BER moves all operations to Terminal 1

Both Terminal 5 and 2 will completely cease all operations until passenger numbers begin to recover

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (BER) have announced the closure of Terminal 5 – formerly known as Schönefeld Airport – for one year from February 23.

Due to the dramatic fall in passenger numbers caused by the pandemic, flights have significantly decreased. All airlines that operated from Terminal 5 will be handled from Terminal 1 until further notice.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Photo Berlin Brandenburg Airport

The closure will allow the airport to save around €25m (£22m) for the entire year.

Newly completed Terminal 2 will also be closed for the foreseeable future. As passenger numbers begin to recover, both terminals will slowly begin operations again.

“This year, the airport company must again assume that passenger numbers will remain far below the pre-crisis level,” said Engelbert Lutke Daldrup, chief executive officer of BER. “We assume that in 2021 we will be able to handle around ten million passengers safely and comfortable in Terminal 1. This step reduces costs and expenses for the year by about 25 million euros. Terminal 5 will still be promptly available to us if the need arises. The dormant operation is organised in such a way that Terminal 5 can be up and running again within a few weeks when it is needed again.”

SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, will move over to Terminal 1 from today (Feb 1). The final airline will leave Terminal 5 on February 22, therefore completely ceasing its operations.