Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport

Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport (Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg International) is the tentative new name of Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport (Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld) in Schönefeld, Germany, near Berlin, slated for completion in 2011. Schönefeld is located in Brandenburg, the Bundesland (federal state) surrounding Berlin; the name reflects that the airport will serve both.

Related Topics:
Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport - Schönefeld, Germany - Berlin - 2011 - Brandenburg - Bundesland

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Berlin-Brandenburg International (BBI) will replace the three airports currently serving Berlin. Schönefeld will be greatly expanded from its current state to create it, while the other two airports, Tempelhof International Airport and Tegel International Airport will be closed. Tegel is scheduled to close in 2007. Tempelhof was scheduled to be closed in 2004; but after protest, the decision to close Tempelhof has been postponed until a later date, probably after 2010.

Related Topics:
Tempelhof International Airport - Tegel International Airport

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Following World War II, Tempelhof was used as a U.S. Air Force base, while Tegel and Schönefeld served the civilian populations of West Berlin and East Berlin, respectively. Following German reunification in the 1990s, passenger flights returned to Tempelhof, which, like Tegel, is surrounded by urban development. The cost of operating three separate airports became increasingly prohibitive, leading the Berlin City Council to pursue a single airport that would be more efficient and would eliminate the noise problem posed by the two airports located within the city. In addition, the cumulative capacity of Berlin's three airports was 15.5 million in late 2003, a measure that would only be needed after 2010, according to current prognoses. A single new airport would increase the capacity to at least 20 million initially, which would be expanded to 30 million before 2030. This would enable Berlin to accommodate a number of flights similar in magnitude to that of airports serving other European capitals, like London's Heathrow International Airport or Paris' Charles De Gaulle International Airport.

Related Topics:
World War II - U.S. Air Force - West Berlin - East Berlin - German reunification - 1990s - 2030 - London - Heathrow International Airport - Paris - Charles De Gaulle International Airport

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Nonetheless, Frankfurt is the undisputed financial capital of Germany, and is served by Germany's busiest airport. Frankfurt International Airport accommodates about 40-50 million passangers annually. Munich International Airport is the country's second busiest airport, serving roughly 20 million passengers each year. Berlin hopes to claim third place with the new BBI Airport.

Related Topics:
Frankfurt - Germany - Frankfurt International Airport - Munich International Airport

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