Where did Berlin Brandenburg Airport fit into the city’s air travel system?

Berlin Brandenburg Airport was developed to serve as the city’s sole commercial aviation hub, consolidating Berlin’s air travel system following the closure of its older facilities.12

The project involved expanding the existing Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, which had served as the primary international airport for East Germany. Following German reunification, the city operated with multiple airports, including Tegel and Schönefeld, while Tempelhof was closed in 2008. The long-term strategy was to centralize all commercial traffic at the expanded Brandenburg site.12

Although originally scheduled to open in 2011, the project faced significant setbacks due to planning errors, cost overruns, and mismanagement. After years of delays, the airport finally opened in 2020, which allowed for the subsequent closure of Berlin-Tegel and the realization of the city's goal to streamline its air traffic into one primary gateway.12