Berlin's new airport opens after years of delays and cost overruns.
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)BERLIN – Nine years late and far above its original budget, Berlin's new airport finally opened on Saturday with little fanfare as the aviation industry struggles with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Construction of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, named after the former West German chancellor though better known as BER, started in 2006 and it was initially slated to open in October 2011.
“Finally we can put our airport into operation — finally,” airport CEO Engelbert Luetke Daldrup said at a brief opening ceremony with national and regional officials.
The opening of the new airport's Terminal 2 has been delayed until early next year because it isn't currently needed.