Press­ Release

Supervisory board advises on FBB's financial situation / Air traffic expected to pick up in the second half of the year

In its meeting last Friday, the Supervisory Board was informed in detail about the company's current situation and made important decisions on the further development of the airport's infrastructure.

The extensive reports of the management focused on the financial situation and the development of passenger numbers.

After significantly fewer passengers than expected due to the pandemic in the first quarter of 2021, the number of passengers has increased noticeably since April. Due to the weak passenger volume from January to March, however, operating income also remained below the expectations of the economic plan. Overall, the management assumed that the recovery in flight operations would be weaker than expected in the entire first half of the year due to the 3rd lockdown.

Pointing to the increase in booking numbers by the airlines as well as the increase in passengers at BER, the management stuck to its assessment that BER will process around 10 million passengers in 2021.

Regarding the economic situation of the airport company, the management was able to report that FBB's liquidity has been secured this year thanks to the commitments made by its shareholders. Just last Wednesday, the main committee of the Berlin House of Representatives released the State of Berlin's shareholder funds for 2021.

Aside from the current passenger and financial figures, issues relating to the future also formed part of the discussion. In the first round, the management reported their ideas for FBB’s strategic further development after Covid-19. A whole range of topics relating to operating processes, business development, corporate culture and digitization were addressed, as was the transformation of BER into a carbon neutral and sustainable airport.

In this context, the Supervisory Board approved the construction of a logistics tunnel to connect the hangars and the ILA site on the west side of the airport with the central aprons in front of Terminal 1. This is essential for ensuring smooth traffic via the separation of aircraft from logistics processes. Some 43 million euros have been earmarked for the construction project which should be available in 2024, when pre-crisis operational levels are reached again.

In its meeting, the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH also elected Supervisory Board member Jörg Simon as Chairman from July 1, 2021. He will succeed Rainer Bretschneider, who is leaving on the same day and thus freeing up the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board. In addition, the go-ahead was also given to recruit a third member of the management team to fill the areas of airport and aviation management.

Rainer Bretschneider, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “Despite all the current and urgent problems besetting BER in terms of passenger numbers and its finances, our future course must still be set. We are addressing these issues by restructuring our team and focussing intensively on the future to build on the solid foundations of the past. I am confident that FBB can excel in this regard.”

Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “Air traffic is picking up again. We already had over 20,000 passengers at the start of June. But we’re still a long way from normality. Falling numbers of infections however, as well as the increasing number of COVID-19 vaccinations and the associated easing of travel are making things safer: more people are now fulfilling their vacation dreams. We’re expecting up to 50,000 passengers a day over the summer.”