Berlin would have had no imminent impact on the expected traffic volume at the new airport<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/verkehr/ber-chef-air-berlin-insolvenz-hat-kaum-folgen-fuer-berliner-flughaefen-28423618|title=Air-Berlin-Insolvenz hat kaum Folgen für Berliner Flughäfen –   |date=16 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article167785871/Was-bedeutet-das-Ende-von-Air-Berlin-fuer-den-BER.html|title=Was bedeutet das Ende von Air Berlin für den BER?|newspaper=Die Welt|date=18 August 2017|trans-title=what does the end of Air Berlin mean for BER?|access-date=16 September 2017 |last1=Gassmann|first1=Michael}}</ref> as several of Air Berlin's routes had been taken over by other airlines, e.g., [[easyJet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1064670.air-berlin-wird-zerschlagen.html|title=Air Berlin wird zerschlagen (neues deutschland)|first=Redaktion neues|last=deutschland|website=neues-deutschland.de}}</ref>

Prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in early 2020, EasyJet was due to become the overall largest airline at the airport in terms of routes served, ahead of [[Ryanair]]. In May 2019, Ryanair announced that they would not move to the new facilities, and would keep using the old building at the side of Berlin Schönefeld Airport, which has now become part of Berlin Brandenburg Airport as its Terminal 5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/flughafen-ryanair-zieht-nicht-mit-um-zum-ber-neubau/24318568.html |title=Ryanair zieht nicht mit um zum BER-Neubau|date=8 May 2019|language=de|publisher=Handelsblatt}}</ref> As of 2021, Ryanair remained in the new main building because Terminal 5 was closed for the foreseeable future.

[[Lufthansa]] does not use Berlin Brandenburg Airport as a hub.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/lufthansa-schliesst-berliner-flughafen-drehkreuz-aus-100.html|title=Flughafen Berlin wird nicht zu Lufthansa-Drehkreuz ausgebaut|work=Bavarian Broadcasting BR|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article170519683/BER-wird-kein-Drehkreuz.html|title=BER wird kein Drehkreuz|work=welt|date=10 November 2017|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref> By 2011, they planned to greatly expand its presence in Berlin. At its former facilities at Tegel Airport the airline added several European destinations<ref name=LHgrowing>{{cite press release| url=http://www.lufthansagroup.com/nc/en/press/news-releases/singleview/archive/2011/november/10/article/2027.html?cHash=9a0d7e52afbadb51843320bd7c735c38&sword_list%5B0%5D=add&sword_list%5B1%5D=flights&sword_list%5B2%5D=tegel| title=Lufthansa is growing in Berlin| publisher=Lufthansa| date=10 November 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808033024/http://www.lufthansagroup.com/nc/en/press/news-releases/singleview/archive/2011/november/10/article/2027.html?cHash=9a0d7e52afbadb51843320bd7c735c38&sword_list%5B0%5D=add&sword_list%5B1%5D=flights&sword_list%5B2%5D=tegel| archive-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> which have all since ceased or were turned over to [[Eurowings]].

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airport's already sparse long-haul operations is still ongoing. As of summer 2020, eight destinations in the [[US]], [[Asia]], and the [[Middle East]] were supposed to be served,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Corona-Krise lässt Berliner Langstrecken wackeln|url=https://www.airliners.de/corona-krise-berliner-langstrecken/55791|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref> but travel restrictions caused various connections to be terminated or not to be activated.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scoot removes Athens / Berlin schedule from July 2020|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/291775/scoot-removes-athens-berlin-schedule-from-july-2020/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=Routes|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Unternehmensmeldung|date=2 July 2020|title=American gibt Philadelphia - Berlin und Dallas - München auf|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/american-gibt-philadelphia-berlin-und-dallas-muenchen-auf|access-date=13 March 2023|website=aeroTELEGRAPH|language=de-CH}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Delta NS21 Long-Haul operation changes as of 23AUG20|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/293288/delta-ns21-long-haul-operation-changes-as-of-23aug20/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=Routes|language=en-GB}}</ref> Some routes, such as to [[Singapore]] with [[Scoot]], have since resumed. In 2021, the airport authority sought to establish 25 long-haul routes from Berlin by 2025 including negotiations for a revised bilateral agreement to allow [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] to serve a fifth German city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Berlin wirbt für mehr Langstrecken - Emirates würde sofort fliegen|url=https://www.airliners.de/berlin-wirbt-langstrecken-emirates-fliegen/60924|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref> [[United Airlines]] announced its return to Berlin with a service to [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]], which already had been served from Tegel, as well as a new route to [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington, D.C.]], in 2023.<ref name="united">{{Cite web|title=United Airlines kündigt Berlin-Routen an|url=https://www.airliners.de/united-airlines-kuendigt-berlin-routen/62384|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref> In July 2022, [[Delta Air Lines]] announced its 2023 return to Berlin with a service to [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–Kennedy]], which it had last served from Tegel from 2017 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pickett|first=Riley|date=17 July 2022|title=Delta To Start New York - Berlin Flights In May 2023|url=https://simpleflying.com/delta-inaugurate-new-york-berlin-flights-2023/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=Simple Flying|language=en}}</ref>

===Projected passenger volume and expansion plans===
Since German reunification, air traffic in Berlin has increased greatly. In 1991, the combined passenger volume of the city's airports was 7.9&nbsp;million per year. By 2014, this number had risen to 28&nbsp;million.<ref name=ADVtraffic>{{cite book |title=ADV Monthly Traffic Report| url=http://www.adv.aero/fileadmin/pdf/statistiken/2014/12.2014_ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |publisher=Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen (ADV) |date=5 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205183545/http://www.adv.aero/fileadmin/pdf/statistiken/2014/12.2014_ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2015 }}</ref> By Berlin Brandenburg's opening, it was projected to have a capacity of 27&nbsp;million passengers per year.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-13/berlin-airport-fiasco-shows-chinks-in-german-engineering-armor.html| title=Berlin Airport Fiasco Shows Chinks in German Engineering Armor| first=Leon| last=Mangasarian| publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]| date=14 March 2013| access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref> There are concerns that the airport will have insufficient capacity upon opening and plans are already in place for expansion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20140502/berlins-new-airport-too-small|title=Berlin's new airport is already too small|newspaper=The Local Germany|date=2 May 2014}}</ref> It may be expanded by up to two satellite concourses, bringing the terminal capacity to 45&nbsp;million with runways capable of accommodating 50&nbsp;million passengers per year. The two satellites located on the apron parallel to the main pier and linked by tunnel, are included in the [[construction permit]] of Berlin Brandenburg Airport. This means they could be built at any time without further regulatory hurdles or the possibility of third-party objections. A possible third runway could be located in the south, though no such plans exist to date.<ref name="Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH">{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/Presse/Basisinfo/BerlinerFlughaefen/TXL.html |title=Tegel – the business airport |publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812081238/http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/Presse/Basisinfo/BerlinerFlughaefen/TXL.html |archive-date=12 August 2010 }}</ref>
It is planned to build a Terminal 3 next to Terminal 2.<ref name="Outlook">{{cite web|url=https://corporate.berlin-airport.de/en/company-media/berlin-brandenburg-airport/ausblick.html |title=Outlook |access-date=20 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
The following airlines offer regular scheduled and charter flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abflüge und Ankünfte|url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/fliegen/abfluege-ankuenfte.html|access-date=13 March 2023|website=rw|language=de}}</ref>

