Press release

Conversion for faster security control processes started
New catering unit to be set up in the check-in hall

Passengers can look forward to faster processes and new services at BER. Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH is using the period from November with fewer travellers for conversion work. The gradual replacement of the technology for security controls in Terminal 1 will begin this week and, as in the case of Terminal 2, optimised screening lanes with modern CT scanners will be installed so that liquids and electronics will no longer need to be taken out of hand baggage. In the check-in hall, a new catering facility is also being built at the departures level where the airport information desk used to be. The conversion of the border control area with more passport control counters and easyPass facilities has already been completed.

“We are continually working to offer all passengers and visitors a comfortable and smooth travel experience at BER. The installation of CT scanners in Terminal 1 means the processes for travellers will be even simpler and faster in future,” explains Aletta von Massenbach, Chief Executive Officer, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH.

The security control in the southern section of Terminal 1 will be fully equipped with new CT scanners by spring 2025. This will be followed by the conversion of all eight lanes in the northern section by autumn 2025. The first four control lanes will initially be closed for the conversion. To avoid longer waiting times, the airport company recommends that passengers inform themselves about the respective waiting times at the individual security controls via the website, the BER app or the monitors on site, as was previously the case. Travellers can also reserve a time slot with BER Runway free of charge for the security control in Terminal 1. All departure gates in both terminals can be reached via any security control in Terminals 1 and 2. Travellers will be able to pass through security control much more quickly after the conversion. The computer tomography used in the new CT scanners facilitates reliable and fast identification of a wide variety of materials and items. Passengers will no longer need to remove liquids, smartphones and other electronic devices from their hand baggage. This means that on average 50 per cent more passengers can pass through security control every hour.

The new spacious “Adler & Bär” restaurant will be built directly below the red carpet in the check-in hall by spring 2025. Passengers can expect a wide range of culinary delights in a stylish setting, which is particularly impressive thanks to a lighting concept that is tailored to the time of day. Friends and families who accompany travellers to the airport have the opportunity to spend some time together before saying goodbye. The check-in bar is a casualfood operation. The provider already operates several catering concepts at BER. The airport information desk will then centrally located one level lower along the route from the railway station to the check-in hall at the arrivals level. The Mobility Service will remain at the departures level, but will move below the gallery.

The airport company has also extensively reorganised the border control area for departing passengers. Passengers now have significantly more capacity at their disposal in the so-called “Central Departure” at the second level of Terminal 1. The waiting area in front of the counters has been enlarged from 220 square metres to 580 square metres. At the same time, the number of exit counters was increased from 10 to 24 and the number of lanes for the easyPass automated border control system was doubled from five to ten to further speed up processing time for travellers. The redesign of the Central Departure will increase the capacity for border controls for passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries by more than 50 percent.

Visualization „Adler & Bär“ for download (Copyright: gmp / Casualfood)