Silke Peter (2nd from left), nursing manager and Michael Peter (60, left), electrical engineer from Chemnitz and Annemarie (74) and Reiner Böhme (79), pensioner from Olbernhau (Saxony): “We fly to Mallorca and start one from there week-long Mediterranean cruise on the Aida. It feels fantastic to travel and not have to wear a mask in the airport anymore” Photo: Olaf Selchow
By Johannes Malinowski
The mask still has to be on the plane, but at BER and especially on vacation, Covid-19 is only a minor matter. At Pentecost there is even a passenger record. Berliners, say hello to the sun!
Finally, the lightness is back! Palma de Mallorca, Antalya, Tenerife: the main thing is sun! The atmosphere in the terminal was relaxed on Saturday morning, and the waiting times at check-in counters and security checks were manageable. Hardly anyone had to wait longer than 20 minutes. No feared chaos!
The airport company expects almost 280,000 passengers from Friday to Monday, 77,000 on Friday alone – a record for the former breakdown airport!
The airport company is expecting almost 280,000 passengers on the Pentecost weekend – a record! Photo: Olaf Selchow
There were 58,000 passengers on Saturday and 70,000 on Sunday. On Monday, the main return day, 72,000 passengers are to be processed at BER.
“The numbers are moving towards normality,” says an airport spokesman. “We are well prepared and things are going well. We are pleased that the efforts are also being received by the passengers.” There were no major abnormalities.
A total of 1800 aircraft are scheduled to take off or land from Friday to Whit Monday.
Angelika Sydow (66), pensioner from Wilmersdorf: “I’m flying to Gran Canaria for a week. It’s absolutely cool to be traveling again. I only travel with hand luggage. I’m not in the mood for heavy suitcases and save myself the wait at the baggage carousel” Photo: Olaf Selchow
Claudia Braun (52, right), accountant, Liane Denkert (53), nursing assistant, Axel Braun (52, 2nd from left), master mechanic and René Kühn (58), welder, all from Rostock, are flying in for a week Majorca. “We were here three hours before departure. We look forward to meeting our friends from Switzerland on Mallorca” Photo: Olaf Selchow
Christina Marx (35), doctor and Christian Marx (36), police officer from Dresden with daughter Leni (5): “We fly to Antalya and stay in Manavgat for a week. We are positively surprised by BER. Let’s see how long it takes in the security check. We look forward to a relaxing holiday and time for the three of us” Photo: Olaf Selchow
Melanie Uhlig (27), content manager and Felix Heinrich (31), data analyst from Halle: “We are flying to Tenerife for eleven days. Because of Corona, we are no longer used to being in a place with so many people, it’s a bit scary. We were in 2020 shortly before the pandemic on La Palma, that was our last flight” Photo: Olaf Selchow