The opening of Berlin’s new Brandenburg airport (BER) has been delayed yet again, according to German media reports.
This time it is understood that no new date for BER’s opening has been set due to ongoing technical problems.
BER was originally supposed to open in June last year. Now the latest opening date could be in 2014 or even 2015. What seems clear is that the former predicted date of October this year will not be met.
There is now political pressure on Berlin’s mayor Klaus Wowereit (who was involved in the project) to resign over the fiasco.
In addition, aviation experts are predicting that when the airport does eventually open it will be full from day one. They are warning that the new airport will not have enough check-in counters or baggage conveyor belts to cope with passenger numbers at busy times.
The airport has denied these claims and said that the German media had used a “deliberately incomplete and misleading account” taken from a report commissioned by the airport’s management board. It said that the "number of check-in desks is sufficient for the traffic load of the 2013 winter season".
“The capacity of the baggage claim carousels is sufficient with the appropriate planning. Additional baggage claim carousels can be implemented directly after the opening, if needed,” the airport added in a statement.
Any further delay will impact on the airlines currently using overcrowded Tegel (currently Berlin’s main international airport) and, in particular, Oneworld member Air Berlin which had planned to turn BER into its main hub.
The airline said in a statement: "Air Berlin is disappointed about the latest postponement of the opening date for the new airport Berlin-Brandenburg BER. This will have an adverse effect on all passengers and on airlines.
"Air Berlin has already insisted many times on receiving a reliable opening date which can therefore be planned around. A renewed postponement means that the unsatisfactory situation for all passengers will continue."
Troubled Air Berlin today saw current CEO Harmut Mehdorn (formerly the head of rail network Deutsche Bahn) replaced with immediate effect by ex-Bmi chief Wolfgang Prock-Schauer.
Also at the losing end is the 322-room first class Steigenberger Hotel which was built specifically for BER but which, despite being ready for business last August, has stood empty.