<!--DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE ROUTES WITHOUT GIVING A VALID SOURCE. EXACT DATES ARE MANDATORY FOR NEW ROUTES TO BE ADDED HERE. ALSO ADD INLINE CITATIONS IF POSSIBLE.-->
{{Airport destination list
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| [[Aegean Airlines]] | [[Athens International Airport|Athens]], [[Thessaloniki Airport|Thessaloniki]]
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| [[Aer Lingus]] | [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]]
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| [[Air Cairo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunexpress.com/en/flight-plan/|title=Flight plan|website=sunexpress.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/101255-egypts-air-cairo-sunexpress-ink-cooperation-agreement|title=Egypt's Air Cairo, SunExpress ink cooperation agreement|website=ch-aviation.com|date=8 March 2021}}</ref> | [[Hurghada International Airport|Hurghada]] <br> '''Seasonal:'''  [[Sharm El Sheikh International Airport|Sharm El Sheikh]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aviation.direct/winter-2023-24-air-cairo-plant-260-sharm-el-sheikh-fluege-ab-deutschland | title=Winter 2023/24: Air Cairo plant 260 Sharm-El-Sheikh-Flüge ab Deutschland | date=9 June 2023 }}</ref>
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| [[Air France]] | [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]]
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| [[Air Malta]] | [[Malta International Airport|Malta]] (ends 30 March 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airmalta.com/de-at/flight-schedules|title=flight-schedules : Air Malta|website=airmalta.com}}</ref><ref name="Malta">{{cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/new-airline-replacing-air-malta-fly-march-31.1058754|title=New airline replacing Air Malta to fly on March 31, 2024|date=2 October 2023 }}</ref>
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| [[Air Serbia]] | [[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport|Belgrade]]
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| [[airBaltic]] | [[Riga International Airport|Riga]], [[Tallinn Airport|Tallinn]], [[Vilnius Airport|Vilnius]]
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| [[AnadoluJet]] | [[Ankara Esenboğa Airport|Ankara]], [[Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport|Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen]]
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| [[Austrian Airlines]] | [[Vienna International Airport|Vienna]]
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| [[Azerbaijan Airlines]] | [[Heydar Aliyev International Airport|Baku]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation.direct/azerbaijan-airlines-kehrt-nach-berlin-und-mailand-malpensa-zurueck|title=Azerbaijan Airlines kehrt nach Berlin und Mailand-Malpensa zurück|date=19 April 2022}}</ref>
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| [[Bluebird Airways]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bluebird Airways|url=https://booking.bluebirdair.com/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=booking.bluebirdair.com}}</ref>
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| [[British Airways]] | [[London City Airport|London–City]], [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]
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| [[Brussels Airlines]] | [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]]
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| [[Bulgaria Air]] | [[Sofia Airport|Sofia]]
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| [[Condor]] | [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai–International]] (begins 27 October 2024)<ref>{{cite news|author1=Nowack, Timo|title=Condor macht Eurowings zwischen Berlin und Dubai Konkurrenz |url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/condor-macht-eurowings-zwischen-berlin-und-dubai-konkurrenz|work=Aero Telegraph|date=6 February 2024|access-date=6 February 2024|language=de}}</ref>
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| [[Corendon Airlines]]<ref name="Corendon">{{Cite web|url=https://www.corendonairlines.com/book-and-manage/book-a-flight|title = Book a flight - Corendon Airlines}}</ref> | [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Heraklion International Airport|Heraklion]], [[Hurghada International Airport|Hurghada]], [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]]
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| [[Croatia Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Split Airport|Split]]
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| [[DAT (airline)|DAT]] | [[Saarbrücken Airport|Saarbrücken]]<ref name="saarbruecken">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/dat-loest-luxair-auf-strecke-saarbruecken-berlin-ab|title=DAT löst Luxair auf Strecke Saarbrücken - Berlin ab|date=30 October 2019}}</ref> <br>
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| [[Delta Air Lines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]
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| [[easyJet]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]], [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]], [[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg|Basel/Mulhouse]], [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] (begins 1 April 2024),<ref>{{cite web |title=easyJet NS24 Birmingham Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231201-u2ns24bhx |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]], [[Catania–Fontanarossa Airport|Catania]], [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]], [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]], [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]], [[Funchal Airport|Funchal]], [[Geneva Airport|Geneva]], [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]], [[Gran Canaria Airport|Gran Canaria]], [[Hurghada International Airport|Hurghada]], [[Larnaca International Airport|Larnaca]], [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]], [[Luton Airport|London–Luton]], [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]], [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]], [[Linate Airport|Milan–Linate]], [[Naples International Airport|Naples]], [[Nice Côte d'Azur Airport|Nice]], [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]], [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]], [[Orly Airport|Paris–Orly]], [[Pisa International Airport|Pisa]], [[Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari|Pristina]], [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]], [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm–Arlanda]], [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]], [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife–South]], [[Valencia Airport|Valencia]], [[Venice Marco Polo Airport|Venice]], [[Zurich Airport|Zürich]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]] (begins 2 April 2024),<ref name="aerotelegraph.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/easyjet-mit-vier-neuen-sommerzielen-ab-berlin | title=Easyjet mit vier neuen Sommerzielen ab Berlin | date=30 November 2023 }}</ref> [[Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport|Bordeaux]], [[Burgas Airport|Burgas]], [[Chania International Airport|Chania]], [[Corfu International Airport|Corfu]], [[Dubrovnik Airport|Dubrovnik]], [[Heraklion International Airport|Heraklion]], [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]], [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]] (begins 3 April 2024),<ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/> [[Kos International Airport|Kos]], [[Lanzarote Airport|Lanzarote]], [[La Palma Airport|La Palma]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230710-u2nw23 | title=EasyJet NW23 Network Additions – 09JUL23 }}</ref> [[Marsa Alam International Airport|Marsa Alam]], [[Olbia – Costa Smeralda Airport|Olbia]], [[Porto Airport|Porto]], [[Aktion National Airport|Preveza/Lefkada]], [[Pula Airport|Pula]], [[Rhodes International Airport|Rhodes]], [[Rijeka Airport|Rijeka]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.croatianaviation.com/post/easyjet-uvodi-jo%C5%A1-jednu-liniju-za-rijeku|title=EasyJet uvodi još jednu liniju za Rijeku!|date=4 February 2022|publisher=Croatianaviation|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> [[Sharm El Sheikh International Airport|Sharm El Sheikh]], [[Split Airport|Split]], [[Thessaloniki Airport|Thessaloniki]], [[Tivat Airport|Tivat]], [[Toulouse–Blagnac Airport|Toulouse]] (begins 31 March 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/easyjet-fliegt-von-berlin-nach-toulouse-sowie-frueher-nach-antalya | title=Easyjet fliegt von Berlin nach Toulouse sowie früher nach Antalya | date=19 December 2023 }}</ref> [[Zadar Airport|Zadar]]
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| [[Egyptair]] | [[Cairo International Airport|Cairo]]
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| [[El Al]] | [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]]
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| [[Eurowings]] | [[Alicante Airport|Alicante]],<ref name="EurowingsAdditions">{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221212-ewns23|title=EUROWINGS NS23 NETWORK ADDITIONS – 11DEC22|website=Aeroroutes|date=12 December 2022|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref> [[Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport|Beirut]], [[Cologne Bonn Airport|Cologne/Bonn]], [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]], [[Düsseldorf Airport|Düsseldorf]], [[Erbil International Airport|Erbil]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eurowings.com/de/buchen/fluege/flugsuche.html?isReward=false&destination=EBL&origin=BER&source=web&triptype=r&origins=BER&fromdate=2023-12-19&todate=2024-01-19&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&lng=de-DE#/flug-buchen/select |title=Hinflug wählen}}</ref> [[Göteborg Landvetter Airport|Gothenburg]], [[Graz Airport|Graz]], [[Helsinki Airport|Helsinki]], [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]], [[Nice Airport|Nice]], [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]], [[Porto Airport|Porto]], [[Salzburg Airport|Salzburg]], [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm–Arlanda]], [[Stuttgart Airport|Stuttgart]], [[Tbilisi International Airport|Tbilisi]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Eurowings Adds Berlin – Tbilisi From mid-Dec 2023 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230814-ewdec23bertbs |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=AeroRoutes |date=14 August 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> [[Vienna Airport|Vienna]] (begins 31 March 2024),<ref name="aeroroutes.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231130-ewns24 | title=Eurowings NS24 Network Additions – 30NOV23 }}</ref> [[Zvartnots International Airport|Yerevan]] (begins 3 May 2024),<ref>{{cite news |title= EUROWINGS ADDS BERLIN – YEREVAN SERVICE FROM MAY 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231113-ewns24berevn |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=AeroRoutes |date=12 November 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> [[Zurich Airport|Zürich]] (begins 31 March 2024)<ref name="aeroroutes.com"/><br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]],<ref name="EurowingsAdditions"/> [[Bastia Airport|Bastia]], [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai–International]],<ref>{{cite news|author1=Frommberg, Laura|title=Eurowings fliegt ab Berlin und Stuttgart mit Airbus A321 Neo nach Dubai|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/eurowings-fliegt-ab-berlin-und-stuttgart-mit-airbus-a321-neo-nach-dubai|work=Aero Telegraph|date=24 April 2023|access-date=6 May 2023|language=de}}</ref> [[Dubrovnik Airport|Dubrovnik]], [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]], [[Gran Canaria Airport|Gran Canaria]], [[Heraklion International Airport|Heraklion]], [[Hurghada International Airport|Hurghada]], [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]],<ref name="EurowingsAdditions"/> [[Innsbruck Airport|Innsbruck]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation.direct/innsbruck-eurowings-stockt-hamburg-und-berlin-auf|title=Innsbruck: Eurowings stockt Hamburg und Berlin auf|date=15 September 2023 }}</ref> [[Kos International Airport|Kos]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/lufthansa-group/eurowings/eurowings-flies-to-more-destinations-in-summer-2022-than-ever-before/|title = Eurowings flies to more destinations in summer 2022 than ever before| newspaper=Aviation24.Be |date = 20 December 2021}}</ref> [[Arrecife Airport|Lanzarote]], [[Larnaca International Airport|Larnaca]],<ref name="EurowingsAdditions"/> [[Rhodes International Airport|Rhodes]],<ref name="EurowingsAdditions"/> [[Rijeka Airport|Rijeka]], [[Rovaniemi Airport|Rovaniemi]],<ref name=EWnewroutes/> [[Split Airport|Split]], [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife–South]], [[Tivat Airport|Tivat]] (begins 4 May 2024),<ref name="aeroroutes.com"/> [[Tromsø Airport|Tromsø]],<ref name=EWnewroutes>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurowings.com/de/entdecken/reiseziele/neue-strecken.html|title=Eurowings - New routes}}</ref> [[Tunis–Carthage International Airport|Tunis]] (begins 15 July 2024),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240131-ew3q24tun|title=Eurowings Adds Berlin - Tunis in 3Q24|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=31 January 2024|accessdate=31 January 2024}}</ref> [[Zadar Airport|Zadar]], [[Zakynthos International Airport|Zakynthos]]<ref name="EurowingsAdditions"/>
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| [[Finnair]] | [[Helsinki Airport|Helsinki]]
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|[[FlyErbil]] | [[Erbil International Airport|Erbil]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230609-ud2q23 | title=FlyErbil NS23 Network Expansion }}</ref>
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|[[Flynas]] | [[King Abdulaziz International Airport|Jeddah]] (begins 1 March 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231123-xymar24ber|title=flynas Moves Berlin Launch to March 2024|website=AeroRoutes}}</ref>
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|[[FlyOne]] | [[Chișinău International Airport|Chișinău]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221101-5fns23 | title=FlyOne NS23 Network Expansion }}</ref>
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| [[Freebird Airlines]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebirdairlines.com/en/flight-list|title=Flight list|website=freebirdairlines.com|access-date=10 September 2021|archive-date=13 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213092737/https://www.freebirdairlines.com/en/flight-list|url-status=dead}}</ref> | '''Seasonal:''' [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]]
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| [[Georgian Airways]] | [[Tbilisi International Airport|Tbilisi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://georgian-airways.com/en/booking/#/results/2262034780|title=Booking}}</ref>
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| [[Hainan Airlines]] | [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing–Capital]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220801-huaug22ber|title=Hainan Airlines resumes Berlin service from August 2022|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=1 August 2022|accessdate=1 August 2022}}</ref>
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| [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] | [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]]
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| [[Icelandair]] | [[Keflavík International Airport|Reykjavík–Keflavík]]
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| [[Iraqi Airways]] | [[Baghdad International Airport|Baghdad]], [[Erbil International Airport|Erbil]]
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| [[Israir Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]]
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| [[Jet2.com]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/289634/jet2com-adds-limited-time-berlin-brandenburg-service-in-4q20/|title=Jet2.com adds limited-time Berlin Brandenburg service in 4Q20|website=routesonline.com|date=18 February 2020|accessdate=14 July 2021}}</ref> | '''Seasonal:''' [[Leeds Bradford Airport|Leeds/Bradford]], [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle upon Tyne]]
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| [[KLM]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]]
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| [[KM Malta Airlines]] | [[Malta International Airport|Malta]] (begins 31 March 2024)<ref name="Malta"/>
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| [[LOT Polish Airlines]] | [[Warsaw Chopin Airport|Warsaw–Chopin]]
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| [[Lufthansa]] | [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]], [[Munich Airport|Munich]]
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| [[Luxair]] | [[Luxembourg Airport|Luxembourg]]
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| [[Norse Atlantic Airways]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://flynorse.com/en-GB/experience/where-we-fly | title=Where we fly | date=24 December 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240110-n0ns24fco | title=Norse Atlantic Expands Rome – New York Service in NS24 }}</ref>
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| {{nowrap|[[Norwegian Air Shuttle]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norwegian.com/de/reiseziele/BerlinBrandenburg-AlleZiele?SplitDatesInto=3&CurrencyCode=EUR&IncludeTransit=False|title=Flug nach Alle Ziele von Berlin-Brandenburg &#124; Norwegian}}</ref>}} | [[Bergen Airport|Bergen]], [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]], [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen|Oslo]], [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm–Arlanda]], [[Trondheim Airport|Trondheim]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norwegian.com/uk/low-fare-calendar/BerlinAllairports-Trondheim#/?origin=BERALL&destination=TRD&outbound=2022-04&inbound=2022-04&adults=1&direct=true&currency=GBP&eventType=user|title=norwegian.com}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Tromsø Airport, Langnes|Tromsø]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thetravelinspector.no/news/norwegians-sommerruter-2024 | title=Her er Norwegians nye sommerruter for 2024 | date=13 September 2023 }}</ref>
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| [[Nouvelair]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/276231/nouvelair-tunisie-expands-monastir-germany-routes-from-dec-2017/|title=Nouvelair Tunisie expands Monastir – Germany routes from Dec 2017|first=UBM (UK)|last=Ltd. 2019|website=Routesonline|access-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> | '''Seasonal:''' [[Djerba-Zarzis International Airport|Djerba]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221129-bjns23ber | title=Nouvelair Tunisie Adds Djerba – Berlin Service in NS23|website=Aeroroutes|date=29 November 2022|access-date=30 November 2022}}</ref> [[Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport|Monastir]], [[Tunis–Carthage International Airport|Tunis]]
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| [[Pegasus Airlines]] | [[Sabiha Gökçen International Airport|Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Ankara Esenboğa Airport|Ankara]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230109-pcns23|title=Pegasus NS23 New Routes Summary – 09JAN23|website=AeroRoutes}}</ref> [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]], [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220928-pcns23adbde | title=Pegasus Plans New Izmir – Germany Scheduled Routes in NS23 }}</ref>
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| [[Play (airline)|Play]]<ref name="Play Route Map">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyplay.com/en/routemap|title=Route Map &#124; Our wonderful destination &#124; PLAY airlines|website=www.flyplay.com}}</ref> | [[Keflavík International Airport|Reykjavík–Keflavík]]
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| [[Qatar Airways]] | [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]]
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| [[Ryanair]]| [[Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport|Alicante]], [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]], [[Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport|Bari]], [[Orio al Serio International Airport|Bergamo]], [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] (begins 2 April 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britaintraveldeals.com/ryanair-will-launch-a-new-route-from-birmingham-bristol-cardiff-exeter-leeds-and-london/ | title=Ryanair will launch a new routes from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Leeds and London }}</ref> [[Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport|Bologna]], [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]], [[Henri Coandă International Airport|Bucharest–Otopeni]], [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport|Budapest]], [[Catania–Fontanarossa Airport|Catania]], [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]], [[East Midlands Airport|East Midlands]], [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]], [[Faro Airport|Faro]], [[Gran Canaria Airport|Gran Canaria]], [[Kaunas Airport|Kaunas]] (begins 31 March 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231212-frns24 | title=Ryanair NS24 Network Additions – 10DEC23 }}</ref> [[Kraków John Paul II International Airport|Kraków]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en|title=Ryanair|website=www.ryanair.com}}</ref> [[Lisbon Airport|Lisbon]], [[London Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]], [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]], [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]], [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]], [[Marrakesh Menara Airport|Marrakesh]], [[Marseille Provence Airport|Marseille]], [[Milan Malpensa Airport|Milan–Malpensa]], [[Falcone–Borsellino Airport|Palermo]],  [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]], [[Paphos International Airport|Paphos]], [[Pisa International Airport|Pisa]], [[Podgorica Airport|Podgorica]], [[Porto Airport|Porto]], [[Riga International Airport|Riga]], [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]], [[Sofia Airport|Sofia]], [[Tallinn Airport|Tallinn]], [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]], [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife–South]], [[Thessaloniki Airport|Thessaloniki]], [[Valencia Airport|Valencia]], [[Vilnius Airport|Vilnius]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Athens International Airport|Athens]],  [[Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport|Castellón]] (begins 31 March 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.airliners.de/ryanair-ziele-berlin/72407 | title=Ryanair nimmt vier neue Ziele ab Berlin auf }}</ref> [[Chania International Airport|Chania]], [[Corfu International Airport|Corfu]], [[Dubrovnik Airport|Dubrovnik]] (begins 3 April 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://gradtrebinje.com/ekskluzivno-ryanair-ce-dubrovnik-povezati-sa-17-odredista-prema-dublinu-becu-i-londonu-ce-letjeti-i-zimi/ | title=EKSKLUZIVNO! Ryanair će Dubrovnik povezati sa 17 odredišta, prema Dublinu, Beču i Londonu će letjeti i zimi | date=28 November 2023 }}</ref> [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]], [[Heraklion International Airport|Heraklion]], [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]], [[Kos International Airport|Kos]], [[Lanzarote Airport|Lanzarote]], [[Luxembourg Airport|Luxembourg]], [[Rhodes International Airport|Rhodes]], [[Treviso Airport|Treviso]], [[Venice Airport|Venice]], [[Zadar Airport|Zadar]]
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| [[Scandinavian Airlines]] | [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]], [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen|Oslo]], [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm–Arlanda]]
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| [[Scoot]]<ref name="Singapore's Scoot to enter EU fifth freedom market">{{cite web |title=Singapore's Scoot to enter EU fifth freedom market |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/105698-singapores-scoot-to-enter-eu-fifth-freedom-market |website=ch-aviation |language=en |date=14 July 2021}}</ref> | [[Athens International Airport|Athens]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230725-trnw23eu | title= SCOOT NW23 EUROPE SERVICE CHANGES | date=25 July 2023 }}</ref> [[Changi Airport|Singapore]]
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| [[SkyAlps]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Buchen|url=https://www.skyalps.com/de/buchen/buchen|access-date=13 March 2023|website=Sky Alps|language=de}}</ref> | [[Bolzano Airport|Bolzano]] 
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| [[SmartLynx Airlines]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smartlynx startet von Berlin nach Dubai|url=https://www.airliners.de/smartlynx-berlin-dubai/62259|access-date=13 March 2023|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref> | '''Seasonal charter:''' [[Al Maktoum International Airport|Dubai–Al Maktoum]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smartlynx Adds Berlin – Dubai Service From Oct 2022|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221011-6yoct22berdwc|access-date=13 March 2023|website=AeroRoutes|language=en-CA}}</ref>
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| [[Southwind Airlines]] | '''Seasonal charter:''' [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230522-2sns23|title=SOUTHWIND AIRLINES NS23 NETWORK OVERVIEW – 21MAY23|date=22 May 2023}}</ref>
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| [[Sundair]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundair.com/flightplan/#/|title=Flight Plan|website=sundair.com}}</ref> | [[Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport|Beirut]], [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]], [[Hurghada International Airport|Hurghada]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Burgas Airport|Burgas]], [[Corfu International Airport|Corfu]], [[Funchal Airport|Funchal]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220929-srnw22berfnc | title=Sundair Adds Berlin – Funchal Service in late-Oct 2022 }}</ref> [[Gran Canaria Airport|Gran Canaria]], [[Heraklion International Airport|Heraklion]], [[Kos International Airport|Kos]], [[Marsa Alam International Airport|Marsa Alam]], [[Rhodes International Airport|Rhodes]], [[Tenerife–South Airport|Tenerife–South]], [[Varna Airport|Varna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundair.com/flightplan/#/|title=Sundair.com|website=www.sundair.com}}</ref> 
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| [[SunExpress]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunexpress.com/en/information/more-services/flight-schedules/|website=sunexpress.com|title=Flight schedules}}</ref> | [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]], [[Oğuzeli Airport|Gaziantep]], [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|Izmir]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Adana Şakirpaşa Airport|Adana]],<ref name=XQ23>{{cite web|title=SUNEXPRESS NS23 NETWORK ADDITIONS – 30OCT22|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221031-xqns23|website=aeroroutes.com|date=31 October 2022}}</ref> [[Ankara Esenboğa Airport|Ankara]],<ref name=XQ23/> [[Milas–Bodrum Airport|Bodrum]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casey |first1=David |title=SunExpress Schedules New Summer Routes |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297398/sunexpress-schedules-new-summer-routes/ |website=Routesonline |date=19 January 2022 |access-date=19 January 2022}}</ref> [[Dalaman Airport|Dalaman]], [[Diyarbakır Airport|Diyarbakir]] (begins 24 July 2024),<ref name=XQ24>{{cite web|title=SUNEXPRESS NS24 NETWORK ADDITIONS – 24SEP23|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230925-xqns24|website=aeroroutes.com|date=27 September 2023}}</ref> [[Erkilet International Airport|Kayseri]] (begins 22 July 2024),<ref name=XQ24/> [[Samsun-Çarşamba Airport|Samsun]]
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|{{nowrap|[[Swiss International Air Lines]]}} | [[Zurich Airport|Zürich]]
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| [[TAP Air Portugal]] | [[Lisbon Airport|Lisbon]]
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| [[Transavia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transavia.com/en-EU/book-a-flight/flights/search/|title=Book a flight|access-date=13 March 2023|website=www.transavia.com}}</ref> | [[Orly Airport|Paris–Orly]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Montpellier Airport|Montpellier]], [[Nantes Atlantique Airport|Nantes]]
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| [[Tunisair]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Djerba–Zarzis International Airport|Djerba]]
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| [[Turkish Airlines]] | [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]] <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Adana Şakirpaşa Airport|Adana]], [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]], [[Milas–Bodrum Airport|Bodrum]], [[Oğuzeli Airport|Gaziantep]], [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|Izmir]], [[Samsun-Çarşamba Airport|Samsun]], [[Trabzon Airport|Trabzon]]
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| [[United Airlines]] | [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]
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| [[Vueling]] | [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]]
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| [[Volotea]] | [[Lyon Airport|Lyon]],<ref name="Eurowings holt Volotea nach Deutsch">{{cite web | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/eurowings-holt-volotea-nach-deutschland | date=15 February 2022 | title=Eurowings holt Volotea nach Deutschland }}</ref> [[Strasbourg Airport|Strasbourg]],<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/transports/volotea-annonce-une-ligne-aerienne-strasbourg-berlin-deux-fois-par-semaine-9919637 |title=Volotea annonce une ligne aérienne Strasbourg-Berlin deux fois par semaine | date=10 November 2023 }}</ref> [[Verona Airport|Verona]]<ref name="Eurowings holt Volotea nach Deutsch"/>
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| [[Wizz Air]] | [[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport|Belgrade]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/wizz-air-verbindet-berlin-und-belgrad|title=Wizz Air verbindet Berlin und Belgrad|date=22 December 2022 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport|Budapest]], [[Iași International Airport|Iași]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boardingpass.ro/wizz-air-suspenda-zborurile-spre-si-dinspre-chisinau-din-14-martie-2023/ | title=Wizz Air suspendă zborurile spre și dinspre Chișinău din 14 martie 2023 | date=27 February 2023 }}</ref> [[David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport|Kutaisi]], [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]] (begins 31 March 2024),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wizzair.com/de-de#/booking/select-flight/BER/ROM/2024-03-31/2024-04-03/1/0/0/null |title=Flüge auswählen | date=4 October 2023 }}</ref> [[Skopje International Airport|Skopje]], [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza|Tirana]],  [[Varna Airport|Varna]]
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}}
<!--DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE ROUTES WITHOUT GIVING A VALID SOURCE. EXACT DATES ARE MANDATORY FOR NEW ROUTES TO BE ADDED HERE. ALSO ADD INLINE CITATIONS IF POSSIBLE.-->

===Cargo===
{{Airport-dest-list
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| [[ASL Airlines France]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cargo network|url=https://www.aslairlines.fr/en/cargo-flights/scheduled-cargo-flights/cargo-network/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=ASL Airlines France}}</ref> | [[Hannover Airport|Hannover]], [[Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]] 
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|[[FedEx Express]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=FedEx route map - Europe from Paris CDG|url=https://www.airlineroutemaps.com/maps/FedEx/Europe/Paris_CDG|access-date=13 March 2023|website=www.airlineroutemaps.com}}</ref> | [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]]
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|[[UPS Airlines]]<ref name="sprintair">{{Cite web|title=Port Lotniczy Gdańsk|url=https://www.airport.gdansk.pl/lotnisko/aktualnosci/ups-otworzyl-baze-na-gdanskim-lotnisku--n1903.html/|access-date=13 March 2023|website=www.airport.gdansk.pl|language=pl}}</ref> | [[Cologne Bonn Airport|Cologne/Bonn]], [[Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport|Gdańsk]]
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}}

==Statistics==
===Annual traffic===
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=BER}}
In 2019, the two Berlin operational airports together served 35.6&nbsp;million passengers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adv.aero/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/12.2019-ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf|title=adv.aero - Statistics}}</ref> which sharply decreased to 9&nbsp;million for 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19-pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adv.aero/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12.2020-ADV-Monatsstatistik-1.pdf|title=adv.aero - Statistics}}</ref> In 2021, Berlin Brandenburg Airport slightly increased that figure to 9.9&nbsp;million passengers.<ref name="statistics2021">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adv.aero/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12.2021-ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf|title=adv.aero - Statistics}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Annual Passenger Traffic'''
! Year
! Passengers
! % Change
! Ref.
|-
|2020|| 444,893 || — || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berlin-airport.de/de/_dokumente/presse/basisinformationen/verkehrsstatistik/2020/2020-11-BER-DE.pdf|title=adv.aero - Statistics}}</ref>
|-
|2021|| 9,947,006 || {{increase}} 2,135.8% ||<ref name="statistics2021"/>
|-
|2022|| 19,845,046 || {{increase}} 99.5% || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adv.aero/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12.2022-ADV-Monatsstatistik.pdf |title=ADV Monthly Traffic Report 12/2022 |website=adv.aero |publisher=Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen e.V. |date=13 February 2023 |accessdate=17 February 2023 |language=en |format=PDF; 919&nbsp;KB}}</ref>
|-
|2023|| 23,071,865 || {{increase}} 16.3% || <ref name="Traffic Report"/><ref name="aviation24.be"/>
|}

==Ground transportation==
{{See also|Transport in Berlin}}

===Rail===
[[File:BER_Anbindung_2020.jpg|thumb|Map of  bus and rail connections into and around Berlin. An express line serves [[Berlin Hauptbahnhof]] in 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ber.berlin-airport.de/de/orientierung/anreiseundabreise/oeffentlicheverkehrsmittel.html|title=Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel|access-date=27 December 2020|publisher=FBB GmBH|language=de}}</ref>]]
[[File:Berlin brandenburg airport station.jpg|thumb|Interior of the airport station]]
{{main|BER Airport station}}

The terminal connects to a {{convert|3.1|km|mi|adj=on}} east–west railway tunnel under the apron and the terminal complex. As the nine tunnel sections were the first structures to be built, they were constructed by conventional excavations.

