A few weeks ago, the European Commission brought a new directive into force that materially affects the new Capital City Airport BBI. The directive permits passengers to carry beverages and other liquids in their hand luggage from April 2013 onwards.

While this is very pleasant for the passengers, it also means extra work for the BBI planners, who have now begun altering the configuration of the 32 security lanes for the terminal at the new BBI. And because this will take up more space than the original security checking facilities, the plan is now to put up two pavilions, one each on the left and right of the terminal.

The BBI will commence operation on 3 June 2012 with the modified security configuration, which was formally approved by the Berlin Airports’ Supervisory Board today. The board’s decision also took into consideration the situation with the plans for technical building services (TGA), which have been delayed by the insolvency of one of the companies involved.

As of today, one thing is certain, namely that on the day of the BBI’s grand opening, there will be 32 security lanes in modified configuration and with a capacity per peak hour of 4500 passengers in place at the new Capital City Airport. The new configuration of 36 security lanes including liquid detection and a capacity per peak hour of 5500 passengers will then go into service in April 2013.

“Willy Brandt Airport is and will continue to be a success story,” Berlin’s Mayor Klaus Wowereit commented at the end of the Supervisory Board meeting today. That just about says it all, I’d say.

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