The new Berlin airport: A symbol of failure finally ready for takeoff

Terminal 1 of Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport, ahead of its opening. PHOTO: REUTERS
Airport staff are simulating regular operations at BER during its first test-run on July 30. PHOTO: MARKUS ZIENER
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

BERLIN - Germany will breathe a collective sigh of relief on Oct 31 when the new Berlin airport finally opens. It will be nothing short of a nightmare coming to an end.

Haunted by numerous construction troubles, frequent changes of management and repeated postponements to the reopening, the airport had become something of a bad joke. German engineering prowess, oft vaunted as the world's best, became fodder for taunts in Berlin.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.