[[BER Airport station]] has six tracks and forms the lowest level of Terminal 1–2.<ref name=businessonde>{{cite news| url=http://berlin.business-on.de/auftraege-fuer-schienenanbindung-flughafen-bbi-vergeben_id99.html| title=Deutsche Bahn: Aufträge für Schienenanbindung Flughafen BBI vergeben| date=21 November 2007| language=de| trans-title=Contracts awarded for rail link Airport BBI| access-date=22 July 2010| archive-date=9 July 2012| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709211625/http://berlin.business-on.de/auftraege-fuer-schienenanbindung-flughafen-bbi-vergeben_id99.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> Two tracks serve as a terminus for the [[Berlin S-Bahn|S-Bahn]] – with the [[S9 (Berlin)|S9]] serving the [[Berlin Stadtbahn|Stadtbahn]] and the [[S45 (Berlin)|S45]] serving the southern [[Berlin Ringbahn|Ringbahn]]. The other four tracks handle [[EuroCity]], [[InterCity]], [[Intercity-Express]] and [[Regional-Express]] trains. The Terminal 5 complex is served by [[Schönefeld (bei Berlin) station]] which previously served the former Schönefeld Airport.

[[Deutsche Bahn]] confirmed in August 2011 that multiple daily Intercity-Express and InterCity trains will connect the airport to [[Bielefeld]], [[Hannover]], [[Hamburg]], [[Dresden]], [[Leipzig]], [[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt|Halle]] and [[Wolfsburg]]. EuroCity trains will also connect to [[Wrocław]] and [[Kraków]] in [[Poland]], [[Amsterdam]] in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Prague]] in the [[Czech Republic]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news| title=Schnell zum Flughafen geht es erst ab 2020| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/die-fertigstellung-der-dresdner-bahn-verzoegert-sich-weiter--der-bau-soll-erst-in-drei-jahren-beginnen-schnell-zum-flughafen-geht-es-erst-ab-2020,10810590,10950944.html| work=Berliner Zeitung| last=Newmann| first=Peter| date=27 August 2011| trans-title=Fast trips to the airport will come only after 2020}}</ref>

About half of the passengers are expected to access BER by rail. An express line ([[Regionalbahn]]) will connect the airport with the [[Berlin Hauptbahnhof]] (Berlin main station) in 30 minutes.<ref name=bahnof>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/travellers/to-and-from/buses-and-trains/local-and-long-distance-transport/index.php |title=Local and long-distance transport |author=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH |access-date=29 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818082702/http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/travellers/to-and-from/buses-and-trains/local-and-long-distance-transport/index.php |archive-date=18 August 2014 }}</ref> Two more stops at [[Berlin Potsdamer Platz station|Potsdamer Platz]] and [[Berlin Südkreuz]] will be part of the Airport Express, which is planned to make the trip in 20 minutes.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> As of 2019, rebuilding the [[Berlin–Dresden railway]] that would allow the 20-minute trip to Hauptbahnhof is expected to finish in 2025.<ref name=dresdner-bahn-2019/> Until then, the express train will run via [[Berlin-Gesundbrunnen station|Berlin-Gesundbrunnen]] and [[Ostkreuz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vbb.de/unsere-themen/planen-fr-die-zukunft/ber-anbindung |title=Mit Bus und Bahn schnell und bequem zum BER [Bus and train connections to BER] |date=6 December 2019 |access-date=27 January 2020 |work=vbb.de |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127132438/https://www.vbb.de/unsere-themen/planen-fr-die-zukunft/ber-anbindung |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the district administrator of [[Dahme-Spreewald]], train rides from southern Brandenburg towards BER might be complicated and require changing trains. He suggested a new rail concept might be necessary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1029110.landrat-loge-warnt-vor-verkehrskollaps-am-ber.html |title=Nach BER-Eröffnung Kollaps|trans-title=Loge warns of traffic collapse |date= 18 October 2016 }}</ref> Final construction permission for the railway station was granted on 26 March 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-ber-bauamt-genehmigt-ber-bahnhof/21116496.html|title=Bauamt genehmigt BER-Bahnhof|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=26 March 2018|trans-title=Controller permits BER-station| access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> The final permit for Dresdner Bahn construction was granted on 13 September 2019.<ref name=dresdner-bahn-2019>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/zug-verbindung-zum-ber-baugenehmigung-fuer-letzten-abschnitt-der-dresdner-bahn/25012320.html|title=Baugenehmigung für letzten Abschnitt der Dresdner Bahn |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |date=13 September 2019 |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref>

Because Terminal 5 was closed, both stations serving the airport area were renamed in December 2023, to BER Airport station and to Schönefeld (bei Berlin) station.<ref name=naming>[https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/mobilitaet-neue-stationsnamen-flughafen-ber-umbenennung-in-sicht-so-heissen-die-berliner-flughafenbahnhoefe-kuenftig-li.325866 berliner-zeitung.de] (German) 9 March 2023</ref>

====Proposed expansions====
;U-Bahn
[[U7 (Berlin U-Bahn)|Line U7]] terminates short of the airport (at [[Rudow (Berlin U-Bahn)|Rudow]]) but there are plans to extend it towards the airport if and when funds become available. The issue is complicated by the fact that the line would have to cross the state border between Berlin and Brandenburg and it is unclear who would have to pay for which parts of construction operations and maintenance. While Berlin has many "[[ghost station]]s" built in preparation for potential future construction, there is no provision underneath the terminal building for a station.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anker|first=Jens|date=22 November 2018|title=U-Bahn: Der Ausbau der U7 rückt ein Stück näher|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article215847355/U-Bahn-Der-Ausbau-der-U7-rueckt-ein-Stueck-naeher.html|access-date=6 July 2020|website=morgenpost.de|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kugler|first=Nina|date=24 January 2019|title=Neukölln und Schönefeld fordern Verlängerung der U7 bis BER|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/bezirke/neukoelln/article216284005/Neukoelln-und-Schoenefeld-fordern-Verlaengerung-der-U7-bis-BER.html|access-date=6 July 2020|website=morgenpost.de|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mit der U7 zum BER|url=https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/ihk-fuer-schnellen-ausbau-des-u-bahn-netzes-mit-der-u7-zum-ber/25614034.html|access-date=6 July 2020|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=IHK für schnellen Ausbau des U-Bahn-Netzes|url=https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/erstmals-zahlen-zu-kosten-und-fahrgaesten-ihk-fuer-schnellen-ausbau-des-u-bahn-netzes/25610466.html|access-date=6 July 2020|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|language=de}}</ref>

;Magnetic levitation railway
In June 2020, the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] Berlin (then in opposition at the state level) proposed building a [[Maglev]] of the [[Transport System Bögl]] (developed by the Bavarian construction company [[Max Bögl]]) to the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Berliner CDU will Magnetschwebebahn zum BER bauen|url=https://www.airliners.de/berliner-cdu-magnetschwebebahn-ber/56060|access-date=6 July 2020|website=airliners.de|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=CDU fordert eine Magnetschwebebahn zum BER-Flughafen|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/beitrag/2020/06/berlin-cdu-wegner-schwebebahn-verkehrspolitik.html|access-date=6 July 2020|website=rbb24.de|language=de|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622061605/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/beitrag/2020/06/berlin-cdu-wegner-schwebebahn-verkehrspolitik.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=CDU schlägt Magnetschwebebahn zum BER vor|url=https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/neues-verkehrskonzept-der-berliner-cdu-cdu-schlaegt-magnetschwebebahn-zum-ber-vor/25932526.html|access-date=6 July 2020|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=NACHRICHTEN|first=n-tv|title=CDU will Magnetschwebebahn für Berlin|url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/CDU-will-Magnetschwebebahn-fuer-Berlin-article21858441.html|access-date=6 July 2020|website=n-tv.de|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Autos|first=heise|title=Flughafen BER: Berliner CDU will Magnetschwebebahn statt U-Bahn|url=https://www.heise.de/news/Flughafen-BER-Berliner-CDU-will-Magnetschwebebahn-statt-U-Bahn-4789719.html|access-date=6 July 2020|website=Autos|date=19 June 2020 |language=de}}</ref>

===Road===
{{update section|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Berlin Straßenverkehr BER.png|thumb|Map of motorways in Berlin]]
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is connected by its own exit to the [[Bundesautobahn 113|A113]]. The road carries traffic into Berlin via the [[Bundesautobahn 100|A100]] and out to the [[Bundesautobahn 10|A10]] where it continues south as the [[Bundesautobahn 13|A13]] in the direction of Dresden. [[Bundesstraße 96|Highway 96a]] along the north side of the airport is being expanded to four lanes towards [[Potsdam]].{{when|date=September 2023}}

Four car parks and a car rental centre were scheduled to be completed by the opening of BER. Around 10,000 parking spaces were planned to be available in four [[multi-storey car park]]s.{{update inline|date=August 2023}}

A study released in September 2016 attested that BER would double the amount of vehicular traffic, causing frequent traffic jams on the [[Autobahn]] once the airport opened. The A100 and A113 did not have enough lanes to support the expected volume of traffic. The approach to BER was deemed insufficient for the expected traffic and was expected to lead to heavy congestion on the highways throughout south-central Berlin.<ref name="traffic-disaster">{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article227368591/Zu-viele-Autos-Am-BER-droht-ein-Verkehrschaos-Ausbau-der-Bahn-gefordert.html|title=Am BER droht ein Verkehrschaos|trans-title=A traffic disaster in the making|work=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]|date=16 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|language=de}}</ref> There were also concerns about increases in vehicle crashes and air pollution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/neues-verkehrsgutachten-zum-hauptstadtflughafen-der-ber-koennte-die-stadtautobahn-lahmlegen/14535896.html |title=Der BER könnte die Stadtautobahn lahmlegen|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=13 September 2016|trans-title=BER could cripple traffic on city highways |access-date=14 September 2016|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>
Congestion was expected to be high in tunnels leading to the airport, causing frequent closings of the Britz tunnel on the A100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/kolumne/wenn-der-flughafen-ber-oeffnet-dann-schliesst-der-tunnel-britz-2|title=Wenn der Flughafen BER öffnet, dann schließt der Tunnel Britz|date=14 September 2016 |trans-title=once BER opens tunnel Britz closes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/BER-Verkehrschaos-bei-der-Anreise-zum-Flughafen-in-Schoenefeld-moeglich| title=Fahrt zum BER könnte länger dauern | date=16 February 2018 |access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/id_83242522/verkehrsbehoerde-sieht-probleme-bei-autoverkehr-zum-ber.html| title=Verkehrsbehörde sieht Probleme bei Autoverkehr zum BER| date=16 February 2018|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref>

Over 10% of passengers were expected to come from [[Poland]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/verkehr/hauptstadtflughafen-landkreis-warnt-vor--verkehrsinfarkt--am-ber-29614178| title=Hauptstadtflughafen Landkreis warnt vor "Verkehrsinfarkt" am BER |access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> via upgraded highways on the Polish side of the border. It was hoped that these upgrades would make the airport accessible for air travellers from the western regions of that country.<ref name=motorway>{{cite news| url=http://www.moz.de/nachrichten/brandenburg/artikel-ansicht/dg/0/1/998615/| title=Polen eröffnet neue Autobahn| work=Märkische Oderzeitung| date=30 November 2011| trans-title=Poland opens new motorway}}</ref>

===Bus===
Public transport connections at the new airport  include numerous bus services. BER is served by the express buses X7, X71 and X11. The X7 connects to the [[U7 (Berlin U-Bahn)|U7]] subway at [[Rudow (Berlin U-Bahn)|Rudow station]]. X71 connects the airport to [[Alt Mariendorf (Berlin U-Bahn)|Alt Mariendorf]] along the [[U6 (Berlin U-Bahn)|U6]] via Rudow. The X11 bus continues to [[Lichterfelde-West]] and to [[Dahlem (Berlin)|Dahlem]]. There are also special express buses costing a surcharge dubbed "BER1" and "BER2" which connect the airport with [[Berlin Rathaus Steglitz station|Rathaus Steglitz]] and [[Potsdam main station]] respectively. Other bus lines also stop at a number of stations, providing connections with Berlin's public transport network and destinations in Brandenburg.

===Bicycle===
The access to the airport by bicycle is considered lacking by the local [[Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club|ADFC]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de/telegramm/3mfk0qk6hHbOFStgFYV7MV|title=Fahrradclub fordert Radschnellweg zum BER - Tagesspiegel Checkpoint|website=checkpoint.tagesspiegel.de}}</ref> who demand a [[bicycle highway]] to the new airport. A reason cited for the lacking bicycle access is that the plans dating to 2006 made no such provision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/die-infrastruktur-beruht-auf-der-planung-von-2006-warum-der-ber-so-schlecht-mit-dem-rad-erreichbar-ist/26654790.html|title=Warum der BER so schlecht mit dem Rad erreichbar ist|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=24 November 2020|last1=Jacobs|first1=Stefan}}</ref>

==Commercial and exposition area==

===Berlin Air Show (ILA)===
[[File:F-WWIQ Airbus A320 sharklet ILA 2012 02.jpg|thumb|right|A flight display performed by an [[Airbus A320-200]] at the Berlin Air Show]]
On 3 July 2012, the [[Berlin ExpoCenter Airport]] opened on the southeastern portion of the airport grounds.<ref name=expocenter>{{cite press release| title=Berlin ExpoCenter Airport built in record time| url=http://www.berlin-expocenter-airport.de/en/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/index.jsp?lang=en&id=219969| publisher=Messe Berlin| date=3 July 2012| access-date=30 July 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050150/http://www.berlin-expocenter-airport.de/en/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/index.jsp?lang=en&id=219969| archive-date=8 August 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Messe Berlin]] operates the {{convert|250000|m2|adj=off}} exposition facility that is primarily intended as the site of the biennial [[ILA Berlin Air Show]].<ref name=bdli>{{cite press release| url=http://www.bdli.de/en/images/pm_spatenstich%20e_.pdf| title=Groundbreaking ceremony at new ILA grounds| publisher=BDLI| date=18 August 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101205634/http://www.bdli.de/en/images/pm_spatenstich%20e_.pdf| archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

===Airport Information Centre===
Coinciding with groundbreaking for construction of the new airport, an information and public relations centre called ''airportworld'' opened near the old Schönefeld Airport. On 14 November 2007, the ''Infotower'', a {{convert|32|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} public viewing tower containing an exhibition about the new airport opened on the BER construction site.<ref name=BBI.Infotower>{{cite press release| title=BBI Infotower for East Germany's largest building site| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2006/2006-12-07-bbi-tower/index.php| date=7 December 2012|  publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH}}</ref>

===Business park===
The area surrounding BER is zoned as a commercial district. Plans call for the construction of shopping centres and parking structures as well as industrial, commercial and office spaces. Situated at the terminal complex will be the ''BER Airport City'' with an area of {{convert|16|ha}}. Marketing of the real estate began in autumn 2006 and beginning in 2009 offices, hotels, car rentals, four car parks with a capacity of 10,000, restaurants and retail spaces were built here.

To the north is the ''BER Business Park Berlin'' with a planned area of {{convert|109|ha}} for industrial and commercial use as well as congress centers. A further ''Business Park North'' was proposed as a future use of the area of the old Schönefeld terminal. However, those plans were put on hold in view of the decision to incorporate the terminal into the new airport.

