Berlin Tempelhof Airport

The closure was a result of a long-term urban planning strategy to consolidate Berlin's air traffic into a single new hub, the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). Tempelhof was economically unviable, operating at a significant loss for years. Its central location in a dense urban area imposed severe restrictions on its operations, including a ban on night flights and limitations on the size of aircraft it could handle. The runways were too short for most modern large jets. Despite a public referendum in April 2008 aimed at keeping the airport open, the vote failed to achieve the required quorum, allowing the planned closure to proceed.

The former airport site has been repurposed into a vast public park called 'Tempelhofer Feld', which opened to the public in May 2010. Spanning over 300 hectares, it is one of the largest inner-city open spaces in the world. The former runways and taxiways are now used for a wide range of recreational activities, including cycling, jogging, kite-surfing, skateboarding, and community gardening. The massive, historically protected terminal building is used for various purposes. It hosts major events, trade fairs (like Berlin Fashion Week), concerts, and sporting events. Parts of the building are leased as office space. Since 2015, parts of the hangars have also been used as one of Germany's largest emergency shelters for refugees. Guided tours of the historic building and its underground bunker system are also offered to the public.

Berlin Tempelhof holds immense historical significance. The site was used for flight experiments by pioneers like Orville Wright in the early 20th century and became one of the world's first commercial airports in 1923. The iconic, monumental terminal building was constructed between 1936 and 1941 under the Nazi regime, designed by Ernst Sagebiel to be a grandiose symbol of Hitler's 'World Capital Germania'. At the time of its completion, it was one of the largest buildings on Earth. The airport's most defining moment came during the Cold War with the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949). Tempelhof was the primary destination for American and British aircraft delivering vital food, fuel, and supplies to West Berlin, which was blockaded by the Soviet Union. The 'Rosinenbomber' (Raisin Bombers) that dropped candy for children became a lasting symbol of hope and American-German friendship. Throughout the Cold War, it served as a key gateway to West Berlin for airlines like Pan Am, British Airways, and Air France. Its official ICAO code was EDDI and its IATA code was THF.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Berlin Tempelhof as an airport. Its future as a public park is legally secured. In a 2014 referendum, the citizens of Berlin voted overwhelmingly in favor of the 'Tempelhof Field Act' (Gesetz zum Erhalt des Tempelhofer Feldes). This law prohibits any form of construction or development on the former airfield, preserving it in its entirety as a public recreational space. This legislation makes a return to aviation operations virtually impossible.