Opening Of Brandenburg Airport Pushed Back At Least 'Several Months'

The opening of a new airport in Berlin has been pushed back at least "several months" by problems with a fire security system. The delay will complicate things for travelers who have already booked flights on Air Berlin and Lufthansa from the new airport.

Bloomberg News cites reports from Reuters and the German media which indicate that a planned move of equipment scheduled for June 2 between Tegel and Schoenfeld airports to the new Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport has already been cancelled. The two German airlines had already scheduled flights for several thousand passengers from the new airport beginning June 3.

Lufthansa said that it would proceed with its expanded schedule despite the delay. The airline said through a spokesperson that it was already negotiating with Tegel airport for additional slots for the flights scheduled in and out of Brandenburg.

The airport is considered a symbol in Berlin, which became the capital of a re-unified Germany some 13 years ago. The new airport is intended to replace two facilities which served the city during the Cold War. Reuters UK reports that this is the second time the opening of the airport has been delayed. Officials in Germany now say that they hope the airport will open after the school holidays in late August.

FMI: German Aviation Authority