==Construction progress and issues==
=== Overview ===
Berlin Brandenburg Airport was originally planned to open in October 2011, five years after starting construction in 2006. However, the project encountered a series of successive delays due to poor construction planning, execution, management, and corruption. The Airport finally received its operational licence in May 2020,<ref name="license"/> and opened for commercial traffic on 31 October 2020, 14 years after construction started and 29 years after official planning was begun.<ref name="finaldate"/> Schönefeld's refurbished passenger facilities were incorporated as ''Terminal 5'' on 25 October 2020<ref name="SXFT5"/><ref name="Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH"/><ref name="Fahrun"/> while all other airlines completed the transition from Tegel to Berlin Brandenburg Airport by 8 November 2020.<ref name="BERallocations"/>

The most significant cause for the continuing delays was the fire protection and alarm system. In the terminal building, the system was not built according to the [[construction permit]] and failed the [[Technischer Überwachungsverein|mandatory acceptance test]] necessary to open the airport. FBB proposed an interim solution employing up to 700 human fire spotters, which the building supervision department of the local [[Dahme-Spreewald]] district rejected.<ref>{{cite news|author=Joshua Hammer Reprints |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-07-23/how-berlin-s-futuristic-airport-became-a-6-billion-embarrassment |title=How Berlin's Futuristic Airport Became a $6 Billion Embarrassment |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |date=23 July 2015}}</ref> Inspectors uncovered flaws in the wiring, programming and implementation of the highly complex system designed by [[Siemens]] and [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Bosch]]. The system automatically controls sprinklers, smoke extractors and fire doors.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|last=Eddy|first=Melissa|date=7 January 2013|title=Mayor to Leave Panel Overseeing Delayed Berlin Airport|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/world/europe/mayor-to-leave-panel-overseeing-delayed-berlin-airport.html}}</ref> For aesthetic reasons, designers decided that the terminal would have smoke extraction ducts in its ceiling but that they would not exhaust to its rooftop. During a fire, smoke would be pumped from the ceiling into a shaft running down and through the basement ''below'' the structure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5X4QYIF1kA?t=41m12s| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208075423/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5X4QYIF1kA| archive-date=8 February 2016 | url-status=dead|title=Interesting Engineering Blunders, Interview with Alfredo Di Mauro|website = [[YouTube]]|access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> This required the natural rising behaviour of hot air in the shaft to be reversed. Achieving this on the scale necessary for this airport is a unique undertaking and so far this elaborate smoke extraction system has not worked as planned.<ref name="spiegelJan13"/> To meet the acceptance test requirements, large scale reconstruction work of the fire system might be needed.<ref name="failures">{{cite news| title=Die geheime Mängelliste| trans-title=The secret list of defects| url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg/berliner-flughafen-die-geheime-maengelliste-12023659.html| work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung| first1=Melanie| last1=Amann| first2=Dyrk| last2=Scherff| date=13 January 2013| language=de}}</ref> It emerged that Alfredo di Mauro, who designed the fire safety system, was not a qualified engineer. While his business cards stated he was an engineer, he was actually qualified as an engineering [[Drafter|draughtsman]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20140625/fake-engineer-di-mauro-designed-berlin-airport-fire-system|title=Fake engineer made Berlin Airport fire system|newspaper=The Local Germany|date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Di Mauro was dismissed by the airport company in early May 2014. In the termination notice, the company cited "serious defects" in his work and that trust in their relationship was "now finally shattered". The airport company went on to state that Di Mauro's plans would be "disposed of". The system was to be rebuilt and divided into three areas in order to make it "manageable". The cost of this work was reported as being a nine-digit figure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-ber-ex-planer-alfredo-di-mauro-war-offenbar-hochstapler/10092862.html|title=Ex-Planer Alfredo di Mauro war offenbar Hochstapler|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=25 June 2014|last1=Kurpjuweit|first1=Klaus}}</ref>

Another major factor impacting on the construction of the airport was insolvency of general planner ''Planungsgemeinschaft Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg International'' (pg bbi) and the dismissal of the [[Gerkan, Marg and Partners]] architects. Inspectors have uncovered many examples of poor workmanship due to a lack of proper supervision and documentation, most notably concerning the wiring. Reports have surfaced about cable conduits that hold too many cables or hold cables in incompatible combinations, such as phone lines next to high voltage wires. A total of {{convert|60|km|mi}} of cooling pipes were allegedly installed with no thermal insulation. To correct this, the demolition of numerous walls may be necessary. Furthermore, exterior vents appear to be in improper locations, allowing rainwater from the western facade to enter them.<ref name="failures" />

=== Timeline ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em"
|+ Construction delays<ref>Britta Beeger: ''[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/flughafen-ber-eine-chronik-des-scheiterns-13895339.html Flughafen BER – Eine Chronik des Scheiterns.]'' In: ''faz.net'' (6. März 2017).</ref>
! Announcement || Opening date
|-
| 5 September 2006 (original) || 30 October 2011
|-
| 25 June 2010 || 3 June 2012
|-
| 7 May 2012 || 17 March 2013
|-
| 27 October 2012 || 27 October 2013
|-
| January 2013 || on/after 2014
|-
| 8 January 2014 || on/after 2015
|-
| 24 February 2014 || on/after 2016
|-
| 14 May 2014 || on/after 2017
|-
| December 2014 || 2nd half of 2017
|-
| 21 January 2017 || 2018
|-
| 15 December 2017 || 31 October 2020
|}

==== 2006 ====
After nearly 15 years of planning, actual construction work for Berlin Brandenburg Airport began on 5 September 2006.<ref name=groundbreaking>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/rathausaktuell/archiv/2006/09/05/46896/index.html |title=BBI: Wowereit attends groundbreaking ceremony |date=5 September 2006 |publisher=City of Berlin|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503195232/http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/rathausaktuell/archiv/2006/09/05/46896/index.html |archive-date=3 May 2014 }}</ref> When construction began, FBB announced 30 October 2011 as the opening day for the new facility.<ref name=schedule>{{cite press release| title=Two years of construction work on the new Capital Airport BBI: "We are right on schedule"| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2008/2008-09-04-bbi-construction-work/index.php| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| date=4 September 2008}}</ref> To make way for the new airport, two villages were removed. The 335 inhabitants of Diepensee received compensation and were offered new homes in [[Königs Wusterhausen]], a move that was completed by late 2004. The 35 villagers of Selchow were resettled to [[Buckow (Berlin)|Großziethen]] in mid-2005.<ref name=history>{{cite web| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/company/about-us/history/berlin-brandenburg-airport/index.php| title=History: Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH|  access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="presskit">{{cite web| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/_documents/press/basisinformationen/2014-02-14-press-kit.pdf| title=Press Kit| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| access-date=29 July 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730011906/http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/_documents/press/basisinformationen/2014-02-14-press-kit.pdf| archive-date=30 July 2014}}</ref>{{rp|16}}

==== 2007 ====
In November 2007, the ''BER-Infotower'' opened a {{convert|32|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} public observation tower and information center.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/BBI/ProjektAktuell/Details/BBI-Infotower.html| title=Infotower| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| access-date=26 August 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819222108/http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/BER/ProjektAktuell/Details/BBI-Infotower.html| archive-date=19 August 2011| website=Airport of the future}}</ref> It was part of the airport's visitor facilities, which also had a webcam of the construction progress.<ref name="infotower2">{{cite web| title=Infotower| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/de/reisende/erlebnis-flughafen/infotower/| publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| access-date=26 August 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329232915/http://www.berlin-airport.de/de/reisende/erlebnis-flughafen/infotower| archive-date=29 March 2014| language=de| trans-title=Infotower| website=Erlebnis Flughafen (Airport Experience)}}</ref> The transparent and twisted structure was originally intended to be temporary, with a scheduled removal announced in 2016.<ref name="Abgerissen">{{cite news |last=Metzner |first=Thorsten |date=1 June 2016 |title=Aus für Infotower und Webcam: Am BER wird bald was abgerissen |trans-title=An end for the infotower and webcam: Soon, something will be torn down at BER| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/aus-fuer-infotower-und-webcam-am-ber-wird-bald-was-abgerissen/13669284.html| work=Der Tagesspiegel| location=Berlin| access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

==== 2008 ====
Construction of the terminal building began in July 2008.<ref name=jacobs>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/start-frei-fuer-das-terminal-rohbau-des-flughafenbahnhofs-in-schoenefeld-fertig/1270712.html| work=Der Tagesspiegel| title=Start frei für das Terminal| last=Jacobs| first=Stefan| date=3 July 2008| language=de}}</ref>

[[Berlin Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof Airport]] was officially closed on 30 October 2008.

==== 2010 ====
[[File:BBI_2010-07-23_3.JPG|thumb|Construction progress at today's Terminal 1 as of 2010]]
On 8 and 9 May 2010, the airport celebrated its [[topping out]] with open days at the airport site.<ref name=topping>{{cite press release| title=Berlin's new BBI airport: Topping-out ceremony for the terminal| url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/press-releases/2010/2010-04-29-topping-out-ceremony/index.php|  publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH| access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> A few days after 14 June 2010 topping out ceremony, FBB announced that construction deadlines could not be met.<ref name=fulling>{{cite web| url=http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin-aktuell/article1332014/BBI-Start-um-mehr-als-ein-halbes-Jahr-verschoben.html| title=BER-Start um mehr als ein halbes Jahr verschoben| work=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]| first=Thomas| last=Fülling| date=25 June 2010| access-date=29 July 2014| language=de| trans-title=BER launch postponed more than six months}}</ref>

==== 2011 ====
On 30 October 2011, the railway line and [[BER Airport – Terminal 1-2 station|terminal station]] were ready for service, however no scheduled trains would operate until the opening.

Operating tests and service trials began on 24 November 2011, based on the anticipated opening date of 3 June 2012. A total of 12,000 volunteers participated in simulated check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage claim. The tests used 15,000 pieces of luggage in the [[Baggage handling system|automated baggage processing system]], covered night-time operations and emergency scenarios.<ref name=2011report>{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2011 |url=http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/publications/company/2011/2011-annual-report.pdf |publisher=Berliner Flughafen-Gesellschaft mbH |page=14 |access-date=29 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730022407/http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/press/publications/company/2011/2011-annual-report.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2014 }}</ref> This phase also saw the acceptance tests of various airport systems. It became clear on 8 May 2012 that the building could not open on schedule, officially because of the failure of the fire protection system. In reality, according to a Brandenburg State Audit report in February 2016 the usability of the airport was at 56.2%; for example, there were no ticket counters and the escalators did not work. The report went on to say there was no realistic chance that it could be used "reasonably successfully" in 2012.<ref name=SpiegelFeb2016>{{cite news| title=Geheimer Prüfbericht rechnet mit Kontrolleuren ab |trans-title=Secret test report settles with inspectors |url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-staatsanwaltschaft-prueft-ermittlungen-a-1077129.html |work=Der Spiegel |date=12 February 2016|language=De }}</ref> Legal implications concerning the failed 2012 opening were expected after the release of the 2016 report.<ref name=DiepgenMomper>{{cite news |url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/ist-es-richtig-dass-ermittler-den-ber-bossen-auf-die-pelle-ruecken |title=Ist es richtig, dass Ermittler den BER-Bossen auf die Pelle rücken? |work=B.Z. |language=de |trans-title=Is it true that investigators are destroying the management of BER? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227173846/http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/ist-es-richtig-dass-ermittler-den-ber-bossen-auf-die-pelle-ruecken |date=14 February 2016 |archive-date=27 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2012 ====
As the new date drew nearer, airlines amended their timetables to reflect their plans to operate from BER. On the retail side of the airport, shops and restaurants prepared for the opening. As the airports in Tegel and Schönefeld were to close once the last flights of 2 June had been serviced, a major logistics operation for moving the airports' infrastructure was launched. Vehicles, equipment and supplies that were needed at Tegel until the final moments would have been transported to BER during the night of 2–3 June. To allow this, the authorities planned to restrict the highways linking the two airports ([[Bundesautobahn 113|A113]], [[Bundesautobahn 100|A100]] and parts of [[Bundesautobahn 111|A111]]) to airport traffic only.<ref name="megamove">{{cite news| url=http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120411-41867.html| title=Mega move to new Berlin Airport begins| date=11 April 2012| work=[[The Local]]| access-date=14 January 2013| archive-date=7 January 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107132448/http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120411-41867.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg]], the national broadcaster for Berlin and Brandenburg, scheduled 24 hours of continuous live coverage of the airport move.<ref name="rbb">{{cite press release| title=24 h Airport – Der Flughafenumzug live| trans-title=24 h Airport: The Airport Move Live| date=30 April 2012| publisher=RBB| url=http://www.rbb-online.de/themen/flughafen-ber/flughafen_ber/programmtipp/24_stunden_live.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217064110/http://www.rbb-online.de/themen/flughafen-ber/flughafen_ber/programmtipp/24_stunden_live.html| url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2013| language=de}}</ref> A special Lufthansa flight to [[Frankfurt Airport]], operated with an [[Airbus A380]], was scheduled as the first departure from the new airport on 3 June at 06:00.<ref name="rbb" />

On 8 May 2012 just 26 days before the move, FBB again postponed the opening date. The postponement led to the cancelling of moving plans and in some cases reversing actions already completed. It cited technical difficulties, primarily concerning the fire safety and smoke exhaust systems for the delay.<ref name="Further Delay">{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/new-berlin-airport-won-t-open-until-march-17-2003-a-833692.html |title=New Berlin Airport Won't Open until March 2013 |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=17 May 2012}}</ref> As a result, FBB dismissed the director for technical affairs Manfred Körtgen and replaced him with Horst Amann. It also announced 17 March 2013 as the new opening date for BER. However, this was soon met by doubts resulting from the large number of construction flaws and problems that inspectors continued to find.<ref name=gubisch>{{cite news| url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/berlin-expects-brandenburg-costs-to-overrun-by-a-third-375599/| first=Michael| last=Gubisch| date=17 August 2012| title=Berlin expects Brandenburg costs to overrun by a third| work=[[Flightglobal]]}}</ref>

In early September 2012, FBB further postponed the opening to 27 October 2013.<ref name=spiegel0409>{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/media-report-says-berlin-airport-to-open-in-october-2013-a-853804.html| work=Spiegel Online| date=4 September 2012| title=New Berlin Airport to Finally Open Next October}}</ref> Again, media and experts (most notably [[Peter Ramsauer]], Federal Minister for Construction and Infrastructure) voiced doubts about the deadline.<ref name=frequentbt20130107>{{cite news| url=http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2012/12/opening-of-berlin-brandenburg-international-airport-delayed-to-2014/| work=Frequent Business Traveler| date=27 December 2012| title=Opening of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport Delayed to 2014| first=Christian| last=Stampfer}}</ref>

==== 2013 ====
FBB announced on 6 January 2013 that the opening would be further delayed, at least until 2014; however, no definite opening date was given.<ref name="spiegelJan13"/> Klaus Wowereit resigned as chairman of the supervisory board and was replaced by Matthias Platzeck, who previously had served as his deputy. The board also dismissed Rainer Schwarz, the [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] of FBB, on 16 January.<ref name=ceofired>{{cite news| url=https://news.yahoo.com/berlin-airport-ceo-fired-delays-opening-184220122--finance.html| work=Yahoo News| title=Berlin airport CEO fired after delays to opening| date=16 January 2013| agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> By January 2013, FBB had announced and cancelled four official opening dates.<ref name="nyt" /><ref name="spiegelJan13"/> FBB named [[Hartmut Mehdorn]], previously CEO of [[Deutsche Bahn]] (1999–2011) and [[Air Berlin]] (2011–2013) as Schwarz's replacement on 8 March 2013.<ref name=mehdorn>{{cite news| trans-title=BER surprise: Mehdorn is chief of the Berlin airport| url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/hartmut-mehdorn-wird-berliner-flughafenchef-a-887585.html| work=Der Spiegel| title=BER-Überraschung: Mehdorn wird Chef des Berliner Flughafens| date=8 March 2013| language=de}}</ref>

The rising passenger numbers at Berlin airports and delays to BER raised concerns in 2013 that the new airport might be too small as passenger numbers at existing Berlin airports were approaching the BER design capacity.<ref name="nyt"/>

==== 2014 ====
On 8 January 2014, FBB announced the airport would not open that year.<ref name="thelocal.de">{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.de/20140108/berlin-airport-wont-open-this-year|title=Berlin airport's 2014 opening cancelled again |date=8 January 2014 |work=The Local}}</ref> Mehdorn stated on 24 February 2014 that it was unlikely the airport would open before 2016.<ref name="delay2016">{{cite news |url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/hauptstadtflughafen/hauptstadtflughafen-berlin-ber-oeffnet-vielleicht-erst-2016,11546166,26334558.html |title=BER öffnet vielleicht erst 2016 |date=24 February 2014 |work=Berliner Zeitung |language=de |trans-title=BER may open in 2016}}</ref> In remarks made in August 2014, he pointed towards 2017 or 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berliner-kurier.de/brandenburg/ber-versprecher--mehdorn-verplappert-sich---2017-oder-18-,7169130,28094960.html |title=Mehdorn verplappert sich: "2017 oder 18" |date=11 August 2014 |trans-title=Mehdorn flubs it... 2017 or 18! |work=[[Berliner Kurier]] |first=Holger |last=Schacht |access-date=11 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817102046/http://www.berliner-kurier.de/brandenburg/ber-versprecher--mehdorn-verplappert-sich---2017-oder-18-,7169130,28094960.html |archive-date=17 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mehdorn announced no opening date by 14 October 2014, so a special commission established by the Brandenburg Parliament retained oversight of the project.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/bericht-des-untersuchungsausschusses-ueberall-verfehlungen-das-ber-drama-auf-ueber-1000-seiten/13735612.html |title=Bericht des Untersuchungsausschusses Überall Verfehlungen Das BER-Drama auf über 1000 Seiten |trans-title=Report of the control commission: Lapses everywhere, The BER Drama on over 1000 pages |first=Thorsten |last=Metzner|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |date=15 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/was-machen-die-flieger-am-ber-46387436.bild.html |title=Neues vom Pannenflughafen: Finden Sie den Fehler auf diesem BER-Foto |trans-title=News from the Disaster-airport: Try to find the error in this BER picture |date=20 June 2016 |work=Bild}}</ref><ref name="Welt15Oct">{{cite news |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article133255886/Flughafen-Aufsichtsrat-mit-Fachleuten-besetzen.html |title=Rechnungshof: Flughafen-Aufsichtsrat mit Fachleuten besetzen |date=15 October 2014 |work=[[Die Welt]] |language=de |trans-title=Court of Auditors: Fill Airport Board with experts}}</ref><ref name="LR15Oct">{{cite news |url=http://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/brandenburg/Landtag-will-erneut-BER-Sonderausschuss-einrichten;art25,4774435 |title=Landtag will erneut BER-Sonderausschuss einrichten |work=[[Lausitzer Rundschau]] |language=de |trans-title=Parliament wants to install new BER Special Commission |access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schon">{{cite news |url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/landtag-brandenburg-mehrheit-fuer-neuauflage-untersuchungsausschuss.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141015101959/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/landtag-brandenburg-mehrheit-fuer-neuauflage-untersuchungsausschuss.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 October 2014 |title=Landtag will weiter über den BER reden |last=Schon |first=Michael |date=14 October 2014 |work=RBB |language=de |trans-title=Parliament wants to talk about the BER }}</ref>

The initial design for the main hall, known as "the monster" to construction workers, called for a single exhaust system. Revised plans called for multiple systems controlled by {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} of wiring. By 19 May 2014 [[Siemens]] had not yet designed the wire harnesses.<ref name="taz666">{{cite news| url=http://www.taz.de/Flughafenbau-Berlin-Brandenburg/!138693/ |title=666 – Number of the Beast| work=Die Tageszeitung| date=18 May 2014| language=de}}</ref> These problems are forcing the initial construction budget to skyrocket.<ref name="spiegelJan13"/>

