BER takes the Südbahn off the network

Barrier tape at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport in Terminal 1 (Photo: Granit Pireci).
Barrier tape at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport in Terminal 1 (Photo: Granit Pireci).

BER takes the Südbahn off the network

Barrier tape at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport in Terminal 1 (Photo: Granit Pireci).
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The management of Berlin-Brandenburg Airport sees no prospect of recovery in the aviation industry in 2021. The number of passengers is currently around ten percent of the same month last year. Now they want to take action and take the southern runway off the network as soon as possible.

“2021 will be one of the most difficult years in the history of FBB. No airport in Germany will be able to cover its operating costs with the forecast passenger numbers. FBB hits the second corona wave in a situation in which we could have made our way out of the red. Now only two things help: the willingness of our shareholders to stick with us during the crisis and the commitment of the FBB company to work as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. With a joint effort, we will be able to position BER well for the economic recovery in East Germany ”, says Managing Director Engelbert Lütke Daldrup.

Terminal 5 (former Schönefeld Airport) is to be closed for at least one year in spring 2021 at the latest. With the two measures, which the Supervisory Board has already approved, the operating company wants to reduce costs. Short-time working is to be continued from December 1, 2020. In order to achieve further savings and cost reductions, a separate expenditure board was also established. According to the FBB, all expenses above a threshold of 25.000 euros are strictly checked with regard to their operational necessity.

“Against the background of the sharp decline in passenger numbers that has arisen from the second wave of infections that has spread across Europe since mid-October, the management adjusted the number of passengers expected for 2020 from a total of 10 million to 9 million. The associated loss of income can be offset by the corona aid of 300 million euros for this year. The second corona wave also affects the view of the year 2021. Like all other German airports, FBB must assume that passenger numbers will remain low in 2021. The German Airport Association ADV expects a traffic volume for 2021 that is only around a third compared to 2019. FBB also adjusted its expectations after the 2nd lockdown. The management reported to the supervisory board that, according to current estimates, only 30 percent of the pre-crisis passenger volume can be assumed. The corona pandemic represents such a serious turning point in the aviation industry that the medium- and long-term development cannot currently be reliably foreseen and can only be estimated in broad ranges. However, it is generally expected that air traffic will recover in the medium term and that the need and desire for air travel will remain high. If the management's assessment is confirmed and air traffic does not grow significantly in 2021 compared to 2020, FBB will have to have an overall financing requirement of a total of up to 660 million euros can be assumed. This leads to an additional sum of 552 million euros, which increases a shareholder contribution of 2018 million euros already decided in 108, ”writes Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH in a press release.

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