I hung up a calendar on the wall of our anthill this morning – one of those with a page to tear off every day. You know the kind? My girlfriend Antonia was baffled for a moment. “Why does it say 626 on the first page?” she asked. “It is right,” I replied, as I tore off the top sheet. “From today, there are only 625 to go.”

Got it? Well, there are now only 625 days left till the new Capital City Airport BBI opens on 30 October 2011. The harsh winter we’re having just now isn’t exactly making the job ahead of us any easier, but we’ll do it!

Before that, though, we will be celebrating the topping-out ceremony for the BBI terminal this spring. Now that’s going to be quite a party! You see, it will also mark the start-up of the fire service facilities, the building for special equipment, and the winter maintenance and ground handling services.

Before the BBI finally opens, a six-month trial operation of all processes will begin in May, with baggage conveyors warming up, check-in counters being manned and security checks tested – and every conceivable situation simulated, too.

From early 2011, Berliner Airports will be looking for people to put the Capital City Airport through its paces. Interested? I, for one, am definitely up for it.

Wersja drukowana berlin-airport.de (Copyright Berliner Flughäfen)