BBI sought to open the north pier for use by three to ten flights per day as a test, though other parts of the airport would not be operational for some time. It requested that ''[[Technischer Überwachungsverein]]'' (Technical Inspection Association, TÜV) review the facility for safety and compliance to Brandenburg building codes. In its assessment report issued on 29 July 2014, TÜV found that some lightning rods were missing and that the back-up generator powering the sprinkler system did not provide adequate power. One source with the TÜV stated, "What the airport ordered was sufficient for a circus tent, but [if power fails] not for the dimensions of the terminal."<ref name="bild">{{cite news| url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/teile-der-blitzableiter-vergessen-37060598.bild.html| title=Raten Sie mal, was am BER jetzt wieder vergessen wurde| trans-title=Guess what was forgotten at BER again this time| work=[[Bild]]| first=J.C.| last=Wehmeyer| date=1 August 2014| language=de}}</ref> The {{convert|18|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} exhaust system to remove smoke from a fire was also reported to be leaking.<ref name="leaking">{{cite news| url=https://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/zeitung-brandschutzanlage-am-ber-undicht-091259096.html |title=Zeitung: Brandschutzanlage am BER undicht| date=18 May 2014| work=Yahoo! News| trans-title=Newspaper: Fire protection system at BER leaking| language=de}}</ref>

Citing dissatisfaction with construction progress, members of the airport board indicated during their 8 December 2014 meeting that they were beginning the search for a new CEO, although Mehdorn's contract ran through 2016.<ref name="NewChief">{{cite news| url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Neuer-Chef-fuer-Berliner-Flughafen-gesucht-article14117756.html| title=Neuer Chef für Berliner Flughafen gesucht| trans-title=Looking for New Chief of Berlin airport| date=8 December 2014| work=[[n-tv]]| language=de}}</ref> One week later, Mehdorn announced he would resign as soon as the board named a successor, but no later than June 2015.<ref name="resign">{{cite news| title=Hartmut Mehdorn tritt als Airport-Chef zurück| work=Bild| date=15 December 2014| language=de| url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/hartmut-mehdorn/tritt-als-ber-chef-zurueck-38987160.bild.html| trans-title=Hartmut Mehdorn resigns as chief Airport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/955621.scheitern-programmiert.html| title=Scheitern programmiert: Andreas Fritsche ist dennoch überrascht von Mehdorns Rückzug| first=Andreas| last=Fritsche| work=[[Neues Deutschland]]| date=15 December 2014| trans-title=Programmed Failure: Andreas Fritsche is still surprised by Mehdorn withdrawal| language=de}}</ref> Karsten Mühlenfeld, former head of Rolls-Royce Germany,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.inforadio.de/dossier/archiv-vor-2014/ber--hintergrundmaterial-/portrait-neuer-ber-chef-muehlenfeld.html |title=Flughafen-Chef Mühlenfeld beginnt mit der Arbeit |date=16 March 2015 |trans-title=Airport chief Mühlenfeld begins work |work=RBB |language=de |access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/BER-Chef-Karsten-Muehlenfeld-ist-seit-100-Tagen-im-Amt-ein-Zwischenfazit |title=The anti-Mehdorn: calm, but without vision |work=[[Märkische Allgemeine]] |language=de |access-date=23 June 2015 |archive-date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623172455/http://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/BER-Chef-Karsten-Muehlenfeld-ist-seit-100-Tagen-im-Amt-ein-Zwischenfazit |url-status=dead }}</ref> replaced him as airport CEO in March.

==== 2015 ====
The search for a general planner was eventually stopped in February 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/Berlin-Brandenburg-Verkehr-Luftfahrt-BER-gibt-Suche-nach-Generalplaner-auf.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150612185328/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/Berlin-Brandenburg-Verkehr-Luftfahrt-BER-gibt-Suche-nach-Generalplaner-auf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2015 |title=BER gibt Such nach Generalplaner auf |access-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref>

On 20 March 2015, Mehdorn again faced questions from the Investigative Commission of Berlin's parliament.<ref name="Recover25">{{cite news |url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/BER-untersuchungsausschuss-mehdorn-amann-baukosten.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150324020046/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/BER-untersuchungsausschuss-mehdorn-amann-baukosten.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2015 |title=BER soll Baukosten in 25 Jahren einspielen |work=RBB |date=18 March 2015 |trans-title=BER to recover construction costs in 25 years|language=de  }}</ref><ref name="MuhlenfeldStarts">{{cite news| url=http://www.inforadio.de/programm/schema/sendungen/bme/201503/16/portrait-neuer-ber-chef-muehlenfeld.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20150324020043/http://www.inforadio.de/programm/schema/sendungen/bme/201503/16/portrait-neuer-ber-chef-muehlenfeld.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=24 March 2015| title=Flughafen-Chef Mühlenfeld beginnt mit der Arbeit| access-date=21 March 2015| trans-title=Airports CEO Mühlenfeld starts working| language=de}}</ref> Mehdorn eventually ceased all public duties on 21 May 2015, citing health concerns.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/ex-ber-chef-mehdorn-legt-alle-oeffentlichen-aemter-nieder/11801082.html |title=Mehdorn legt alle öffentlichen Ämter nieder |date=20 May 2015 |trans-title=Mehdorn leaves all public offices |work=[[Handelsblatt]] |location=Dusseldorf}}</ref> Berlin's mayor [[Michael Müller (politician, born 1964)|Michael Müller]] was appointed the new head of the supervisory board ([[Aufsichtsrat]]) on 3 July 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/flughafen-ber-michael-mueller-zum-aufsichtsratschef-gewaehlt-a-1041988.html |title=Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg: Michael Müller zum Aufsichtsratschef gewählt| trans-title=Michael Müller was elected as a member of the Supervisory Board| work=Der Spiegel| date=3 July 2015| language=de}}</ref> However, he had disagreements with Mühlenfeld, primarily over the opening date.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-flughafen-michael-mueller-rueckt-von-ber-geschaeftsfuehrung-ab/12448112.html| title=Michael Müller rückt von BER-Geschäftsführung ab| trans-title=Michael Müller leaves BER's management| date=14 October 2015| work=Der Tagesspiegel| language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/987914.ber-weiter-vier-monate-hinter-dem-zeitplan.html| title=BER weiter vier Monate hinter dem Zeitplan| trans-title=BER Four More Months Behind Schedule| date=15 October 2015| work=[[Neues Deutschland]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/ber-imtec-betreiber-flughafen-start-2017-wande.html| title=Bauarbeiten liegen weiterhin hinter dem Soll zurück| url-status=dead| trans-title=Construction work remains behind the target| archive-url=https://archive.today/20151015083051/https://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/ber-imtec-betreiber-flughafen-start-2017-wande.html |date=14 October 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |work=RBB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/umland/wird-der-flughafen-ber-doch-erst-2018-eroeffnet| title=Wird der Flughafen BER doch erst 2018 eröffnet?| date=15 October 2015| first=Lars| last=Petersen| work=Bild| language=de}}</ref> Led by Mayor Müller, the board insisted on an opening in 2017.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Mueller-Jetzt-sind-die-Behoerden-dran-article17534881.html| title=BER-Start 2017 "plus vier Wochen"? Müller: Jetzt sind die Behörden dran| trans-title=BER start 2017 "plus 4 weeks"? Müller: Authorities must act now| date=22 April 2016| first=Diana| last=Dittmer| language=de}}</ref>

A former manager for BER was taken into [[Remand (detention)|remand]] for alleged bribery on 13 May 2015;<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/korruption-berlin-ber-frueherer-ber-manager-in-u-haft.html |title=Früherer BER-Manager wegen Fluchtgefahr in U-Haft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623083238/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/korruption-berlin-ber-frueherer-ber-manager-in-u-haft.html|archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref> an [[Imtech]] manager was alleged to have given him bribes at a highway gas station in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-manager-in-untersuchungshaft-a-1036079.html|title= Korruptionsverdacht: Richter steckt früheren BER-Manager in U-Haft|newspaper= Der Spiegel|date= 28 May 2015|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> Imtech built parts of the fire exhaustion system.

The German branch of (Dutch) Royal Imtech filed for bankruptcy on 6 August 2015,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/wirtschaft/article144916597/Neuer-Rueckschlag-fuer-Grossflughafen-BER.html|title=Neuer Rückschlag für Großflughafen BER|newspaper=Die Welt|date=7 August 2015|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> and its parent company went bankrupt a few days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article145066652/Imtech-beantragt-in-Niederlanden-Glaeubigerschutz.html|title=Imtech files for bankruptcy protection in NL—Imtech beantragt in Niederlanden Gläubigerschutz|newspaper=Die Welt|date=11 August 2015|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Drum rettet nur den BER, wer auch denken kann wie er |trans-title=BER can only be saved by someone who thinks like BER |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/kolumnen/zippert_zappt/article144954358/Drum-rettet-nur-den-BER-wer-auch-denken-kann-wie-er.html|work=welt.de|date=7 August 2015 |last1=Zippert |first1=Hans }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/980759.schrecken-ohne-ende.html|title=Schrecken ohne Ende |trans-title=Horrors without end |work=Neues Deutschland}}</ref> As a result, Martin Delius, leader of the commission of inquiry into the failures during the airport's construction, stated that the planned opening in late 2017 was doubtful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2015-08/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-eroeffnungstermin-insolvenz-imtech|title=Delius sieht BER-Eröffnungstermin stark gefährdet|access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

Also in August 2015, new allegations of corruption were published in the [[Bild]] newspaper.<ref name="ntv-corruption" /> According to the paper, some large contractors filed additional payment demands after completion of their respective projects within BER, and received the complete requested payments with almost no objections. Lawyers reviewing the process stated that the high percentage of claims granted approval was unique and extraordinary. As a result, all payments beginning from the start of the project were to be reviewed.<ref name="ntv-corruption">{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-Manager-unter-Korruptionsverdacht-article15729986.html |title=BER-Manager unter Korruptionsverdacht|access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref> The projected opening in 2017 was declared unlikely around the same time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pnn.de/brandenburg/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-eroeffnung-ende-2017-wackelt/21486118.html|title=Eröffnung Ende 2017 wackelt|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online}}</ref> At the end of August 2015, though, the new airport head presented the Schüßler plan as the course of action.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/suche-abgeschlossen-ber-generalplaner-gefunden|title=Suche abgeschlossen: BER-Generalplaner gefunden|work=BZ|date=24 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> When Mehdorn testified before the Investigations Commission of the Berlin parliament in March 2015, he stated that redesigns to correct the exhaust system would not be completed until "after the summer break," and that the terminal will not be finished until March or April 2016.<ref name=Recover25/>

An immediate halt to all construction efforts in the terminal was ordered on 21 September 2015 because a collapse of the main roof was imminent. This was done according to [[Dahme-Spreewald]] district's construction supervision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/baustopp-am-flughafen-und-was-nun-42666270.bild.html#remId=1511704981392124435|title=Wie es nach dem Baustopp am BER jetzt weitergeht|date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The shutdown lasted two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Baustopp-am-BER-aufgehoben-article16056636.html|title=Baustopp am BER aufgehoben|first=n-tv|last=NACHRICHTEN|website=n-tv.de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/baustopp-flughafenterminal-teilentwarnung-am-ber-terminal,10809148,31891314.html|title=Teilentwarnung am BER-Terminal – Alert partly lifted concerning BER terminal – shutdown probably won't take so long|work=Berliner Zeitung|date=24 September 2015 |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Wirtschaft/d/7354274/ber-terminalsperrung-koennte-in-teilen-laenger-dauern.html|title=BER-Terminalsperrung könnte in Teilen länger dauern – terminal shutdown could take longer in parts- where ventilators are hanging which weigh 4 instead of 2 tons – in total 5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Wirtschaft/d/7356078/ber-aufsichtsrat-haelt-an-2017-fest.html|title=BER-Aufsichtsrat hält an 2017 fest-Wenn es schlecht laufe, finde man in dem neuen Terminal in Schönefeld noch 15 solcher Fehler, vermutete Bretschneider.-Brettschneider assumed that if it goes bad you may find 15 of such failures}}</ref> Furthermore, 600 fire protection walls had to be replaced because they were built out of [[aerated concrete]] blocks that provided insufficient fire protection. The mortar was found to be inadequate as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-ber-600-waende-muessen-ausgetauscht-werden/12380948.html|title=600 Wände müssen ausgetauscht werden|website=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=29 September 2015|language=de|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2015-09/ber-hauptstadtflughafen-brandschutzwaende|title=BER: 600 Wände müssen ausgetauscht werden|first=ZEIT|last=ONLINE|date=28 September 2015|newspaper=Die Zeit}}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
By 2016, further consequences of the low likelihood of a 2017 opening appeared on the horizon. [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Tegel]]'s permit was set to expire at the end of 2017; but if Tegel closed before BER opened, massive disruptions would occur because Tegel handled over 60% of all passenger traffic in Berlin.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 January 2017 |title=Berliner Flughäfen steigern 2016 ihre Passagierzahlen um elf Prozent |url=http://www.airliners.de/passagierzahlen-berliner-flughaefen-2016-prozent/40455 |work=airliners.de |location=Berlin |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826062846/http://www.airliners.de/passagierzahlen-berliner-flughaefen-2016-prozent/40455 |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This led to expectations that pressure to open BER would mount drastically.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abendblatt-berlin.de/2016/03/19/ber-desaster-fordert-tegel-heraus/|title=BER-Desaster fordert Tegel heraus|trans-title=BER disaster challenges Tegel|work=abendblatt|date=19 March 2016|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220185337/http://www.abendblatt-berlin.de/2016/03/19/ber-desaster-fordert-tegel-heraus/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of 7 February 2016, 24 opaque skylights (which can allow smoke to escape) in the main gangway required approval. The opaque skylights are part of the fire exhaustion system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bild.de/news/inland/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg/beim-ber-klappt-mal-wieder-nichts-44461532.bild.html|title=Wieder wegen Brandschutz: Beim BER klappt mal wieder nichts|website=bild.de|date=6 February 2016}}</ref> FBB spokesman Daniel Abbou confirmed to [[Berliner Morgenpost]] that the 24 skylights may need "individual approval" rather than a blanket approval for all.<ref name=DiepgenMomper/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article207016819/Neue-Spekulationen-um-BER-Eroeffnung.html|title=Neue Spekulationen um BER-Eröffnung|first=Thomas Fülling, Gudrun|last=Mallwitz|date=7 February 2016|website=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]|language=de}}</ref>

As of April 2016, the fire exhaustion system experienced further lapses that would delay a new issuing of the rework permission for the fire suppression system. The underground railway station also needed a redesign for the underground part of the fire exhaustion system. Incoming or departing trains might suck smoke into the station, so air flow guidance was needed to avoid this effect. However, the airport could not decide upon the method by itself, as permission is needed from the [[Federal Railway Authority]] (''Eisenbahnbundesamt''). The construction authority of the district of [[Dahme-Spreewald]], Eisenbahnbundesamt, and the airport thus needed to join in the redesign effort. The plans on how to rebuild the underground part would not be finished before June. Thus, with no plans, the district could not grant the redesign permission. As such, the airport could not start the redesign effort before the beginning of July (assuming that the district would promptly check on the plans). As such, the construction process was delayed by at least 8 months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-ber-liegt-acht-monate-hinter-dem-zeitplan/13423488.html |date=9 April 2016 |title=BER liegt acht Monate hinter dem Zeitplan |trans-title=BER is 8 months behind schedule |work=Tagesspiegel|last1=Metzner |first1=Thorsten }}</ref> On 17 April 2016, it became clear that the district would conduct an intensive investigation into the construction plans. Airport head Mühlenfeld thus publicly demanded that the parties come to grips with their decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/ber-spaetestens-im-mai-muss-eine-einigung-zum-brandschutz-fallen-23894888|title=Spätestens im Mai muss eine Einigung zum Brandschutz fallen |trans-title=At least in May a decision is needed concerning fire protection (in the underground station)|work=Tagesspeigel|date=16 April 2016 }}</ref>

Also in April 2016, press spokesman Daniel Abbou was fired after giving "too honest" an interview. He had stated that billions of euros had been squandered, and that only someone "dependent on medication will give you any firm guarantees for this airport."<ref name="PRWeek">{{cite news |last=Griggs |first=Ian |date=15 April 2016 |title=Troubled German airport's PR man 'sacked for straight-talking interview' |url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1391251/troubled-german-airports-pr-man-sacked-straight-talking-interview | work=[[PRWeek]]}}</ref><ref name=Abbou>{{cite news |title=Berliner Pannenflughafen: Zu ehrliches Interview – BER-Pressesprecher gefeuert |trans-title= Berlin's Defective Airport: Too Honest Interview – BER Press Spokesman fired |url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-zu-ehrliches-interview-ber-pressesprecher-gefeuert-a-1086501.html | work=[[Der Spiegel]] |access-date=19 March 2017 }}</ref> On 25 April 2016, Mühlenfeld stated that "surprisingly, demands (towards a simulation of the problem) are higher than expected." In fact, the [[Federal Railway Authority]] demanded that the commuter trains be simulated at speeds up to {{convert|100|km/h|mph}} when entering or leaving the station. This means it would take more time to simulate the exact solution for the underground railway station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-auflagen-gefaehrden-start-des-ber/13494456.html|title=Auflagen gefährden Start des BER|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=25 April 2016|trans-title= requirements menace start of BER|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref> The Federal Railway Authority also called for the simulation of emergency/evacuation scenarios.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/berlin/brief-gefaehrdet-eroeffnung-45521094.bild.html|title=Dieser Brief gefährdet die BER Eröffnung|trans-title=This letter endangers the BER opening|work=Bild|date=25 April 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/1071588/|title=Sturzflug am BER|trans-title=Does the BER dive?}}</ref> To prevent suffocation in an emergency, glass towers are to be built inside the railway station that connect to openings in the roof, which will provide fresh air.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/feuerschutzvorschriften/dieses-loch-soll-das-brandschutzproblem-loesen-45685308.bild.html|title=Dieses Loch soll das Brandschutzproblem lösen|date=5 May 2016 |trans-title=This hole is supposed to solve the fire problem}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/entrauchung-am-flughafen-ber-bekommt-zwei-terrarien-fuer-frische-luft/13557428.html|title=BER bekommt zwei Terrarien für frische Luft|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=6 May 2016|trans-title=2 terrariums for fresh air provided|last1=Jacobs|first1=Stefan}}</ref> [[Mold (fungus)|Mold]] seems to be persistent, the railway station is already ventilated from time to time by mobile fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maxfundaily.com/2016/05/ber-und-deutsche-bahn-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich/|title=BER und Deutsche Bahn einigen sich auf Vergleich|trans-title=airport and GermanRailways agree on agreement concerning the railway station – no court involved|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509104247/http://maxfundaily.com/2016/05/ber-und-deutsche-bahn-einigen-sich-auf-vergleich/|archive-date=9 May 2016}}</ref>

