More long-haul connections for more growth in the metropolitan region

Chambers, associations, and institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region are calling for additional flight rights to open up the market for more airlines at BER.

In international terms, the Berlin – Brandenburg metropolitan region was already in 22nd place (between Budapest and Kiev) even before the Covid crisis, with seven long-haul connections. Currently, there is only one direct long-haul connection. However, direct intercontinental flights are an important building block for post-crisis economic growth and the internationalization of the economy in the metropolitan region. For example, one additional long-haul connection can result in up to 250 additional corporate relationships. Positive effects also result from the better networking with the target destinations, as well as the higher direct investments expected in Berlin. So far, however, interested providers lack flight rights for Berlin. The partners in the initiative for more long-haul routes are therefore calling on politicians to grant more flight rights so that the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region does not fall even further behind the international competition for locations, especially in view of the emerging recovery in air traffic.  

Establishing new long-haul routes is not only a business decision, but also a political one at the federal level: Air traffic relations between countries are predominantly governed by bilateral agreements. Among other things, they determine which airports are served and how often. Long-haul flights have been shown to strengthen the economic base of an economic region. They are a prerequisite for the establishment of internationally oriented companies with high added value and well-paid jobs. That’s why chambers, associations, and institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg launched an initiative for more long-haul connections in 2018 to demand that federal policymakers open the market to more airlines at BER.

I.E. Hafsa Al Ulama, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates: “The cornerstone of the excellent bilateral relationship between the UAE and Germany is connectivity. Our countries have a strategic partnership since 2004 and our political, economic, social and cultural cooperation is continuously growing. This growth can only be sustained by directly connecting the German capital with UAE and to the world through the UAE’s strategic aviation hubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The benefits of such a direct connection are immensely positive and are paramount for the sincere friendship of the UAE and Germany.”

Jan Eder, CEO IHK Berlin: “The best time to act is now. So close to the summer vacations, the falling incidence rates and the advancing vaccination campaign are boosting travel enormously, so the debate about expanding long-haul connections also needs to be revived. Berlin is the capital of Europe’s largest and most important economy and also its scientific hotspot. Thus, it is essential that business travelers, politicians, diplomats, scientists, and tourists have access to a broad network of long-haul connections that is internationally comparable with other capitals such as Paris or London. Only this will do justice to the capital region. For a long time now, several international airlines have shown great interest in including BER as a destination in their services. New flight rights must therefore be negotiated at the political level as quickly as possible so that the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region does not lose touch with the world leaders. We can’t afford to miss the restart in the post-Covid era!”

Burkhard Kieker, CEO visitBerlin: “International aviation needs to reposition itself due to the pandemic. This is a great opportunity for Berlin and BER to acquire new flight connections for the capital region with the long-haul initiative. When approaching selected destinations and airlines, we continue to rely on close cooperation within the broad-based initiative. Berlin is the capital of Europe’s largest and most economically powerful economy and we are delighted about Emirates airline’s interest in connecting economically strong Dubai with Berlin in the future.”

Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer Emirates: “Emirates firmly believes that Berlin has tremendous potential to become a successful destination for long-haul flights. We remain very interested in offering flights from Dubai to Berlin Brandenburg Airport as soon as possible and in adding Berlin to our route network, subject to approvals from the German authorities, in addition to our existing four German departure airports. An Emirates flight link would provide more opportunities for tourism and trade, as well as direct access for tourists and business travelers from around the world and cargo capacity to transport time-sensitive exports and imports. Previous studies have convincingly shown how a daily Emirates flight would stimulate the job market and tourism in Berlin and Brandenburg. Emirates has been flying to Germany for almost 35 years and we want to continue to support tourism and the local economy in this market. With the opening of the new airport, we believe that now is an ideal time for Berlin and Brandenburg to realize significant economic and job-creating opportunities through additional long-haul flights.”

Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, Chairman of the Management Board of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “Germany needs more international airports with direct intercontinental connections. With its modern infrastructure and comfortable 360,000-square-meter terminal, Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport is ideally positioned to offer significantly more long-haul connections. People from all over the world want to fly directly to the capital region without having to take detours of thousands of kilometers. It’s not only inconvenient and uneconomical, it’s also not good for the environment.”

Marcus Tolle, CEO of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce, for the State Working Group of the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce: “For positive economic development after the pandemic, Brandenburg’s economy needs more direct intercontinental connections at BER Airport, both from Lufthansa and from established European and international airlines. Only in this way can the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region be brought to the forefront in Germany and Europe and a brake on the highly dynamic development in the surrounding area be removed. Planning and construction are taking place here as they have not been for decades, as evidenced by major settlements of Tesla in Grünheide and the European headquarters of battery manufacturer Microvast in Ludwigsfelde. Since Brandenburg’s economy is also on the road to recovery, the task now is to set the course for the future for more value creation and well-paid jobs in knowledge-intensive industrial and service companies. The opportunities for high-tech companies to settle here are there thanks to modern infrastructure, urban proximity, available skilled workers, close networking between business and science, and good transport links with an international airport. What is missing are attractive long-haul connections. In this case, the commitment of major airlines is needed in order to be able to continue to lobby politicians in a joint alliance for the swift creation of the appropriate legal framework.”

Dieter Hütte, CEO of TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg: “Connecting Berlin-Brandenburg Airport to the long-haul network is of great importance for the international economy in Brandenburg, as well as for the research and science landscape in our region. Business tourism will then benefit from this, because it will certainly further increase the number of overnight stays as well as meetings and conventions.”

Christian Amsinck, CEO of Unternehmensverbände Berlin-Brandenburg (UVB): “The global economy is recovering appreciably, demand is picking up noticeably. These are good conditions for Berlin and Brandenburg to get back on track for growth. In addition, the region is developing into one of the most important automotive locations in Europe, and nowhere is the digital economy expanding as fast as it is here. Berlin must also move back into the international spotlight as a trade fair and conference location. This would be a stimulus for many other important industries in the city. Therefore, additional long-haul flights to BER are an important prerequisite for the restart. The capital needs a bridge to other continents in order to compete on an equal footing with metropolises like London or Paris.”

Christian Hoßbach, Chairman of DGB Berlin-Brandenburg: “BER Willy Brandt Airport is on its way to becoming the largest economic enterprise in the capital region. More long-haul flights to and from Berlin are a relevant factor for economic growth in Berlin, Brandenburg, and beyond. At the same time, more intensive flight connections will provide a tailwind for good work, because they offer opportunities for well-paid and secure jobs. Regular connections to the world make the infrastructure in eastern Germany strong. Lusatia, where an enormous structural change will take place in the coming years, would also benefit in concrete terms.”

Christian Andresen, President Hotel- und Gaststättenverband Berlin e. V: “For the metropolitan region and BER Airport, new long-haul connections are even more important now than before the crisis! A spirit of optimism is needed. International trade fair and conference visitors as well as tourists are more easily persuaded to visit our great city if there are direct flights here. The new BER offers new opportunities for the capital region – it must be a given that Berlin isn’t only served by hub airports.

Dr. Stefan Franzke, Managing Director, Berlin Partner: “I understand that in the past, people focused on Frankfurt am Main and Munich from a bird’s-eye view. But I don’t understand why the German federal government isn’t going full speed ahead toward building a long-haul hub for its capital city, which we urgently need. 70 percent of non-European passengers arriving in Frankfurt before the pandemic were headed for Berlin. This often unnecessary detour is questionable, all the more so in terms of the environment, but also when it comes to settlement talks with international companies.”


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