Media release

Christmas time is travel time
Airport company expects about 1.1 million passengers during the holidays

The Christmas holidays are just around the corner: the airport company expects about 1.1 million passengers to pass through BER between 19 December 2025 and 4 January 2026. This means that roughly the same number of people are travelling via BER as during last year’s holidays. Some 220,000 passengers are expected at BER Airport on the first weekend of the holidays alone, from 19 to 21 December 2025. At 79,000 passengers, the busiest travel day is expected to be Friday, 19 December. Throughout the holiday season, some 7,300 aircraft will take off and land at BER. The most popular travel destinations are Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Turkey and France. About 60 airlines will fly from BER to 124 destinations in 49 countries during the Christmas holidays.

Last-minute shopping at BER

The shops in both terminals offer a large selection of last-minute gifts: many shops are open until at least 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and public holidays. Heinemann Duty Free in the security area of both terminals is open for business up until the last departure.

Restaurants, bars and cafés are open at the usual times or according to the flight schedule. At the Rewe supermarket in the public area of Terminal 1, customers can shop for any missing ingredients for their Christmas dinner or New Year’s Eve celebrations until 9 p.m. on 24 December and 31 December. On all other days, the supermarket is open throughout the day. Fresh baked goods are available directly opposite at Kamps, 24 hours a day.

Pre-Christmas atmosphere

The airport is already decorated for Christmas. On Willy-Brandt-Platz, directly in front of Terminal 1, an eight-metre-high Nordmann fir decorated in red and gold shines bright thanks to 3,500 LED lights. A second decorated fir tree stands on level E1 in front of the southern entrance to Terminal 1.

The artist duo Felice & Cortes will be creating a pre-Christmas atmosphere in the central market square of Terminal 1 on 18 December with music and artistry from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. On 19 December, a duo will perform Christmas carols from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. On both days, volunteers from the airport company as members of the BER team will once again be supporting travellers on site in the terminals. Children can once again enjoy glitter tattoos in the market square.

Use coupons in the BER app

During the Christmas holidays, travellers will once again benefit from discounts and special offers. Digital coupons can be easily redeemed in participating shops, restaurants and at service partners by using the BER app. It is easy to use: after downloading the app, users select the desired coupon and redeem it directly on site. app.berlin-airport.de

The most important travel tips

The airport company generally recommends all holiday travellers to check in online in advance if possible, arrive at the correct terminal in good time before departure and follow the instructions provided by their airline. Find out about the procedures at the airport in advance on the BER website or in the BER app, book parking spaces online, check in online in advance and start your holiday in a more relaxed manner. Travellers who check in their baggage themselves at Fast Bag Drop save time. Waiting times for security checks are displayed in the app, on the website and on monitors directly on site. All departure gates can be reached via any security control in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. The boarding gate usually closes 30 minutes before departure.

Fast Bag Drop

More than 120 self-check-in machines in total are available in the BER terminals, where travellers can print their baggage label and then check in their baggage themselves. 20 airlines offer this service at BER. Travellers can find a list here: Overview Fast Bag Drop

Passengers travelling with hand baggage only can go directly to the security control.

Use control traces with CT technology

Security areas 1 and 5 in Terminal 1 and the security area in Terminal 2 are equipped with modern CT scanners. Passengers no longer need to remove electronic devices and liquids from their hand baggage. Conventional technology is still used in central areas 2 and 4 of Terminal 1. Therefore, the airport company continues to advise passengers to carry liquids in their hand baggage only in containers with a volume of up to 100 ml each.

Prohibited items in your baggage

It is important that you observe the safety regulations for the controls when packing! Power banks and e-cigarettes are prohibited in checked baggage. These may only be carried in hand baggage, subject to the relevant quantity restrictions and transport regulations. New Year’s Eve fireworks are generally prohibited. gepaeck.berlin-airport.de

BER Runway

Starting seven days before departure, passengers can book a free time slot at security control 2 in Terminal 1, making it easier to plan for their departure. runway.berlin-airport.de

BER Biometrics

Travellers can also use services such as BER Runway or access to the central departure area with BER Biometrics contactlessly by way of facial recognition. Since November, travellers have also been able to use the free service at security controls 1 and 5 in Terminal 1, which are equipped with modern CT technology. biometrics.berlin-airport.de

Travelling by public transport

BER is even easier to reach from Berlin city centre following the change in the rail transport timetable. The FEX and RE20 run up to five times an hour, taking about 23 minutes from Hauptbahnhof and about 14 minutes from Südkreuz to the airport. East Berlin is connected to BER by regional rail lines RB24 and RB32 from the Hohenschönhausen, Lichtenberg and Ostkreuz stations. Two suburban railway lines supplement the rail transport services: the S9 continues to run to Spandau without any changes. The new S85 line to Frohnau (Monday to Friday) and Pankow (weekends) connects north-east Berlin. The airport company recommends checking the current traffic situation on the day of arrival.  www.vbb.en/vbb-travel-info

Book a car parking space in advance

Reserving a car parking space online in advance is advisable due to high demand. parken.berlin-airport.de

Booking long-distance tickets

Travellers can book a long-distance ticket for their arrival and departure directly on the airport website or in the BER app. intercity.berlin-airport.de

Valet Parking

Travellers can conveniently leave their car on the terminal driveway, directly in front of the check-in hall. Vehicles are parked, cleaned on request, and ready for you upon arrival at BER. valet.berlin-airport.de

EasyPass

Passengers who have a biometric passport or new German ID card can use the EasyPass automatic passport control and, therefore, pass through border control more quickly when travelling to a non-EU country. This also applies to third-country nationals aged 12 and above who hold an electronic passport and German residence permit. This is not possible with children’s passports. Overview EasyPass

European Entry/Exit-System

The Europe-wide entry/exit system (EES) has been gradually introduced at Berlin Brandenburg Airport since 2 December 2025. Nationals from non-EU countries staying in the European Union for a short period (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) are required to go through the new entry and exit procedure and should allow sufficient time for this. Upon arrival, passengers can pre-register at automated kiosks before proceeding to the border control officers. https://ber.social/ees-en

Passengers can find detailed information to help them prepare for their journey on the website or in the BER app.