By May 2016, it had become clear that an expedited approval of the underground station would not happen.<ref name="geplatzt">{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-flughafen-ber-notplan-fuer-ber-eroeffnung-2017-geplatzt/13644608.html |title=Notplan für BER-Eröffnung 2017 geplatzt |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |date=26 May 2016 |trans-title=BER opening plan for 2017 cancelled|last1=Metzner |first1=Thorsten }}</ref> Because of this, the timetable for opening had to be pushed back to at least 2018.<ref name="rbb-online.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/05/ber-flughafen-brandschutz-verzoegerungen-loge.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170101114555/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/05/ber-flughafen-brandschutz-verzoegerungen-loge.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 January 2017|title=Und wieder gehen Terminpläne am BER in Rauch auf|trans-title=Timetable up in smoke once more|work=rbb}}</ref> Specifically, the airport was unable to conform to the fifth appendix for the construction permission, therefore it was declined. The airport found it disappointing that there was no quick approval of the underground redesign efforts as of 10 June. Instead, the authority stated that a filing for the fifth appendix was incomplete and insufficient. The vice district administrator for Dahme-Spreewald, Chris Halecker, decried political pressure from the airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/baugenehmigung-fuer-ber-behoerde-fehlende-unterlagen-kann-man-nicht-bearbeiten/13714234.html|title=Behörde sagt Fehlende Unterlagen kann man nicht bearbeiten|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=10 June 2016|trans-title=Authority says missing forms cannot be handled|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

On 23 August 2016, a former FBB department head admitted in court to taking €150,000 in bribes from Imtech, on a parking lot next to a highway in 2012.<ref name="ntv150000">{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Ex-BER-Bereichsleiter-nahm-Schmiergeld-an-article18481841.html |date=23 August 2016 |work=[[n-tv]] |title=Geständnis zu Prozessbeginn: Ex-BER-Bereichsleiter nahm Schmiergeld an}}</ref> At the end of August 2016 it was announced that the airport had missed an internal deadline, and that the permissions for the next phase of construction could not be issued. This was because the fire protection system for the connection between the airport and railway station lacked sufficient documentation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-in-berlin-ber-verpasst-naechste-teil-genehmigung-fuer-2017/14451118.html |title=BER verpasst nächste Teil-Genehmigung für 2017 |trans-title=BER misses next part-permission|work=Tagesspiegel |date=25 August 2016|last1=Metzner |first1=Thorsten }}</ref> These conditions were met on 6 October 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-in-berlin-tu-professor-tegel-kann-nach-start-des-ber-offen-bleiben/14647232.html |date=6 October 2016 |title=TU-Professor: Tegel kann nach Start des BER offen bleiben |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |trans-title=Technical univ prof – Tegel may stay open after BER start|last1=Metzner |first1=Thorsten }}</ref> The conditions for the final construction approval would only be met on 27 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg/article209219593/Landrat-Letzte-Genehmigung-fuer-den-BER-Ende-Januar.html |date=9 January 2017 |work=Berliner Morgenpost |title=Landrat: Letzte Genehmigung für den BER Ende Januar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2017 |title=Nach Verschiebung des Eröffnungstermins: Letzte Baugenehmigung für den BER erteilt |trans-title=After postponement of opening date: Final construction approval issued for BER |first=Thorsten |last=Metzner |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/nach-verschiebung-des-eroeffnungstermins-die-draengendsten-probleme-am-ber/19288536.html |work=Der Tagesspiegel}}</ref>

The project management missed a 7 October 2016 deadline to announce a definite opening date for the airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/vor-aufsichtsratssitzung-wieder-platzt-ein-termin-am-ber-24814212 |date=27 September 2016 |title=Vor Aufsichtsratssitzung: Wieder platzt ein Termin am BER |trans-title=Ahead of board meeting: another deadline goes bust |work=Berliner Zeitung}}</ref> In October 2016, traffic commission chairman Burkert declared that an opening in 2017 was impossible.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/10/verkehrsausschuss-chef-martin-burkert-ber-2018.html|title=Verkehrsausschuss-Chef: BER-Eröffnung nicht vor 2018}}</ref> An 11 October 2016 committee session found that motors used to open and close windows would not operate above {{convert|30|°C}}, necessitating their replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/flughafen-ber-chef-daempft-hoffnung-auf-rasche-eroeffnung-24876880|title=BER-Chef dämpft Hoffnung auf rasche Eröffnung |website=berliner-zeitung.de |date=10 October 2016 |trans-title=BER head dampens hopes for quick opening}}</ref> Three thousand smoke detectors went missing, but were later found.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-ber-defekte-motoren-und-veraltete-monitore/14692714.html|title=BER: Defekte Motoren und veraltete Monitore|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=16 October 2016|trans-title=Defunct motors and antique monitors|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/ber-maengel-101.html|title=Bau des Hauptstadtflughafens – Die Lach- und Sachgeschichten des BER|trans-title=The top 5 in weird construction failures}}</ref> Technical issues involving the electric doors became public on 18 January 2017. It was discovered that 80% of the doors would not open, which created concerns around venting of smoke in a fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/neue-probleme-darum-wird-der-ber-auch-2017-nicht-eroeffnet|title=Der BER bleibt länger zu, weil die Türen nicht aufgehen|trans-title=BER stays closed because the doors will not open |work=BZ|date=17 January 2017 }}</ref> The sprinkler system had sustained failures in the south pier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/geld/aktuelles/wirtschaft/roundup-neue-probleme-ruecken-berfertigstellung-49824954.bild.html|title=ROUNDUP: Neue Probleme rücken BER-Fertigstellung in die Ferne |date=17 January 2017 |trans-title=New problems push opening further into the future}}</ref> The sprinkler heads were replaced for increased water flow, but the pipes were too thin to carry it; as a result the ceiling needed to be opened for the pipes to be replaced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/hauptstadtflughafen-wird-zur-farce-ber-kaempft-jetzt-mit-zu-duennen-wasserrohren-und-defekten-tueren_id_6631123.html|title=BER kämpft jetzt mit zu dünnen Wasserrohren und defekten Türen|trans-title=BER battles thin water pipes and defective doors}}</ref> The new low-cost terminal T2 will possibly be delayed until after 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg/millionenschaden-durch-neue-ber-panne-befuerchtet-50997978.bild.html|title=Wieder Chaos-Kette – Millionenschaden durch neue BER-Panne befürchtet|website=bild.de|date=24 March 2017 }}</ref> It was revealed in a newspaper report that the airport could not open before 2018, and that this had been known by the airport for three years despite public statements otherwise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/ber-bosse-wussten-frueh-dass-nix-fliegt-51083806.bild.html|title=BER-Bosse wissen seit 2014, dass bis 2018 nichts fliegt|trans-title=BER-Bosses knew since 2014 that nothing would fly until 2018 |work=bild |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

The main construction permit (that is, the permission of the authority of Berlin issues to construction firms) was destined to expire. This would mean all construction work would have to terminate on 23 November 2016. A new law, referred to as a "Lex BER", extended the construction permission for ongoing projects.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/neues-gesetz-soll-flughafen-retten-hauptstadt-flughafen-ministerium-plant-lex-ber_id_4703442.html |date= 24 May 2015 |work= Focus |title= HauptstadtFlughafen-Ministerium plant Lex BER}}</ref>

By the end of 2016, unfinished construction and corrective work indicated clearly that an opening prior to late 2017 was unlikely.<ref name="szOct2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/entlassung-von-ber-technikchef-amann-verloren-in-der-entrauchungsmatrix-1.1802404|title=Verloren in der Entrauchungsmatrix|last=von Bullion|first=Constanze|date=23 October 2013|newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]|language=de|trans-title=Lost in the smoke extractor matrix}}</ref><ref name=buildforever>{{cite web |url=http://web.de/magazine/wirtschaft/unendliche-geschichte-ber-18812816 |title=BER: Berliner, wollt ihr ewig bauen? |trans-title=Berliners, do you want to build forever? |work=web.de |access-date=15 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815181416/http://web.de/magazine/wirtschaft/unendliche-geschichte-ber-18812816 |archive-date=15 August 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.de/bild-am-sonntag-grossflughafen-ber-kann-erst-2018-eroeffnen-4661704|title=Schon wieder verschoben: Großflughafen BER öffnet wohl frühestens 2018|work=business insider|date=21 December 2015|access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/dienstleister/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-was-die-eroeffnung-jetzt-noch-gefaehrden-kann/12773234.html |title=Was die Eröffnung jetzt noch gefährden kann |trans-title=What might still endanger the next opening date – Willy Brandt airport is supposed to open in 2 years |work=Wirtschaftswoche|date=29 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> In December 2016, Mühlenfeld hinted at a possible 2018 opening;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/pannenairport-ber-auch-flughafen-chef-muehlenfeld-deutet-nun-ber-eroeffnung-erst-fuer-2018-an/19186650.html|title=Auch Flughafen-Chef Mühlenfeld deutet nun BER-Eröffnung erst für 2018 an|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=28 December 2016|trans-title=Airport head Mühlenfeld hints at opening in 2018 |access-date=31 December 2016|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Chance-auf-BER-Start-2017-sehr-gering-article19432216.html|title=Chance auf BER-Start 2017 "sehr gering" |trans-title=Chances of BER opening in 2017 are "very low" |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.fluege.de/flughafen-infos/ber-eroeffnung-erneut-verschoben/82519.html|title=BER- Eröffnung erneut verschoben?|trans-title=opening delayed anew? 5th shift of opening likely – 16 January 2017 likely to see inking of new 1.1 bio loan|access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-eroeffnung-auf-2018-verschoben_id_6412418.html |title= BER-Eröffnung auf 2018 verschoben |work= [[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |access-date= 31 December 2016}}</ref> [[Ryanair]] marketing head Kenny Jacobs suggested March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/09/ryanair-spekulationen-ber-eroeffnung.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907153358/http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2016/09/ryanair-spekulationen-ber-eroeffnung.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2016|title=Ryanairs Marketingchef kurbelt BER-Spekulationen an|trans-title=Ryanair marketing head fuels BER speculation}}</ref>

==== 2017 ====
In January 2017, it became clear that the airport would not open in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.focus.de/immobilien/diverses/so-kommentiert-deutschland-ber-start-verschoben-anders-als-mit-pfusch-ist-das-nicht-mehr-zu-erklaeren_id_6532907.html |title= Anders als mit Pfusch ist das nicht zu erklaeren|trans-title=It cannot be explained as anything other than a botch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/abgeordnetenhaus-beraet-ueber-ber-chaos_ag_dp-49957430.bild.html |title= Abgeordnetenhaus berät über BER-Chaos |date= 25 January 2017 |trans-title= Berlin's house of representatives reviews BER-chaos}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbb-online.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2017/01/tueren-probleme-ber-flughafen-verzoegerung.html|title=Ber kann 2017 engueltig nicht oeffnen|trans-title=need to rewire electronic doors}}</ref> with some estimates suggesting that the airport would open in 2018 or 2019, at the latest.<ref>{{unbulleted list
 | {{cite news|url=http://taz.de/!144331/|title=Mehdorn plant den Abflug Spätestens 2019 soll der BER eröffnen|date=17 August 2014|trans-title=Mehdorn seeks movers for shift to BER 2019 at latest|access-date=19 August 2014|work=[[Die Tageszeitung]]|last1=Heiser|first1=Sebastian}}
 | {{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.de/2014/08/18/pannen-flughafen-ber-eroeffnung_n_5686722.html|title=Pannen-Flughafen BER: Steht die Eröffnung erst 2018 an?|date=18 August 2014|work=The Huffington Post|trans-title=The Defective Berlin Airport: Will it open before 2018?}}
 | {{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.de/2014/08/19/streit-berliner-flughafen-tuev_n_5690090.html|title=Streit beim Flughafenbau: Berliner Flughafen BER trennt sich vom TÜV|date=19 August 2014|work=Huffington Post|trans-title=Dispute over Airfield Construction: TÜV gets fired}}
| {{cite news|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/verwirrung-um-mehdorn-aussage-37211762.bild.html|title=Geht Berlins Pannen-Airport erst 2018 an den Start?|last=Wedekind|first=Olaf|date=12 August 2014|work=[[Bild]]|trans-title=Will Berlin's Defective Airport Open before 2018?}}
 | {{cite news|url=http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/wahrscheinlich-erst-in-vier-jahren-pannen-flughafen-ber-eroeffnung-rueckt-in-immer-weitere-ferne_id_4294868.html|title=Pannen-Flughafen BER: Eröffnung rückt in immer weitere Ferne|date=22 November 2014|work=[[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]]|language=de|trans-title=Defective BER Airport: opening moves further and further away}}
 | {{cite web|url=http://istderberschonfertig.de/|title=Ist der BER schon fertig?|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801132512/http://istderberschonfertig.de/|url-status=dead}}
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/ber-aufgaben-bis-zur-eroeffnung-45169388.bild.html|title=Terminplan des Pannenairport – Das muss alles passieren, damit der BER eröffnet wird|date=3 April 2016 |trans-title=Dateline of the error-ridden airport – this needs to happen so it opens}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/prognose-zum-neuen-berliner-flughafen-der-ber-kann-erst-2019-starten/13392906.html|title=Prognose_zum_neuen_Berliner_Flughafen – Der BER kann erst 2019 starten|trans-title=estimate for the airport: it can only open 2019 says Dieter Faulenbach da Costa|work=Tagesspiegel|date=2 April 2016|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref> On 6 March 2017, Lütke-Daldrup was appointed to replace Mühlenfeld as the head of the construction project<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/flughafen-ber-luetke-daldrup-soll-es-nun-richten_id_6748087.html|title=Lütke Daldrup soll es nun richten|trans-title=Luetke-Daldrup is now supposed to get a grip|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/news/aktuelles/news/neuer-berflughafenchef-daldrup-nicht-so-viel-50726340.bild.html|title=Neuer BER-Flughafenchef Daldrup: "Nicht so viel quatschen"|work=bild|date=6 March 2017|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/management/engelbert-luetke-daldrup-neuer-ber-chef-soll-400-000-euro-gehalt-bekommen/19539050.html|title=Neuer BER-Chef soll 400.000 Euro Gehalt bekommen|trans-title=new BER head supposed to earn 400.000euros per year|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref> and Rainer Bretschneider was appointed head of the [[supervisory board]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-Chef-will-sich-nicht-auf-2018-festlegen-article19752570.html|title=Bretschneider neuer Chefaufseher ('Bretschneider to be new head controller')|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> The target opening was pushed to 2018 or 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-international/chef-verschiebt-zeitplan-50747550.bild.html|title=Kaum ist der neue BER-Chef im Amt, verschiebt er schon! |date=7 March 2017 |trans-title=The new BER CEO is hardly in office and is already postponing!}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeit.de/news/2017-07/16/luftverkehr-eroeffnung-des-ber-moeglicherweise-erst-anfang-2019-16132003|title=Eröffnung des BER möglicherweise erst Anfang 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726014037/http://www.zeit.de/news/2017-07/16/luftverkehr-eroeffnung-des-ber-moeglicherweise-erst-anfang-2019-16132003|archive-date=26 July 2017|access-date=16 July 2017}}</ref> with 2020 as a possible option.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/my/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/ber-eroeffnung-erst-2020-mayday-aus-dem-tower/19482178.html|title=BER-Eröffnung erst 2020?|trans-title=Ber opening only 2020}}</ref> In Aug 2017 the Berliner Zeitung reported that the airport's remaining funds would run out in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/verkehr/ber-2018-geht-das-geld-aus-26160186|title=BER 2018 geht das Geld aus |date=8 March 2017 |trans-title=BER runs out of money in 2018}}</ref>

As of May 2017, estimates suggested the airport could open in late 2018 or early 2019, but an opening in 2020 was not ruled out.<ref name="Tagesspiegel2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-diskussionen-um-neuen-pr-berater-am-ber/19834556.html|title=Diskussionen um neuen PR-Berater am BER|date=22 May 2017|work=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|trans-title=Discussions about new PR consultants at BER}}</ref> The opening date of 2019 had already been described as ambitious<ref name="Morgenpost2017">{{cite web|date=23 November 2017|title=Flughafen BER eröffnet womöglich erst 2021|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article212631863/Flughafen-BER-eroeffnet-womoeglich-erst-2021.html|access-date=24 November 2017|work=Berliner Morgenpost}}</ref> and even the new opening date of 2020 was called into question. On 23 November 2017, exactly 2,000 days after the originally planned opening date in 2012, a ''[[Technischer Überwachungsverein|TÜV]]'' report listed additional deficits. It is possible that the new deficits will cause an additional delay of up to two years, with an opening in 2021.<ref name="FAZ2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/ber-eroeffnung-koennte-sich-um-weitere-zwei-jahre-verschieben-15306219.html|title=Berliner Flughafen erst 2021 fertig?|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|access-date=24 November 2017}}</ref> At the end of 2017, autumn 2020 was announced as the new official opening date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Interview-mit-BER-Experte-Thorsten-Metzner-Wie-stehen-die-Chancen-fuer-eine-Eroeffnung-im-Herbst-2020-article20184793.html|title=Garantien für den BER kann keiner geben |trans-title=Guarantees for BER cannot be given |first=Diana |last=Dittmer |date=14 December 2017 |website=n-tv.de}}</ref>

