Berlin, DE 🇩🇪 Closed Airport
DE-0440
-
157 ft
DE-BR
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 52.380001° N, 13.5225° E
Continent: EU
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: BER EDDB ETBS Schoenefeld Terminal 5 SXF
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
./.. |
- ft | - ft | Unknown | Closed |
./. |
- ft | - ft | Unknown | Closed |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| AFIS | BERLIN INFO | 132.65 MHz |
| APP | BERLIN ARR | 119.625 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 124.95 MHz |
| DEP | BERLIN DEP | 120.625 MHz |
| DIR | BERLIN DIRECTOR | 136.1 MHz |
| GND | GND | 121.6 MHz |
| INFO | INFO | 122.7 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 120.025 MHz |
October 25, 2020
Transformation and integration into the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The closure of Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) as an independent entity was part of a decades-long plan to consolidate all of Berlin's air traffic into a single, modern hub. The new BER airport was constructed on the land adjacent to and incorporating the Schönefeld site. Upon BER's official opening, Schönefeld's infrastructure, including its southern runway and terminal, became part of the new airport. This move also led to the closure of Berlin's other major airport, Tegel (TXL), a week later.
The physical site of the former Berlin-Schönefeld Airport is now an integral and operational part of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The former Schönefeld runway is now BER's northern runway. The old Schönefeld terminal building was initially rebranded and operated as 'Terminal 5' of BER. However, due to reduced passenger demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and its distance from the main Terminals 1 & 2, Terminal 5 was first temporarily closed in February 2021 and then permanently decommissioned in November 2022. While the terminal building currently stands unused, the runways, taxiways, and surrounding land are fully active as part of BER.
Berlin-Schönefeld Airport has a rich and significant history.
1. **Pre-WWII & WWII:** The site began its aviation history in the 1930s as the location of the Henschel aircraft manufacturing plant.
2. **Cold War Era:** After World War II, the site was located in the Soviet Occupation Zone. It was developed into the primary civilian airport for the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) and its capital, East Berlin. It served as the home base for the GDR's national airline, Interflug, and was the main gateway for international travel to and from the Eastern Bloc. It was a symbol of East German aviation and its connection to the socialist world.
3. **Post-Reunification:** After German reunification in 1990, Schönefeld became one of three airports serving the unified city of Berlin, alongside Tegel and Tempelhof. In the 2000s, it experienced a massive boom as a hub for low-cost carriers, with airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet establishing major operations there, making it the primary airport for budget travel in and out of Berlin.
There are zero prospects for the site to reopen as 'Berlin-Schönefeld Airport (SXF)'. Its identity has been permanently retired and superseded by Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
Regarding the old terminal building (former Terminal 5), airport authorities have stated that it is being kept in a 'hibernation' state. While there are no immediate plans to reactivate it, it could potentially be brought back into service in the distant future if passenger growth at BER dramatically exceeds the capacity of Terminals 1 and 2. However, current expansion plans focus on the main terminal complex, making the reopening of Terminal 5 a remote possibility.