Tegel Airport in Berlin will now continue operating for a few more months as the demand for flights starts to improve on the onset of easing travel restrictions across Europe.
The passenger flow is expected to further increase in the coming months, with relaxed travel and quarantine regulations in Europe and the rest of the world.
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Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (FBB), the airport operator, noted in its latest press release that the new situation has led to it withdrawing its application for exemption from the operating obligations.
FBB CEO Engelbert Luetke Daldrup has been quoted by Bloomberg as saying that: “We have to support the newly regained freedom to travel while maintaining high standards of hygiene and distancing. We have to offer enough space to the airlines.”
Last month, Berlin authorities and FBB said that the airport to the north of the city centre would be allowed to suspend operations from 15 June because of the impact of the pandemic on the air travel.
In the meantime, flights are scheduled to be handled at Schoenefeld to the southeast of the city until the long-delayed BER airport opens at the end of October.
The BER airport construction started in 2006 with an initial budget of €2.83bn. It is expected to replace both Tegel and Schönefeld airports, which are considered inadequate for Berlin’s future projected air traffic.
The opening of the BER airport was postponed multiple times during the last nine years due to various issues such as technical problems, planning errors and controversies.
