Berlin’s new airport is delayed again
Airlines are facing considerable costs because the opening of Berlin’s new airport has been delayed again.
Berlin BRANDENBURG Airport, which will replace the existing Tegel and Schoenefeld airports, was due to open next month.
But the opening has been delayed until at least next March because of problems with its fire safety systems.
Lufthansa, Air Berlin and easyJet were due to operate flights from the new airport.
EasyJets corporate affairs managerAndrew McConnell said: "EasyJet is pleased that the authorities took in consideration its position and recommendations and that they do not put security at stake.
"Up to the Berlin Brandenburg opening, easyJet will continue to operate as normal its full schedule from Berlin Schoenefeld."
Lufthansa has announced that it will operate its planned new services from the existing Tegel Airport.
Tahir Bhimani, director of the German Travel Centre, said the delays would not disrupt Lufthansa’s additional flights to Berlin flying from Birmingham, Manchester and Heathrow.
"We are working closely with Lufthansa to promote the additional flights," he said.
Air Berlin said it will also be able to run its expanded schedules from Tegel until the new airport opens.
The £2bn new airport has already been plagued with a series of setbacks. It was originally due to open in late 2011 but the latest opening date is 17 March 2013.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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