Berlin is a special city. Indeed, during the Soviet era, it was divided between the two countries. The eastern part was the capital of the now defunct German Democratic Republic. West Berlin, surrounded on all sides by the GDR, had a special status. Based on this, even then the city needed two airports. So, in West Berlin in 1948, the Tegel international hub was built, and in 1960, the Tegel international hub became available for civil aviation. It still works and bears the name of Otto Lilienthal (Flughafen Berlin-Tegel Otto Lilienthal). For the capital of the GDR, East Berlin, its own air harbor was built in the same years. It was named after the town near which it is located. This article focuses on this second, smaller and smaller international airport in Berlin, Schönefeld. Where it is located, how many terminals there are and how to get to the city center or the Tegel hub - read about all this and more below.
History
We have already briefly covered the prerequisites for creating an air harbor for VostochnyBerlin. But it arose in 1948 not from scratch. As early as 1934, the Henschel factory began operating in Schönefeld, at which more than fourteen thousand aircraft were built by the end of World War II. In April 1945, it was captured by Soviet troops. Everything that could not be taken to the USSR was blown up by the victors. But already in 1946, after a series of political agreements, the new authorities decided to develop what was left of the industrial capacity of the aviation plant. Three runways were restored and rail links resumed. In 1947, the Order of the Soviet military administration on the construction of the Berlin-Schönefeld civil airport was issued. It was built in record time. Later, until 1990, this hub was repeatedly rebuilt, modernized and expanded.
Modernity and the future
When the Berlin Wall fell and all of Germany united into one country, Schönefeld fell on hard times. The main airline of the GDR, Interflug, which considered this airport to be the base, ceased to exist. The rest of the carriers preferred to take off and land in a more comfortable, large and modern Tegel. Berlin Schönefeld Airport was used for charter flights until 2003. This period ended when low-cost airlines entered the international travel scene. Budget companies such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Private Wings and Condor Flygdinst began to consider Berlin-Schönefeld their base airport. Passenger traffic as a result increased to 18 million people a year. But back in 1996 the authoritiesThe federal states decided to build a new hub near Schönefeld. Opening of the international airport Berlin-Brandenburg them. Willy Brandt is planned for 2017. After that, Tegel and Schönefeld will be closed. But before that happens, let's look at the amenities in the eastern hub of the German capital.
Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Terminals and Facilities
The air harbor complex consists of four terminals. Two of them - A and B - are located in the main building. Schönefeld Airport is still used primarily by low cost airlines. Therefore, terminal A is placed at the disposal of the Rianair airline, and B serves exclusively the low-cost airline EasyJet. C was created for air travel to Israel and is now used for special flights and charters. Terminal D, which opened in 2005, was designed to help the first three unload heavy passenger traffic. It mainly serves low-cost airlines such as Norwegian Air Shuttle and Condor. Despite the workload, all procedures at the airport are carried out quickly, with German punctuality. All amenities are provided. There is a VAT refund point, many catering outlets, shops (including duty-free), ATMs, a first-aid post, a mother and child room.
Where can you fly from Schönefeld
Despite the fact that the air harbor is chosen by low-cost airlines, liners of quite reputable airlines also land here. So, planes arrive here from RussiaAeroflot (from Moscow-Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg). All flights are displayed on the scoreboard. Berlin-Schönefeld accepts planes from Egypt, Belarus, Ukraine, France, Israel, Tunisia, Greece, not to mention charters that go to the most diverse resorts in the world. Needless to say, this hub serves as a stopover for trips around Germany.
How to get from Schönefeld Airport to Berlin
The air harbor is located 18 kilometers southeast of the city center. Getting to Berlin by taxi is not difficult. But the trip will take the same time as the train, and will cost about 60 euros. There are other, more budget options on how to get from the center to Berlin-Schönefeld. There are as many as eight daytime and two nighttime bus routes that run from different parts of the city to the airport. If you prioritize speed, then you can get to Berlin as quickly as possible on the Airport Express train. He arrives at the main station, and from there another express departs - to Tegel Airport. From the train station Flughafen Berlin Schoenefeld, which is located near the terminals, regional trains S9 and S45 depart.
