What Will It Take to Turn Berlin Into a Major Economic Center?

Although plans were first mooted back in 1990, it seems Berlin will have to wait one year more to get an up-to-date air terminal. Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport, a large facility designed to replace the three smaller sites that served divided Berlin, was supposed to have started commercial flights yesterday.

After a safety inspection three weeks ago, however, flaws were discovered in its fire procedures, and its opening has been postponed until March next year. Given Berlin’s aspirations to world city status, the airport’s continuing labor pains are a major embarrassment for the city authorities. The 1.3 million flights to the new terminal already sold must now be redirected to the city’s existing airports, which may struggle to cope.