Friday, December 8, 2023

Airport Story

 When BER (the new Berlin Airport) was plannned....it was believed that it would become a hub.  Meaning?  Long-haul flights would come in and this would mean a fair number of Germans would transit from lesser airports to Berlin, then leave on long-distance flights.

Well....that hasn't happened.

BER officials now admit that under the current plan....the airport is not being maximized for use.

So they want a deal to involve Emirates....some folks are against it, because it would reduce the Lufthansa business plan.

I looked it up for long-haul flights out of Berlin.  Just six a day move in/out of Berlin's airport.

If you were talking about Munich and Frankfurt?  Over 150 flights per day....for long-haul status.

My gut feeling?  Well....when you go talk about the status of Berlin....it's mostly a place for politics or tourism.  When you talk business....it's Frankfurt, Hamburg or Munich.  

BER never reaching full potential (relating to the enormous cost factor)?  Well....that's really a major part of this discussion.  Adding to the burden....when you look at the long-haul tourism angle....there's just more in the western part of the country to see.  Once you land in Berlin....you have a lot to see in the city, and maybe in Brandenburg.  But beyond those two....it's just not as comparable as the whole state of Bavaria or the western region of Germany.

I would offer the logic that BER will never pass Munich or Frankfurt on traffic numbers.  

No comments: