For an airport heralded as Berlin’s gateway to the world, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has achieved notoriety for all the wrong reasons.
Far from being a symbol of modernity and efficiency, it has become a prime example of how not to manage an airport project—and travelers are paying the price.
BER’s troubles began long before it welcomed its first passenger. Construction delays that spanned nearly a decade not only embarrassed the city but also drained public confidence. By the time the airport finally opened in 2020, it was already outdated, marred by technical flaws, and operating beyond its intended capacity. The chaos surrounding its opening set the tone for what many travelers now experience: frustration, inefficiency, and disappointment.
Overcrowded terminals, long lines, and poor passenger flow plague the airport daily. For an international hub, it falls woefully short of meeting the needs of global travelers. Lost baggage, flight delays, and inadequate amenities are frequent complaints. What should be a seamless travel experience is instead a stressful ordeal for many.
Adding insult to injury are the exorbitant costs. BER’s budget overrun is infamous, and yet the return on investment feels laughably low. What are travelers getting for the billions of euros spent? Certainly not the sleek, efficient facility they were promised.
Ultimately, BER has become a cautionary tale. It stands as a reminder that grand ambitions mean little without proper planning, execution, and a focus on the end-user experience. Until meaningful improvements are made, BER will continue to rank high on travelers’ lists of airports to avoid.
In short, BER is a dreadful airport – probably the worst in Europe.