Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) Flights & Information

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is one of Europe’s newest gateways. Despite delays in opening, this massive and impressive airport gives this major German city the gateway it deserves (and for years lacked). While it is not a hub airport for any airline, it has helped the city to consolidate its three former airports into one. The long-haul list of destinations is not as expansive as one might expect, but from here, you can easily reach most major cities around the world in one connection. Berlin Brandenburg has a lot to offer travelers, here’s what to expect when you travel through this new facility.

Airport layout and design

Berlin never previously had one mega airport for all of its flights. Because of the city’s divided history, more than one airport was required.

A little history

Berlin used to have three airports (Tegel, Tempelhof and Schönefeld). Airlines split their operations between them with low-cost airlines mostly at the latter and most major European and North American airlines at the former. None of these airports were modern or up to the standards of a transformed Berlin.

A new age for aviation in Berlin

Now with only one airport (instead of three), and a world-class facility at that, Berlin hopes to attract more flights and passengers. At present, it is the third busiest airport in the country. While it does not have a home or hub carrier, it still attracts a lot of full-service and low-cost airlines like easyJet, Eurowings and Ryanair.

These flights are all accommodated at one main building consisting of two interconnected terminals, but be sure to bring your walking shoes. This is one of the country’s busiest airports despite not having as many connecting travelers as other German runways since it is not an official airline hub.

Southeast of Berlin in Schönefeld, this new airport incorporates part of the old airport that carried that name and was home to many low-cost airlines. The former airport here is what is now considered Terminal 5, but it is not in use.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is the busiest at the airport where domestic, European and long-haul flights on most airlines depart. U.S. carriers that serve Berlin include United and Delta, although the latter is only a summer-seasonal service. It is divided into four gate areas, A, B, C and D, and each has a variety of shops, dining venues and seating areas by the gates.

Despite the large size of the airport, there are only about two dozen jet bridges here, which is disappointing. This means most travelers are forced to take a bus transfer to the plane, which requires earlier boarding and an uncomfortable journey speeding around the apron while probably standing on a bus.

Less than ten gates are suitable for widebody planes, and only one can handle the Airbus A380 jumbo plane. As the airport grows, this means that more long-haul flights will depart from bus gates. I would have hoped airport planners would have put greater emphasis on passenger comfort and convenience in designing an airport from scratch.

Lounges in terminal 1

I really like the views and amenities of the Lufthansa lounge in this terminal. It is far better than the airport contract lounge used by airlines not in Star Alliance on the other side.

While there are no Priority Pass lounges at the airport, there are two restaurants that will offer a menu credit when swiping your card to order whatever you like. If you get Priority Pass access through a credit card, however (instead of paying for a membership), you may not be able to access this perk as the program cuts back on restaurant credits.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is where most low-cost airlines depart, and the facilities are slimmed down so that the cost for those airlines to operate there is less. There are still plenty of shops and restaurants for travelers to stock up on snacks before their flight.

Destinations available from BER

While it cannot reach the scale of the major hub airports at Frankfurt and Munich, Berlin has done a great job of attracting more carriers to grow its route map beyond Europe and a few points in the U.S.

Azerbaijan Airlines flies to Baku; Iraqi Airways flies to multiple destinations in Iraq; and Qatar Airways flies to Doha. This is more a reflection of the local population in the region than inbound travel demand to Berlin. Hainan Airlines also flies to Beijing, China.

German law has made it difficult for other major Middle Eastern airlines to add flights here as it restricts the number of frequencies and routes foreign airlines operate to Germany. This also means that long-haul airfare from BER can sometimes be higher than other airports in the region because it cannot offer the same amount of competition of airports in nearby countries.

I always compare prices with neighboring airports like Hanover, Leipzig or Dresden, using websites like Kayak to see if taking the train elsewhere to board a flight is worth it. If you have to connect through another airport anyway, you might as well get the lowest price.

Amenities at the airport

One positive thing about a delayed airport opening is that it can make changes to offer the most modern facilities in the interim before opening. I find that this airport does a great job of providing places to charge your phone, find a quiet place to sit, shop at stores you actually want to visit and dine in a food court with healthy options.

The airport also has a grocery store on the landside section of the airport. I always stop here for a few snacks and essentials in case there is not an option closer to my hotel.

If modern art interests you, then I suggest you seek out the Open Sky Box, a light installation that changes colors in bright hues, just after you pass security in Terminal 1. This is the work of a Japanese artist, and while it personally does not strike any interest notes with me, I do like the burst of light on my body after a long-haul flight.

How to get to and from BER

The easiest way to get here is by using the subway. Using tracks and a station beneath the airport itself, the S-Bahn takes you into the city center on the cheap. This is my preferred way to get into town as you do not have to deal with morning traffic. The regional trains RE7 and RB14 are even faster, but slightly more expensive.

I tell friends to get the Berlin WelcomeCard if this is their first time visiting town. It provides access to numerous forms of public transport as well as offers discounts to local attractions and museums. Of course, it is not free, but it can help tourists save substantial cash if they plan to explore the city.

You can also travel by Deutsche Bahn train to other cities in Germany. The express bus lines from the airport go to different parts of town as well as to U-Bahn stations for onward connections. Download the BVG app, which covers all local transportation options, for up-to-date schedules and any transport disruption information for that particular day.

Of course, there are rental car agencies, rideshare services, taxis and hotel shuttles all at the ready. If you have a layover, the IntercityHotel and Steigenberger Airport Hotel are within walking distance of the terminal. I prefer the latter because it is a full-service and more upscale offering.

If you have a longer layover at the airport (but not overnight), you can keep bags at the luggage storage desk (for a fee), and then take public transport into town to explore local sights. I only recommend this if you have at least five hours and a plan in mind on what you want to do or see.

Interesting facts about BER

Locals refer to the airport as one of the most costly public construction projects ever, partially due to the numerous delays that resulted from mistakes and oversights during the building process. It opened about a decade late and almost 14 years after the project’s construction originally began.

The airport’s official name is Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt honoring the former mayor of West Berlin and chancellor for West Germany Willy Brandt. He is also a Nobel Peace Laureate.

Oneworld alliance member Air Berlin was planning to make this their primary hub airport, but the airline folded before the airport ever opened (and many believe it was hurt by the construction delays).

There are two parallel runways at the airport. All airport runways have numbers that coordinate to their navigational direction. Several years after this airport opened, these numbers had to be changed slightly due to the shifting of the Earth’s magnetic fields. Pilot manuals around the world and ground signage had to be updated.

While the observation deck at the airport has been closed and torn down, there is still the chance to book a tour of the airport to see its operations and plane spot. I have taken the tour and highly recommend it if you have the time.