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Five years of BER: From a prestige project to a billion-dollar flop!
Find out how Berlin's BER airport became a symbol of failed major projects: chronology, causes and current challenges.
Five years of BER: From a prestige project to a billion-dollar flop!
Germany was once famous for its engineering, but the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) project, which opened five years ago, has tarnished that reputation. The airport, originally intended as the “symbol of the reunified capital,” is now considered a prime example of failed construction projects. Construction began in 2006, and after numerous planning changes and postponed opening dates, it opened on October 31, 2020 - five years later than planned. The total costs have risen to over 7.3 billion euros, making the project a billion-dollar grave, reports the Berliner Zeitung.
The problems began before the groundbreaking ceremony, when a consortium led by Hochtief did not win the contract. Even after the opening, the difficulties remained: passengers reported long waiting times, lost suitcases and chaotic conditions. Lufthansa recommends arriving at BER four hours before departure. Poor planning and construction defects led to a scandal marked by skyrocketing costs and a subsequent list of 150,000 defects. Despite the problems, BER received the award as “most improved airport in the world” in 2023, but this did little to convince critics as the problems remain present, according to the NZZ.
Criticism of the planning and implementation
The original plans called for the airport to accommodate up to 60 million passengers per year. However, it became clear as early as 2009 that the dimensions were too small, which led to further delays. Problems with the fire protection systems meant that the opening dates of 2011 and 2012 could not be met. Political attempts to gain control of the site have been made for six years, but without lasting success. Deutschlandfunk culture highlights that construction costs have tripled and there is no end in sight to the delays.
The airport is now suffering from high deficits; A loss of 213 million euros was forecast in 2023 and a loss of 134 million euros was forecast for 2024. Despite government subsidies, there are still outstanding loans amounting to 1.3 billion euros. The Berlin Brandenburg Airport Company (FBB) is currently planning improvements to increase customer satisfaction and optimize operational processes. These include innovations such as more efficient scanners and the ability to book security checks online.
An example of failed major projects
BER Airport has fueled political debates about the state's ability to efficiently manage large construction projects. Critics accuse politicians of making unrealistic decisions, such as phasing out the combustion engine, only lead to further dissatisfaction. The state should act better as a contractual leader in order to strengthen trust in its institutions and to curb anti-political resentment, which partly contributes to strengthening the AfD. BER is therefore not just an airport, but also a symbol of the challenges that the city of Berlin is currently facing. He focuses on Berlin's difficulties.