An aircraft is handled at BER at Terminal 1 (archive image) Photo: dpa
From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Franziska Giffey, is calling for more federal support for long-haul flights from BER Airport.
“It may be that a large congress does not take place in Berlin because of the lack of long-distance connections – that means millions in losses for the city,” said the SPD politician of the “Berliner Zeitung”.
“I would like the federal government to issue more licenses for long-haul flights, especially to and from Asia.”
Berlin’s Economics Senator Franziska Giffey (SPD) Photo: Paul Zinken/dpa
According to Giffey, the Emirates company could land in Berlin, but would have to give up one of its four locations in Germany. The airline doesn’t want that. There are “veritable lobby interests,” said Giffey. “In other locations such as Hesse and Bavaria, there is concern that strengthening Berlin as a location could lead to a weakening of their airports.”
Giffey added: “It needs a stronger East German lobby. We are an up-and-coming, innovative economic region that attracts major international investments. But there are 180 long-distance starts a day from West Germany and only 6 from East Germany – and that in the 34th year after reunification. That’s unbelievable.”