Speculation in the German media suggests that the opening of Berlin’s new airport could be further delayed.
Originally Berlin’s Brandenburg airport should have opened in June this year. But the inauguration was postponed until March 17, 2013, owing to problems with the fire safety systems.
According to reports in German news outlets Der Tagesspiegel and Zeit Online, it appears that even this revised date will not be met. As a result, the first flights to use Berlin Brandenburg may not be until summer or autumn of next year.
But Brandenburg's management said it was currently "evaluating" the date for the opening of the airport and no decision had been made on whether there would be a further delay.
Horst Amann, the company's new chief operating officer, said: “I am currently evaluating the feasibility of the opening date with internal and external construction experts.
"We have only recently started with this work and are not yet in a position to conclude our evaluation. We expect to have clarity with regard to the opening date by the next supervisory board meeting in mid-September.“
Besides the modifications to the fire systems, reports state that the authorities have now found that tens of thousands of local residents will need to have their properties soundproofed against aircraft noise owing to a mix-up in planning flight paths.
The total cost of compensation is currently €1.17 billion but this will rise if the opening is further postponed.
Other associated firms losing revenue include the many concessions in and around the airport, the most significant of which is the new 322-room Steigenberger hotel, which is now ready for business but which management is having to ‘mothball’ until the airport finally opens.
Meanwhile there are report that Berlin’s other airport of Tegel (which should have closed when the new airport opened) has become increasingly strained as many more passengers than planned are having to use its facilities.