How Many Airports in Berlin: A Thorough Guide to the City’s Air Links

For travellers and aviation enthusiasts alike, the question “How many airports in Berlin?” often comes up. The short answer today is straightforward: Berlin is served by one active passenger airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). Yet the full story is richer, encompassing a fascinating history of competing air gateways, a high-stakes modernisation project, and a handful of smaller airfields that support private flying and aviation activity beyond commercial passenger flights. In this guide, we unpack the evolution, explain why the current figure stands as it does, and offer practical tips for navigating Berlin’s air network.

How many airports in Berlin today?

How many airports in Berlin? Today, the city’s primary and only active civilian airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). It operates as the city’s main international gateway, handling the bulk of scheduled passenger traffic. The former airports Tegel (TXL) and Schönefeld (SXF) were central to Berlin’s air travel for decades, but their roles changed with the opening and consolidation of BER. Tempelhof Airport (THF) exists in memory and as a public space rather than as a working passenger airport. In short, the current domestic and international air travel footprint for Berlin centres on BER as the sole active passenger facility, with a handful of smaller airfields in the surrounding region used for general aviation, private flights, and training.

How many airports in Berlin historically? A pair of giants and a landmark

Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL): A compact, city-facing hub

For much of the late 20th century and into the early 21st, Tegel was Berlin’s most recognisable airport. Located in the north-western part of the city, TXL became the practical workhorse for commercial flights, offering a compact, efficient experience that many travellers remember fondly. Its architecture and layout reflected a design era that favoured quickest possible turns and close-in access to the city centre. Tegel’s rise as a major air gateway coincided with Berlin’s broader post-war growth and reunification era, when budget and legacy carriers alike used TXL for both European and some long-haul connections. The closure of Tegel in 2020 marked the end of an era; its runways and facilities were gradually repurposed as BER took centre stage, ending the era of two active Berlin airports in parallel for passenger traffic.

Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF): The southern gateway’s long service

Schönefeld served as Berlin’s other large civilian airport for many years, located to the south-east of the city. It handled a broad mix of international and domestic flights and became the backbone for many travellers flying into and out of Berlin before BER opened. The Schönefeld site was redeveloped as part of the Berlin Brandenburg project, with passenger operations amalgamated into BER. While Schönefeld’s era as a stand‑alone passenger facility has ended, the site remains integral to Berlin’s aviation infrastructure under BER’s management, and several components of Schönefeld’s original facilities were integrated into the BER complex during the transition. For historical context, Schönefeld was a parallel gateway to Piedmont-level connections, and its transformation was essential to creating a unified Berlin airport system.

Berlin Tempelhof Airport (THF): A historic landmark and public space

Tempelhof occupies a unique place in Berlin’s aviation narrative. Opened in 1923 and once the world’s busiest airport, Tempelhof became a symbol of mass air travel and modernist design. It closed to commercial traffic in 2008 and subsequently entered a new life as a vast public park and event venue. While it remains an iconic site for airshows and occasional private aviation activities, Tempelhof does not operate as a passenger airport today. When people ask how many airports in Berlin historically, Tempelhof is often included as a crucial chapter in the city’s aviation story, even though it no longer functions as a commercial hub.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): The single operational hub

Development and opening: A long-awaited consolidation

The Berlin Brandenburg Airport project began with the aim of consolidating the city’s air traffic into a new, state-of-the-art facility on the former Schönefeld site, with Tegel slated to transition away from passenger use. After a lengthy construction and commissioning phase, BER opened its doors to commercial traffic in 2020, bringing together the routes previously spread across TXL and SXF under one modern roof. The intention was to provide a more streamlined experience for travellers and to offer a single, expansive hub capable of handling Berlin’s growing aviation demand. The transition coincided with a broader realignment of Berlin’s transport networks and a renewed emphasis on integrated public transport access to the airport.

Facilities, services, and the passenger experience

BER has been designed to handle a large volume of passenger traffic with efficient layout and modern amenities. While the airport’s exact terminal configuration has evolved since opening, travellers can expect clear wayfinding, comfortable lounges, and a range of retail and dining options designed to cater to international travellers as well as domestic passengers. BER is positioned as the city’s principal gateway to the wider world, with international flights, European connections, and domestic services all operating from a single, central hub. The airport is well connected to central Berlin by rail and road, making transfers and onward journeys straightforward for visitors aiming to reach city-centre hotels or business districts.

Transport connections: Getting to and from BER

One of BER’s strongest advantages is its integration with Berlin’s public transport network. Travellers arriving at BER can reach central Berlin by rail, including services that directly link to major hubs such as Berlin Hauptbahnhof, as well as suburban rail connections. In addition to the rail links, a network of buses and road routes provides convenient access for road travellers. For international visitors, BER’s location means shorter transfer times when compared with waiting for a domestic flight to a different city gateway. In practice, deciding how to travel to the city centre from BER depends on your arrival time, the exact terminal you’re using, and your preference for speed versus cost. But in general, BER serves as a well-connected spine for Berlin’s air travel ecosystem.

