11 December 2003
BERLIN – Former East Germany’s main airport at Berlin-Schoenefeld aims to become a centre for no-frills airlines next year in an attempt to reverse losses.
The state-owned airport operator FBS said it was holding talks with a number of low-cost airlines after British budget carrier EasyJet announced last month it was making the airport its hub from May.
The airport, which is expected to post losses of EUR30 million this year, expects 1.1 million extra passengers in 2004 as a result of the EasyJet move.
In all, it hopes to increase passenger numbers next year from 1.7 million to 3.3 million, and by 2005 to 4.4 million.
Schoenefeld and Tempelhof are Berlin’s second and third airports after Tegel, and Tempelhof is scheduled to close in autumn next year. Schoenefeld is to be the site of the new Berlin-Brandenburg International airport from 2010 subject to planning consent.
DPA
Subject: German news