The recent bankruptcy of [[Air Berlin]] was another problem for the airport. With Air Berlin absent it became even clearer that the airport would not become a major [[Airline hub|hub]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article167785871/Was-bedeutet-das-Ende-von-Air-Berlin-fuer-den-BER.html|title=Was bedeutet das Ende von Air Berlin für den BER?|newspaper=Die Welt|date=18 August 2017|trans-title=What does the end of Air Berlin mean for the BER?|last1=Gassmann|first1=Michael}}</ref> The number of connections a person can catch would be immediately reduced and Tegel was too far away to be any help in this regard. Interested citizens forced a non-binding public quorum that was held parallel to the federal election, asking whether Tegel should remain open if BER was already in operation. The majority of Berlin's citizens agreed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/wie-kann-tegel-offen-bleiben-berlins-cdu-hat-es-beim-flughafen-txljetzt-eilig/20484582.html|title=CDU hat es beim Flughafen TXL jetzt eilig—Die Union diskutiert mit Experten, wie Tegel offen bleiben kann. Zentrale Forderungen: ein Gutachten zur BER-Kapazität und Lärmschutzzonen.|work=tagesspiegel |date=20 October 2017|trans-title=Conservatives are now in a hurry—conservatives discussing with experts how Tegel may remain open. Central demand: an analysis of BER capacity and airplane noise|access-date= 22 October 2017|last1=Ringelstein|first1=Ronja}}</ref>

In November 2017, an audit of the entire airport by Germany's technical supervision service [[TÜV]] uncovered more significant lapses in the fire and emergency systems, further pushing back estimates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerotelegraph.com/noch-mehr-maengel-am-flughafen-ber|title=Noch mehr Mängel am Flughafen BER|date=22 November 2017|trans-title=Even more lapses at BER airport |access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref>

==== 2018 ====
In January 2018, it was disclosed that the airport head is [[double dipping|simultaneously earning a monthly wage and a retirement pension]] as a former state secretary of the state of Berlin, a situation described as a "scandal" and potentially illegal.<ref>{{cite web|date=31 January 2018|trans-title=Is the BER-Boss illegally double-dipping?|work=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-flughafenmanager-bezieht-der-ber-chef-rechtswidrig-doppelte-bezuege/20909174.html|title=Bezieht der BER-Chef rechtswidrig doppelte Bezüge?|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> The airport was scheduled to open in 2020 with a total cost exceeding €7&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mz-web.de/wirtschaft/hauptstadt-flughafen-ber-kosten-explodieren-weiter---eroeffnung-erneut-verschoben-29771326|title= Kosten explodieren weiter – Eröffnung erneut verschoben – |trans-title=costs continue to explode – opening delayed anew|work=MZ|date= 23 February 2018 |access-date=24 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-ber-kosten-steigen-auf-7-3-milliarden-euro-a-1195101.html|title=Kosten für BER übersteigen sieben Milliarden Euro|work=spiegel|date=23 February 2018|access-date=24 February 2018}}</ref> The airport chief executive gave his assurance that the date would be met.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/news/video/KZlcNdJqJxA/djR_WvGHRuhmAaMeC2yIQTF6vIkOM?hl=de&gl=DE&ned=de|title=Interview with Luetke-Daldrup|work=youtube|date=7 June 2023 }}</ref>

In March, it was reported that 750 display screens have already reached the end of their service life and will need to be replaced, as they were switched on for 6 years despite the airport not being open.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/berlin-750-monitore-am-ber-schon-veraltet-a-1198359.html|title=Hunderte Monitore am BER schon veraltet|trans-title=Hundreds of monitors already obsolete|work=spiegel|date=15 March 2018|access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rp-online.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/noch-vor-erstem-flugzeugstart-im-ber-sind-bereits-750-monitore-ausgebrannt-aid-1.7457915|title=Im BER sind bereits 750 Monitore ausgebrannt|work=rp|date=16 March 2018|access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref>

Planned extensions of the airport were also seen as a threat to opening in 2020, according to the airport's engineering advisor Faulenbach da Costa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/ber-ausbau-eroeffnung/44078|title=Faulenbach: BER-Ausbau gefährdet Eröffnung |access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> More people than previously expected would be moving through the main terminal, causing an increase in fire emergency load, with even more passengers arriving through the railway station in the basement. Thus smoke systems would need to be adjusted once again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.verkehrsrundschau.de/nachrichten/flughafen-berater-zweifelt-an-start-des-hauptstadtflughafens-2020-2142473.html|title=FLUGHAFEN-BERATER ZWEIFELT AN START DES HAUPTSTADTFLUGHAFENS 2020|work=verkehrs rundschau|access-date=16 March 2018|archive-date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316205536/https://www.verkehrsrundschau.de/nachrichten/flughafen-berater-zweifelt-an-start-des-hauptstadtflughafens-2020-2142473.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Lufthansa]] board member {{ill|Thorsten Dirks|de}} said "the airport will be torn down and rebuilt."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article174662258/Pannen-Flughafen-BER-Das-Ding-wird-abgerissen-und-neu-gebaut.html|title=Das Ding wird abgerissen und neu gebaut|work=welt|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/mediathek/videos/wirtschaft/BER-laesst-Frustpegel-bei-der-Lufthansa-steigen-article20341753.html|title=BER-laesst-Frustpegel-bei-der-Lufthansa-steigen-|trans-title=video board member talks deconstruction – BER lets frustration quota fly at Lufthansa|work=ntv|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref>

Personnel changes continued to affect the project, with the head of the technical department Jörg Marks leaving the company on 19 April 2018, and [[Brandenburg]]'s state secretary for airport affairs Rainer Bretschneider going into retirement in June.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/der-naechste-abflug-technikchef-marks-verlaesst-den-ber/21194638.html|title=Technikchef Marks verlässt den BER|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=19 April 2018|trans-title= Technical chief Marks leaves BER|access-date=20 April 2018|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/medienbericht-der-technik-chef-des-ber-hoert-auf-und-bekommt-eine-sechsstellige-abfindung_id_8847884.html|title=Der Technik-Chef des BER hört auf – und bekommt eine sechsstellige Abfindung|trans-title=6-digit compensation for former technical head|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-platz-und-zeitnot-am-ber-wird-es-eng-und-enger/22587052.html|title=Platz- und Zeitnot: Am BER wird es eng und enger-Neue TÜV-Gutachten, strittige Passagierprognosen, dazu eine Personalie und die Frage nach dem Weiterbetrieb Tegels.|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=22 May 2018|trans-title=It's turning tighter and tighter around (the) BER – new TUV analysis, diverging passenger number predictions- further lack of time and as well whether Tegel will carry on|access-date=22 May 2018|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

The airport failed a [[Technischer Überwachungsverein|mandatory TÜV acceptance test]] in May 2018, with 863 issues found in the electric wiring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/hauptstadtflughafen-keine-betriebssicherheit-ber-faellt-durch-tuev/22585304.html|title=Keine Betriebssicherheit – BER fällt durch TÜV|trans-title=no sustained operation – BER fails TUV test|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> Wiring remained a major issue in 2018. The all-around test was planned to commence sometime in September 2018 but it was postponed to June 2019 because the wiring was still flawed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/verkehr/kabelsalat-am-ber-die-maengel-liste-wird-immer-laenger-31175444|title=Die Mängel-Liste wird immer länger |date=31 August 2018 |trans-title=List of lapses becomes longer |access-date=3 September 2018}}</ref> Also in May 2018, [[Siemens]], the software supplier for the smoke suction system, testified before Berlin's senate's airport commission stating that the airport had not yet delivered essential paperwork required for them to complete the suction software.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/neue-technikprobleme-cdu-zitiert-ber-chef-in-den-ausschuss/22590994.html|title=CDU zitiert BER-Chef in den Ausschuss 2018-05-22|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=23 May 2018|trans-title=CDU invites BER head for commission appearance|access-date=23 May 2018|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref> In the same month the airport faced new legal issues as concerned citizens claimed that the aeroplane noise caused by the new airport would violate their rights to be heard. A few months later [[Bundesverfassungsgericht|Germany's supreme court]] ruled that nighttime flights over BER are lawful.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/urteil-in-karlsruhe-verfassungsbeschwerden-gegen-nachtflugregelung-am-ber-gescheitert/22864768.html|title=Verfassungsbeschwerden gegen Nachtflugregelung am BER gescheitert|work=tagesspiegel|date=31 July 2018|trans-title=objection against nighttime flights failed|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>

In June Berlin's assembly formed a new committee of inquiry to uncover responsibility for ongoing construction lapses and to investigate possible sources of further delay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article214713721/Wieso-noch-ein-U-Ausschuss-zum-BER.html|title=Wieso noch ein U-Ausschuss zum BER?|date=29 June 2018|trans-title=why's there yet another control commission?|access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref> The still-unopened airport announced plans to expand with a second terminal in July, with construction to be done by Zechbau Bremen for a total cost of €200&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reisereporter.de/artikel/4897-pannen-flughafen-ber-in-berlin-bekommt-zweites-terminal-noch-vor-der-eroeffnung-2020|title=Zweites BER-Terminal: Ausbau doppelt so teuer wie erwartet?|trans-title=secondary terminal: extensian as double as expensive as expected?|work=Reisereporter|date=25 July 2018|access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/bremen-stadt_artikel,-zech-baut-zweites-berterminal-_arid,1769203.html|title=Zech baut zweites BER-Terminal|date=18 September 2018|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref>

==== 2019 ====
[[File:Berlin brandenburg airport terminal 2.jpg|thumb|Exterior of Terminal 2, which had been added in the last phases of construction to provide further capacity]]
It was reported at the start of January 2019 that the construction oversight authority was unwilling to permit the Terminal's wiring as is, because it was too tangled.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Berlin's [[Der Tagesspiegel|Tagesspiegel]] reported that Bosch (fire detection) and Caverion (sprinklers) were unwilling to participate in a hearing of Berlin's parliament on 14 March 2019. It was then assumed that the airport would not open until 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-eroeffnung-im-oktober-2020-kannste-vergessen/24061576.html|title=BER-Eröffnung im Oktober 2020? Kannste vergessen!|trans-title=BER opening in 2020? Forget about it!|work=Tagesspiegel|date=3 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> The fire protection malfunction seems to be too significant to keep 2020 as an opening date.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/probleme-mit-brandmeldeanlagen-muss-die-ber-eroeffnung-erneut-verschoben-werden/24081134.html|title=Muss die BER-Eröffnung erneut verschoben werden?|website=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=8 March 2019|language=de|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

On 28 March 2019, it was reported that a software update for the fire alarm system planned to be ready by 29 March would be delayed until late May. TÜV Rheinland warned that there were still considerable problems with the system, and stated that if there were any further delays the October 2020 opening date would be missed.<ref name="2500Tage">{{Citation|title=2500 Tage nach der BER-Nichteröffnung|language=de|date=7 April 2019|publisher=Der Tagesspiegel|author=Thorsten Metzner|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/was-nun-2500-tage-nach-der-ber-nichteroeffnung/24190534.html}}</ref> On 16 April 2019, the smoke suction system nicknamed "the Monster" finally received approval from TÜV,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article192033569/Flughafen-BER-Das-Monster-Entrauchungsanlage-ist-vom-TUEV-abgenommen.html|title=Das Monster vom BER ist gezähmt|newspaper=Die Welt|trans-title=the Monster is tamed|date=17 April 2019|last1=Fabricius|first1=Michael}}</ref> afterwards by an expert representing the State.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-meldet-Durchbruch-beim-Rauchabzug-article21060161.html|title=BER meldet Durchbruch beim Rauchabzug|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

In May 2019, it was reported that sand-lime brick used in the foundations of the airport were not sufficiently rated for load, necessitating a costly replacement of much of the underground cabling and reinforced concrete beams. According to a subsequent investigation the problem had been known since 2012. The problematic plastic anchors that were earlier found to be unsuitable for fire were also found not suitable for sand-lime brick. As stated by [[Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik]], it is not possible to approve already-installed anchors after the fact.<ref name="Tagesschau9519">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/kontraste/flughafen-berlin-baumaengel-101.html|title=Das Problem mit den Dübeln|language=de|work=Tagesschau|author1=Tina Friedrich|author2=Boris Hermel|author3=Chris Humbs|author4=Susanne Katharina Opalka|publisher=Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg|date=9 May 2019}}</ref> Later in May the head of the airport Lütke-Daldrup stated that "it cannot be guaranteed entirely anymore" that the airport will open in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Naechster-BER-Eroeffnungstermin-wackelt-article21017198.html|title=Naechster BER Eroeffnungstermin wackelt|trans-title=Yet another opening date is shaky|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> Unapproved screw anchors made of plastic not rated for fire seem to have been the reason for the new delay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article216946103/Flughafen-BER-Scheitert-die-Eroeffnung-an-Plastikduebeln.html|title=Der BER hat Probleme mit Plastikdübeln|date=16 April 2019|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2019-05/flughafen-ber-eroeffnung-termin-2020-flughafenchef-plan-b-anton-hofreiter|title=Neue Zweifel an Eröffnungstermin des Berliner Flughafens|trans-title=in case BER demands a single check on each plastic anchor to verify whether the plastic anchors are able to withstand the load. Only if not they are to be exchanged by metal anchors. Then again, there are several thousands of'em|work=ZEIT|date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/flughafen-ber-chef-kann-eroeffnung-im-oktober-2020-nicht-mehr-garantieren-a-1266734.html|title=Neuer Hauptstadtflughafen BER-Chef kann Eröffnung im Oktober 2020 nicht mehr garantieren|work=Spiegel|date=10 May 2019}}</ref>

Problems with the cable duct were also known since 2012: {{convert|700|km}} of cable needed to be replaced because water was flowing within the cable ducts next to the southern runway. The ducts were not leakproof and had eroded in the decade since they were first installed. The repairs were scheduled to start later in 2019. According to airport head Lütke-Daldrup, the planned opening date of October 2020 was not affected by the cable duct problem, as the repairs could continue while the airport was in operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/Kabelschaechte-an-der-BER-Suedbahn-unter-Wasser-Siemens-soll-700-Kilometer-Kabel-neu-verlegen|author=Thorsten Gellner|work=Märkische Allgemeine|title=BER: 700 Kilometer Kabel müssen neu verlegt werden|date=26 May 2019|language=de}}</ref> German minister of traffic Mr Scheuer however reiterated his concerns that the sand lime brick and cable duct issues could delay the opening beyond 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/berlins-regierungschef-soll-zum-flughafen-ber-aussagen-zr-12359224.html|title=Schwerer Vorwurf: Verkehrsminister gar nicht an BER-Fertigstellung interessiert?|date=7 June 2019 |trans-title=strong accusation – minister not interested in airport opening?|language=de|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Conservative party member Graeff stated that if the airport continued to see these kinds of delays, then officials should go ahead and start planning construction of a new airport in a different location.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article226324761/Flughafen-BER-CDU-Politiker-empfiehlt-Plan-B.html|title=CDU-Politiker empfiehlt Plan B für BER|date=30 June 2019|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/BER-Senftleben-bringt-Baustopp-und-Abriss-ins-Gespraech|title=BER: Senftleben bringt Baustopp und Abriss ins Gespräch |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