Is Tempelhof still an airport? What to know for travellers

Tempelhof Airport’s status as a passenger facility is historical rather than operational. Since its closure to commercial traffic in 2008, Tempelhof has existed primarily as a park and cultural site, hosting events and enjoying a lasting place in Berlin’s public life. If you’re visiting Berlin as a tourist or resident exploring the city’s aviation heritage, Tempelhof is a fascinating site to explore. However, for the purpose of modern international travel, your flight into or out of Berlin will be at BER, with all scheduled passenger services routed through BER’s facilities. For the question of how many airports in Berlin today, the answer remains one active passenger airport, supported by a broader network of smaller airfields for private aviation in the surrounding region.

General aviation and smaller airfields around Berlin

Around the city and the wider Berlin–Brandenburg region, there are several smaller airfields used by flying clubs, private pilots, and charter operators. These facilities are valuable for general aviation, training flights, and non-scheduled aviation activities. They do not offer the same volume of passenger services as BER, but they play a meaningful role in supporting aviation enthusiasts and light aircraft operations. For travellers planning a private flight or a specialised flight experience, these smaller airfields provide alternatives to the main Berlin gateway, though they do not replace BER as the city’s primary passenger airport.

What this means for travellers and residents

For travellers, the consolidation into a single, modern airport brings several practical benefits. Centralised departure halls and baggage handling simplify connections and reduce the complexities that sometimes arose from juggling multiple distinct airports. For residents and business travellers, BER provides a stable and scalable platform to accommodate seasonal peaks, with ongoing updates and improvements to facilities and services. The shift away from multiple competing passenger airports toward a unified BER hub reflects a broader trend in European aviation toward efficiency and standardised passenger experiences, while preserving Berlin’s status as a major European travel node.

Practical guidance: Planning flights to and from Berlin

When planning your trip to or from Berlin, a few practical considerations can make a meaningful difference to your travel experience. First, always verify your airline’s terminal and check-in guidelines, as BER’s layout has evolved with time and may differ from legacy arrangements you experienced at TXL or SXF. Second, consider your rail or road transfer preferences. BER’s rail connections provide excellent links to central Berlin and to major regional destinations, which is particularly advantageous for day trips or multi-city itineraries. Third, if you’re attaching a private or general aviation component to your journey, contact BER’s general aviation services or nearby airfields in the wider region to confirm slot requirements, security procedures, and available facilities. Finally, bear in mind that the question “How many airports in Berlin?” for practical travel purposes today is answered most simply by BER’s central role, with other historical gateways now folded into its story.

How many airports in Berlin? A concise recap

In contemporary terms, the number to remember is straightforward: How many airports in Berlin for passenger travel? One. Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the city’s sole active passenger airport. When considering historical context, a richer panorama emerges: Berlin had Tegel (TXL) and Schönefeld (SXF) as major civilian airports for many decades, alongside Tempelhof (THF), which now serves as a public space rather than a functioning passenger airport. Together, these facts form the complete tapestry of Berlin’s aviation history, from the era of two prominent air gateways to today’s consolidated, modern BER hub.

Frequently asked questions: How many airports in Berlin?

How many airports in Berlin today?

One active passenger airport: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

What happened to Tegel and Schönefeld?

Tegel closed to commercial traffic in 2020, with its operations shifting to BER. Schönefeld was integrated into BER as part of the consolidation project, with its facilities adapted for BER’s use.

Is Tempelhof still an airport?

No. Tempelhof is closed to commercial air traffic and now functions as a public park and historical site.

Are there other airports near Berlin?

Beyond BER, the region contains smaller airfields used for general aviation and training; these are not major commercial passenger gateways for the city.

Reinforcing the headline: How many airports in berlin as a phrase for Searches

For search visibility and reader clarity, you’ll frequently see variations of the question in headings and copy. As a reader, you’ll notice a consistent emphasis on the central fact: How many airports in Berlin today? The spelling and capitalisation of Berlin remain important for accuracy and branding, and in broader text you may encounter versions that begin with How many airports in Berlin or how many airports in berlin depending on the sentence structure. The essential information remains the same: One active passenger airport now serves Berlin, with a rich historical background that includes two major past gateways and a legendary former airfield.

Conclusion: What you need to know about Berlin’s airports

In modern terms, the answer to the question How many airports in Berlin? is simply: one. Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the city’s primary passenger gateway, delivering streamlined services, robust transport links, and a hub for international and domestic flights. The older facilities at Tegel and Schönefeld have been retired as independent passenger airports, their missions absorbed into BER, while Tempelhof remains a powerful symbol of Berlin’s aviation heritage and a public space for the city. For visitors and residents alike, BER represents a bold, efficient, and well-connected gateway to Berlin and beyond, with ongoing potential for growth as demand evolves. If you’re planning a trip to Berlin, your flight will almost certainly depart from or arrive at BER, the single, central aviation hub that embodies the current state of Berlin’s air travel landscape.