Postponed opening of Berlin Brandenburg causing the summer blues for Lufthansa and Air Berlin

Berlin Brandenburg Airport's announcement that it will not open its EUR2.5 billion new premises as scheduled on 03-Jun-2012 is leading to major operational challenges for all involved, but in particular Lufthansa and Air Berlin which would be the largest operators at the new airport and had planned significant network expansions and new procedures. The delay, which is expected to be several months long, is above all bad news for Air Berlin which had aimed to cement its new strategic positioning as full service network carrier and oneworld member with the opening of the German capital's new airport.

Low-cost carriers will be the least affected as their drive for low airport costs exceeds the need for enlarged and architectural attractive airport capacity. LCCs also remain outside the public relations contest to participate in the opening of Germany's prestigious capital airport.