The head of the expansion facility management cancelled his contract at the end of June 2019 for unspecified personal reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article226323929/BER-Gesellschaft-Manager-Kuendigung-hat-keine-Auswirkungen.html|title=BER-Gesellschaft: Manager-Kündigung hat keine Auswirkungen|trans-title=Manager goodbye has no delay effect says BER|work=hamburger Morgenpost|language=de|access-date=29 June 2019|archive-date=29 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629083846/https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article226323929/BER-Gesellschaft-Manager-Kuendigung-hat-keine-Auswirkungen.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The construction progress at the T2 site remained slow,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/06/brandenburg-berlin-ber-terminal-2-verzoegerungen.html|title=Bauarbeiten an BER-Terminal offenbar weit hinter Zeitplan|trans-title=work at BER terminal is far behind schedule|work=rbb|language=de|access-date=2 July 2019|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702052426/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/06/brandenburg-berlin-ber-terminal-2-verzoegerungen.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/07/ber-rohbau-zusatzterminal-fertig-schoenefeld.html|title=ber-rohbau-zusatzterminal-fertig-schoenefeld.html|language=de|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722230933/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/07/ber-rohbau-zusatzterminal-fertig-schoenefeld.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> but the topping out of T2 finally took place on 30 July.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-new-ber-airport-finally-tops-out-terminal-2/a-49819467|title=Berlin's new BER airport finally tops out Terminal 2|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref> Final equipment tests took place at the airport over the summer of 2019;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/pruefungen-am-hauptstadtflughafen-wird-jetzt-alles-gut-am-ber/24701618.html|title=Prüfungen am Hauptstadtflughafen |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |trans-title=Tests at capital airport |language=de}}</ref> with the first tests appearing to have been successful.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/07/flughafen-ber-technik-test-sieben-jahren-nach-geplanter-eroeffnung.html|title=Erste BER-Generalprobe ist geglückt|language=de|access-date=4 August 2019|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730154235/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/07/flughafen-ber-technik-test-sieben-jahren-nach-geplanter-eroeffnung.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 31 July 2019, construction work at terminal T2 was finished in a record time of only 10 months. Initially planned to cost €200&nbsp;million, the exploding cost of Berlin Brandenburg Airport as a whole made it necessary to reduce standards and cut the cost of T2 by 50%, to no more than €100&nbsp;million. The attempts to reduce costs were unsuccessful, as criticised in a report to the supervisory board. Nonetheless, Lütke-Daldrup took the timely completion of terminal T2 as a sign that the problems at BER were coming to an end. Lütke-Daldrup said that he was hopeful that the airport could open as soon as August 2020, two months earlier than currently scheduled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/hauptstadtflughafen-ber-zweites-terminal-in-rekordzeit-fertig/24854184.html|title=Zweites Terminal in Rekordzeit fertig|first=Thorsten|last=Metzner|date=30 July 2019|language=de|publisher=Der Tagesspiegel}}</ref> In late July 2019, Lütke-Daldrup stated that, of the more than 11,000 shortcomings reported in March 2019, over 70% had been resolved, including several hundred problems of high priority that would preclude the start of the final TÜV rehearsal.<ref name="Tagesspiegel_190731">{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/geplanter-hauptstadtflughafen-start-der-generalprobe-am-ber-geplatzt/24857014.html|title=Start der Generalprobe am BER geplatzt|date=31 July 2019|publisher=Der Tagesspiegel|language=de}}</ref> On 1 August 2019 a several-month TÜV rehearsal of BER's technical facilities began, marking the first time that all airport systems have been tested simultaneously.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/flughafen-BER/article226616937/Generalprobe-fuer-den-Flughafen-BER-startet.html|title=Generalprobe für den Flughafen BER startet|date=29 July 2019|language=de}}</ref>

Renewed checks at T2 yielded serious construction lapses, though. The concrete foundation needed to be partly rebuilt to accommodate technical systems,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/maengel-bei-der-planung-ber-terminal-2-muss-teilweise-zurueckgebaut-werden-16373714.html|title=Terminal 2 des BER muss offenbar teilweise zurückgebaut werden|trans-title=Terminal 2 of BER needs to be re-constructed|work=FAZ|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1125555.baumurks-am-zusaetzlichen-ber-terminal.html|title=Baumurks am zusätzlichen BER-Terminal 2|trans-title=Construction botch at BER|work= Neues Deutschland|access-date=11 September 2019}} Deficiencies in the electrical system and wiring continued to be found in the main terminal,</ref> with issues in the wiring arrangement and the ability to withstand sustained usage and heat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/ber-start-im-oktober-2020-in-gefahr-gravierende-maengel-an-kabeln-der-sicherheitssysteme/25064316.html|title=Gravierende Mängel an Kabeln der Sicherheitssysteme|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=27 September 2019|trans-title=Serious flaws among security wiring|access-date=27 September 2019|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref>

It was also announced that a third terminal is planned to be erected by 2029<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/ber-chef-terminal-2029-betrieb/52153|title=BER-Chef: Terminal 3 soll 2029 in Betrieb gehen |trans-title= Ber-head: terminal 3 supposed to be online 2029|work=airliners|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> and that €174 m for payments to advisors was not listed in the balance sheets for 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-hunderte-millionen-fuer-bauberatung-beim-ber-a-1288998.html|title=Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg: Hunderte Millionen für Bauberatung beim BER – DER SPIEGEL – Wirtschaft|first=Andreas Wassermann, DER|last=SPIEGEL|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=27 September 2019}}</ref> Brandenburg's radio station reported that certain tests that were delayed anew at the end of 2019 were what put the opening date of 2020 into doubt again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/11/ber-untersuchungsausschuss-hat-zweifel-am-eroeffnungstermin-berlin.html|title=Berliner Opposition zweifelt an BER-Eröffnungstermin|access-date=24 November 2019|archive-date=23 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123150003/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2019/11/ber-untersuchungsausschuss-hat-zweifel-am-eroeffnungstermin-berlin.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2020 ====
In January 2020, union strikes threatened to further delay opening. The union has been fighting for a general working payment to limit competition among ground personnel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/pannenairport-ber-tarif-streit-zwischen-verdi-und-wisag-co-gefaehrdet-planmaessige-eroeffnung-ende-oktober/|title=Pannenairport BER: Tarif-Streit zwischen Verdi und Dienstleistern am Flughafen gefährdet Eröffnung Ende Oktober|trans-title=Collective agreement infighting between Verdi and service firms threatens opening at the end of oct|work=Business Insider|date=11 February 2020|access-date=11 February 2020|last1=Özgenc |first1=Kayhan }}</ref> By mid-February, the planned opening continued to be doubted upon because 5,000 issues still required rectification and certification by an external inspection company (TÜV) in order to complete construction by the end of the first quarter of 2020. These issues were seen as "grave", meaning that any of them could have caused the inspection company to halt operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/zeitplan-laut-sprecher-kein-kindergeburtstag-probebetrieb-am-ber-gefaehrdet/25559358.html|title=laut-sprecher-kein-kindergeburtstag|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=18 February 2020|trans-title=BER speaker says BER opening is no kindergarten birthday party|access-date=19 February 2020|last1=Fröhlich|first1=Alexander}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/umland/noch-mehr-als-5000-bau-maengel-plagen-den-flughafen-ber|title=Noch mehr als 5000 Bau-Mängel plagen den Flughafen BER|date=18 February 2020 |trans-title=BER still plagued by 5,000 construction lapses|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/berlin-aktuell/flughafen-ber-in-berlin-pannen-airport-hat-noch-ueber-5000-baumaengel-68871160.bild.html|title=Der BER hat noch mehr als 5000 Baumängel|date=18 February 2020 |trans-title=BER still has 5,000 construction lapses|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref> {{As of|2020|2|19}}, 1,000 lapses were still unresolved, 3,300 were being checked by TÜV, and 700 proposed solutions had already been rejected. About 70 issues, including the problem of unapproved screw anchors, still lacked the proper documentation to start working on a solution. Those issues threatened to delay the start of test operations that were scheduled for April 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/zeitplan-laut-sprecher-kein-kindergeburtstag-probebetrieb-am-ber-gefaehrdet/25559358.html|title=Probebetrieb am BER gefährdet|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=18 February 2020|trans-title=Test operation at BER at risk|access-date=19 February 2020|last1=Fröhlich|first1=Alexander}}</ref> The screw anchor problem was resolved in March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/BER-loest-das-Duebel-Problem-article21637547.html|title=BER löst das Dübel-Problem|trans-title=BER solves screw anchor problem|date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

In early 2020, the airport successfully commenced a volunteer-driven test run of its main functions, including processing at ticket counters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://taz.de/Eroeffnung-des-Pannenfluchhafens-BER/!5656729/|title=Testtouristen gesucht|trans-title=Check-tourists wanted for test-processing|work=taz|date=27 January 2020|access-date=29 January 2020|last1=Prößer|first1=Claudius}}</ref> After TÜV approved the emergency and safety systems, the airport received final authority approval on 28 April 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Landkreis-Dahme-Spreewald-gibt-BER-frei-article21745924.html|title=Landkreis Dahme-Spreewald gibt BER frei|trans-title=District of Dahme-Spreewald approves BER|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Construction work officially ended on 15 May 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.t-online.de/region/berlin/news/id_87883064/berlin-wir-haben-fertig-heisst-es-vom-ber.html|title=Wir haben fertig|trans-title=we are finished|work=t-online|date=15 May 2020 |access-date=17 May 2020|language=de}}</ref>

Christoph Schaefer was set to become new technical head as a successor to Carsten Wilmsen.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/top-manager-trotz-sparkurs-angestellt-ber-bekommt-neuen-technikchef/25984242.html|title=BER bekommt neuen Technikchef|trans-title= BER got a new technical head |work=Tagesspiegel|date=8 July 2020|access-date=9 July 2020|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten}}</ref> However, financial difficulties caused Schaefer's position to remain vacant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/flughafen-berlin-brandenburg-posten-des-ber-technikchefs-bleibt-vakant-a-1c2a07a0-417a-44be-a47e-838681e4f307|title=Posten des BER-Technikchefs bleibt vakant|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=10 July 2020|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> It was also reported that the airport operations company [[Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH|FBB]] was in imminent financial trouble due to the construction issues and delays as well as the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Germany|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/hauptstadtflughafen-am-ber-klafft-eine-neue-finanzluecke/26000242.html?ticket=ST-3643103-NPVmBpQO4nwQp21D4Rai-ap3|title=Am BER klafft eine neue Finanzlücke|access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

The airport finally received its operating licence in May 2020, allowing an opening date to be set.<ref name="license"/><ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article206667775/Berliner-Flughafen-BER-soll-trotz-Corona-Krise-eroeffnen.html |title=Berliner Flughafen BER soll trotz Coronakrise eröffnen|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=19 March 2020|access-date=23 May 2020|trans-title=BER airport opening to stay on track despite corona crisis|last1=Fabricius|first1=Michael}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://berlinspectator.com/2019/11/29/berlin-new-ber-airport-to-open-on-october-31st-2020/|language=en|title=Berlin: New 'BER Airport' to Open on 31 October 2020|date=9 December 2019|website=berlinspectator.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/06/berlin-flughafen-tegel-schliessung-november-corona-ber-luetke-daldrup.html|work=rbb24.de|title=Flughafen Tegel bleibt bis November offen|trans-title=Tegel Airport stays open until November|date=3 June 2020|access-date=27 June 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108225241/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/06/berlin-flughafen-tegel-schliessung-november-corona-ber-luetke-daldrup.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The local and aviation authorities then gave final approval for the airport to open on 31 October 2020.<ref name="finaldate"/> Plans to bring forward the closure of Tegel to June 2020 in the wake of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] were shelved for an estimated lack of capacity at Schönefeld's old facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/schoenefeld-fehlen-kapazitaeten-fuer-den-sommer-aus-fuer-flughafen-berlin-tegel-verzoegert-sich/25881210.html|title=Aus für Flughafen Berlin-Tegel verzögert sich|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=2 June 2020|last1=Metzner|first1=Thorsten|last2=During|first2=Rainer W.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Flughafen-Tegel-bleibt-bis-Oktober-am-Netz-article21821889.html|title=Flughafen Tegel bleibt bis Oktober am Netz|first=n-tv|last=NACHRICHTEN|website=n-tv.de}}</ref>

From August 2020, the procedure to move all equipment from both current airports to their new facilities commenced.<ref>[https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/tegel-txl-umzug-ber-fragen-und-antworten.html rbb24.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021153203/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/tegel-txl-umzug-ber-fragen-und-antworten.html |date=21 October 2020 }} (German) 14 October 2020</ref>

On 15 October 2020, all test runs of the airport's passenger facilities and procedures, which included thousands of volunteers since spring, concluded successfully after being slightly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>[https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/probebetrieb-ber-beendet.html rbb24.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018082226/https://www.rbb24.de/politik/Flughafen-BER/BER-Aktuelles/akteure_aktuell/2020/10/probebetrieb-ber-beendet.html |date=18 October 2020 }} (German) 15 October 2020</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/ich-bin-gespannt-obs-diesmal-klappt-400-komparsen-spielen-heute-ber-eroeffnung/26022404.html|title=400 Komparsen spielen heute BER-Eröffnung|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|access-date=6 August 2020|date=21 July 2020|last1=Törne|first1=Lars von}}</ref>

After Schönefeld's facilities formally became Terminal 5 of BER ahead on 25 October 2020,<ref name="SXFT5"/> all airlines moved from Tegel to BER between 31 October and 8 November 2020.<ref name="BERallocations"/>  The first flight to land at the new airport was an [[easyJet]] special service from [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Tegel]] on 31 October 2020, followed shortly after by a [[Lufthansa]] special service from Munich.<ref name="hameja20">{{cite news |title=Easyjet landete zuerst: Die Baustelle BER ist endlich ein Flughafen |trans-title=Easyjet landed first: The construction site BER is finally an airport |date=31 October 2020 |first1=Felix |last1=Hackenbruch |first2=Thorsten |last2=Metzner |first3=Stefan |last3=Jacobs |work=Der Tagesspiegel |url=https://m.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/easyjet-landete-zuerst-die-baustelle-ber-ist-endlich-ein-flughafen/26578998.html |language=de |access-date=2 November 2020 }}</ref> Lufthansa applied a special "Hauptstadtflieger" (''capital city flyer'') sticker to the aircraft in celebration of the flight.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grossmann |first1=Cornelius |url=https://www.planespotters.net/photo/1121843/d-ainz-lufthansa-airbus-a320-271n |title=D-AINZ Lufthansa Airbus A320-271N |website=Planespotters.net|date=31 October 2020 }}</ref> The first departure from the new Terminal 1 was a flight to [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]] on 1 November 2020.<ref>[https://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/Easyjet-darf-als-erste-Maschine-vom-Flughafen-BER-starten maz-online.de] (German) 28 August 2020</ref>

==Controversies==
In September 2010, [[Deutsche Flugsicherung]] published aircraft arrival and departure routes for Berlin Brandenburg Airport which significantly differ from earlier ones used in the court decision for the construction permit. In the original maps, aircraft were expected to take off and land in a path parallel with the runway. The new plans saw flight paths that deviate from the runway direction by 15 degrees. Therefore, aircraft would now fly over areas in southern Berlin ([[Lichtenrade]], [[Steglitz]] and [[Zehlendorf, Berlin|Zehlendorf]]) and adjacent Brandenburg ([[Teltow]], [[Stahnsdorf]], [[Kleinmachnow]] and [[Potsdam]]) to the surprise of local residents. This prompted a wave of protests and a lawsuit that the courts rejected.<ref name=warner>{{cite news| url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-749894.html| work=Der Spiegel| title=Resistance Builds to Planned Flight Paths at New Berlin Airport| date=3 November 2011| first=Mary Beth| last=Warner|language=en-UK}}</ref>

Both the expansion of Schönefeld Airport into BER and the quality of the connection to the railway network are the subject of public debate. The ''Bürgerverein Brandenburg-Berlin e.V.'' represents local residents who protest an expansion of air traffic to and from the south of Berlin. Also, traffic and environmental experts criticise the late completion dates for the fast connection to the [[Berlin Hauptbahnhof]]. Still, Berlin Hauptbahnhof will be only a 30-minute journey with trains departing every 15 minutes upon inauguration. At the time of the originally planned opening date of BER, in 2011, this was expected to be reduced to 20 minutes after reconstruction of the Berlin section of the [[Berlin–Dresden railway]], which was planned to be finished by 2020.<ref name=dresdnerbahn>{{cite news| title=Reisezeitverlängerungen für Airport-Express-Reisende| url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/newsticker/reisezeitverlaengerungen-fuer-airport-express-reisende,10917074,10928694.html| work=Berliner Zeitung| date=26 August 2011| trans-title=Longer travel times for Airport Express travelers| language=de}}</ref> However, delays in both the BER construction and the construction of the railway meant that the travel time will be 30 minutes until at least 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/der-ber-bahnhof-wird-aufgeruestet-ein-flughafenbahnhof-fuer-45-millionen-fahrgaeste/25534622.html|title=Ein Flughafenbahnhof für 45 Millionen Fahrgäste|work=Tagesspiegel|date=12 February 2020|access-date=19 February 2020|language=de}}</ref>

In 2015, a whistleblower alleged that Imtech, which filed for [[bankruptcy]] in 2015, had bribed airport officials to receive inflated payments for their work. Prosecutors in Brandenburg launched a probe into the allegations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=The Local Germany |date=2 May 2016 |title=Berlin airport scandal: Probe into possible poison attack |url=https://www.thelocal.de/20160502/police-probe-possible-revenge-poison-attack-on-ber-whistleblower |url-status=live |work=The Local Germany}}</ref> The investigation was finally settled in 2023, involving a EUR25 million payment to Imtech.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buitendijk |first=Mariska |date=2023-10-24 |title=Imtech bankruptcy case finally reaches settlement {{!}} SWZ |url=https://swzmaritime.nl/news/2023/10/24/imtech-bankruptcy-case-finally-reaches-settlement/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2016, it emerged that the whistleblower had been poisoned with a "deadly substance" but survived after a three-month period of illness.<ref name="bbcpoison">{{cite news |date=2 May 2016 |title=Berlin Brandenburg airport corruption 'whistleblower poisoned' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36185194 |work=BBC News |language=en-UK}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Germany]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Germany]]
* [[List of transport megaprojects]]
* [[Megaproject]]
* [[Transport in Germany]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book| last=Kuhlmann| first=Bernd| title=Schönefeld bei Berlin: 1&nbsp;Amt, 1&nbsp;Flughafen und 11&nbsp;Bahnhöfe| trans-title=Schönefeld near Berlin: 1 Office, 1 Airport, and 11 railway stations| year=1996| publisher=Gesellschaft für Verkehrspolitik und Eisenbahnwesen <nowiki>[</nowiki>Society for Transport Policy and Railways<nowiki>]</nowiki>|location= Berlin|isbn= 978-3-89218-038-8|oclc= 75906791}}
* {{Cite book| last=von Przychowski| first=Hans| title=Fehlstart oder Bruchlandung? Berlin-Brandenburger Flughafen-Politik. Verlorene Jahre – verlorene Millionen. Das Ringen um den BBI, 1990–2000, eine Zeittafel mit Kommentaren| trans-title= Aborted start or crash landing? Lost years – lost millions. The struggle over the BBI, 1990–2000, a chronology with commentary| year= 2001| publisher= NoRa| location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-935445-26-9|oclc=76312197}}

==External links==
* [https://ber.berlin-airport.de/en.html Official website]
*{{NWS-current|EDDB}}

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