New Berlin hub waits in the wings

When Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens on 3 June 2012 it will be Europe’s newest and most modern hub airport, with an initial capacity of 27 million annual passengers (45 million at full build out). It was described by Burkhard Kieker, Berlin’s tourism chief, as “the last hub to be built in Europe. The last megahub, our last big airport with hub abilities”.

The additional capacity is essential for European aviation to remain competitive, according to Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe: “At a time when the global travel market is undergoing a dramatic shift – with the rise of new aviation powers in Asia – the relevance of Europe’s aviation market is at risk. To give one example, between now and 2020, China is building 78 new airports. Here in Europe, only five will be built between now and 2030.”

Speaking to IHS Jane’s, Dr Rainer Schwarz, chief executive officer of Berlin Brandenburg, said that the hub is awaited with excitement because “Berlin’s old airports were bursting at the seams”. Tegel – one of two airports being consolidated for Berlin Brandenburg – handled 17 million passengers in 2011. “It was originally built for seven million,” Schwarz said.

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