Mar 12, 2017, 1:43 pm
Last edit by: muji
The Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport was originally set to open in 2011; the opening has been postponed to October 2020.
https://simpleflying.com/berlin-bran...rport-opening/
It is being constructed adjacent to Schönefeld Airport, which it will replace.
Discussion about closing of TXL and opening of new airport BER
Jul 1, 2013, 8:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central PA
Posts: 77
Discussion about closing of TXL and opening of new airport BER
Hello. I have an AA award ticket on hold for a May, 2014 trip to Paris. The routing is MDT (Harrisburg, PA) to ORD to TXL and then over-nighting there (and on to CDG the next morning). I hear that another airport is being built in Berlin; will TXL close down? Where (how close to TXL) is the new airport if TXL is indeed closing?
My award ticket is only 20,000 miles, and I actually like the idea of over-nighting in Berlin and arriving the next morning into Paris fresh and well rested, rather than at 8:30 p.m. Paris time after a very long routing. I am just a bit concerned about booking if TXL will close, but I assume Air Berlin will just take us to the new airport .....?
Thank you in advance for any help.
My award ticket is only 20,000 miles, and I actually like the idea of over-nighting in Berlin and arriving the next morning into Paris fresh and well rested, rather than at 8:30 p.m. Paris time after a very long routing. I am just a bit concerned about booking if TXL will close, but I assume Air Berlin will just take us to the new airport .....?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Jul 1, 2013, 10:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montebello, CA, USA
Posts: 2,365
It will not be by October, but who knows for sure, it was supposed to change over years ago.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...rmans/2062533/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...rmans/2062533/
Jul 2, 2013, 12:06 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: FRA
Posts: 1,398
The problem with the new airport is that it is unclear when the fire protection systems can be certified. Apparently, quite a bit of rework is required. Air Berlin had hoped to use BER as a hub, but now they have to cram everything into TXL. The new airport should make connecting only easier. TXL will close when BER opens. I just would book a hotel with a cancelable rate so that you have the flexiblity to get something close to to BER in case it already is open by then.
Jul 2, 2013, 7:05 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
There have been so many delays opening the airport that they've given up on trying to project a new date.
AB was selling flights to BER in anticipation of the new airport opening until they announced the day. All of those flights were simply rescheduled in/out of TXL; no flights were cancelled. It's possible that when the new airport opens there will a transition period where they operate flights out of both airports, but if you're overnighting anyway it doesn't matter.
See the below transit map for connections to BER when it opens. The TXL bus takes 20 minutes to get to the Hbf and 40 min to Alexanderplatz if BER isn't open yet, while the RE7 can get to you Alexanderplatz in 20 minutes and the Hbf in 30 if it is. Both areas offer plenty of hotels to choose from.
AB was selling flights to BER in anticipation of the new airport opening until they announced the day. All of those flights were simply rescheduled in/out of TXL; no flights were cancelled. It's possible that when the new airport opens there will a transition period where they operate flights out of both airports, but if you're overnighting anyway it doesn't matter.
See the below transit map for connections to BER when it opens. The TXL bus takes 20 minutes to get to the Hbf and 40 min to Alexanderplatz if BER isn't open yet, while the RE7 can get to you Alexanderplatz in 20 minutes and the Hbf in 30 if it is. Both areas offer plenty of hotels to choose from.
Jul 3, 2013, 1:39 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Hello. I have an AA award ticket on hold for a May, 2014 trip to Paris. The routing is MDT (Harrisburg, PA) to ORD to TXL and then over-nighting there (and on to CDG the next morning). I hear that another airport is being built in Berlin; will TXL close down? Where (how close to TXL) is the new airport if TXL is indeed closing?
My award ticket is only 20,000 miles, and I actually like the idea of over-nighting in Berlin and arriving the next morning into Paris fresh and well rested, rather than at 8:30 p.m. Paris time after a very long routing. I am just a bit concerned about booking if TXL will close, but I assume Air Berlin will just take us to the new airport .....?
Thank you in advance for any help.
My award ticket is only 20,000 miles, and I actually like the idea of over-nighting in Berlin and arriving the next morning into Paris fresh and well rested, rather than at 8:30 p.m. Paris time after a very long routing. I am just a bit concerned about booking if TXL will close, but I assume Air Berlin will just take us to the new airport .....?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Jul 4, 2013, 12:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Yeah, the germans are rather up in arms about the incompetence in building the new airport. Apparently, significant additional time is going to be required. I wouldn't worry about anything.
TXL has the convenience of a small airport; however, the insane over-subscription of its intended capacity can be a bit trying.
TXL has the convenience of a small airport; however, the insane over-subscription of its intended capacity can be a bit trying.
Aug 22, 2013, 7:04 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
http://www.ausbt.com.au/berlin-s-new...rch-april-2014
Bets on whether or not this actually takes place?
Bets on whether or not this actually takes place?
Aug 22, 2013, 10:47 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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http://www.ausbt.com.au/berlin-s-new...rch-april-2014
Bets on whether or not this actually takes place?
Bets on whether or not this actually takes place?
t be flying through there for some time.
Aug 24, 2013, 12:01 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 273
The article that provides the real source is from DW. They state that Condor and Air Germania will be the first airlines to operate at BER with a grand total of ten (10) flights per day and about 1500 passengers per day to start. So, will it open in March or April, 2014? Perhaps. But most passengers in and out of Berlin will still nt be flying through there for some time.
t be flying through there for some time.
had BER been built in 1940, would such delays been tolerated?
Aug 25, 2013, 6:47 am
#13
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 273
I agree...
because the fire suppression system at BER was designed/installed by the same people
who installed the fire suppression system in hell and it couldn't cope with the fire in hell...
so freezing over may be really difficult.
because the fire suppression system at BER was designed/installed by the same people
who installed the fire suppression system in hell and it couldn't cope with the fire in hell...
so freezing over may be really difficult.
Aug 26, 2013, 9:06 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Karlsruhe / Germany
Programs: BahnCard Comfort, Bahn Bonus, Enrich Blue
Posts: 327
The Maya calendar makes some predictions about the opening of BER but scientists are not exactly sure if they have interpreted the dates right...
In other words, wait and see, and contact your airline for details when your travel dates draw nearer.
In other words, wait and see, and contact your airline for details when your travel dates draw nearer.
Aug 26, 2013, 10:27 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,515
May 2014 is riskless in my eyes. If BER is working even with 10 flights per day in May I´m more than impressed.