Overview
- The airport, opened on October 31, 2020 after a nine‑year delay, marks its fifth anniversary with reputational gains and lingering frustrations.
- Supporters point to four Skytrax stars, a recent 100 millionth passenger milestone, and recognition as Germany’s punctuality leader.
- Critics argue the facility is undersized, departures feel stressful, and security rechecks and queues push travelers to arrive two hours early.
- Access remains a sore point for many Berliners, with typical journeys of about an hour from much of the city and complaints from western districts.
- Calls to consider reopening the former Tegel airport persist, while defenders say BER now functions reliably and symbolizes perseverance over past failures.